Electing more Plaid Cymru MPs ‘will keep Tories out and send message to Labour’
Electing more Plaid Cymru MPs at the UK general election will keep the Tories out and send a message to Labour that it cannot take Wales for granted, party leader Rhun ap Iorwerth MS will say today.
Speaking at the party’s spring conference in Caernarfon later, Mr ap Iorwerth is expected to say that Plaid Cymru “stands apart from UK establishment politics” as it “doesn’t want the future to look like the past and wants people to feel hope about politics once again”.
Mr ap Iorwerth will comment on topics ranging from the First Minister of Wales, Vaughan Gething, who took over the role on Thursday, to what the next UK government must do for Wales.
Commenting on the newly elected First Minister, Mr ap Iorwerth will say: “I repeat the congratulations I extended to Vaughan Gething on his election victory last weekend.
“Indeed, I do so with sincerity, knowing full well the honour and responsibility that the office of leader brings with it.
“But just as Rishi Sunak ironically said he offered ‘change’, it’s true also that the only ‘newness’ with the new Labour leader in Wales is the literal fact that he’s only been in post for two days.
“New leader, yes. A palpable gasp of ‘same again’? Most certainly.
“And let’s not forget that this was no ordinary campaign.
“Whilst we’re used to questions about dodgy donations around the Conservative party, what we’ve seen during this Labour campaign has undermined so much faith.
“And when we talk about the need to pay something back, we can mean that in two ways – it’s not just the cash, it’s trust too, and that is even more valuable.”
Donation
In the Welsh Labour leadership campaign, Mr Gething received a £200,000 donation from a company based in his constituency which was found in breach of environmental protection laws.
Mr ap Iorwerth will also discuss the upcoming general election, which must be held by January next year.
He will say: “General elections aren’t the preserve of two parties – despite what the news beamed into living rooms and printed in the morning papers would so often have you believe.
“In Wales, we can do things differently.
“Keep the Tories out. Put Wales’s interests first. And… at the same time say we can tell Labour that we won’t let them take Wales for granted.
“From Ynys Mon to Monmouth, Conservative MPs have backed a wrecking ball regime causing untold damage to the people they’re meant to serve.
“Keir Starmer’s answer was to proclaim the need for an entirely new approach to politics.
“But conference, following the Conservative orthodoxy isn’t a new approach to politics.
“The sight of Rachel Reeves walking in lockstep with Jeremy Hunt only offers more austere times.
“Sacking a shadow minister for standing on a picket line is a new Labour low.
“Sunak and Starmer’s HS2 betrayal only keeps Wales in the slow lane.
“And the Labour–Tory coalition on lifting the bankers’ bonus cap only goes to prove whose side they are really on.
“We stand apart from UK establishment politics. We don’t want the future to look like the past. We want people to feel hope about politics once again.”
Funding
On what the UK government must do for Wales, Mr ap Iorwerth will say: “Give us the funding which is rightly ours from Treasury coffers contributed into by Welsh taxpayers’ money, just like every other part of the UK.
“Give us the levers we need to build a powerhouse parliament, not piecemeal devolution which can’t keep pace with the hopes of our people.
“Give us the freedom to prove what all of us in this hall and many thousands beyond it already know – that this is not as good as it gets for Wales.
“And we will thrive. Wales can.”
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What about policies to improve health education and transport.
Big problem. The numbers don’t stack up in FPTP. For this one GE. If Plaid are to win already in a seat then yeah. Split the vote where a Tory can win and you risk the Cons back into power, we lose. This election should be tactical to remove the Cons. I can go for Plaid but split this and it could be spoilt papers election after this. Libs and Plaid and Lab need to see this. Cons know they are likely getting a stuffing at the GE and will absolutely be pushing division or “why bother” attitudes. I see… Read more »
Why waste a vote on The Starmer Labour Party.There is hardly the width of a bus ticket in the difference between Labour and the Tories.
As George Galloway quite rightly said 2 cheeks of the same backside.
erm, who has trashed the UK these last 14 years? 300+k deaths on their hands. Continuing attacks on the poor, hear Mel Stirde yesterday? Labour are not in power. We don’t know what they will do but they are miles away from the harm that the Tories have inflicted and miles away from the further harm that is in the pipe line should the Cons retain power. You want a tory party with Trump in the US, that will be the UK trashed for 3 or 4 generations. If Labourr wiun and Plaid are decent enough then next GE after… Read more »
England decides if there is a Tory government or a Labour one. At the moment it looks very like England has decided to choose a Labour government by some way. Whether the voters of Scotland or Cymru vote Labour is irrelevant just as it is when England decides to vote Tory. “… I can vote Plaid. But not when the Cons are an existential threat to the UK. But yeah, lets learn Labour eh? that’ll learn them, letting the Cons remain on power.” That’s the same old Labour marketing ploy that’s been trotted out for decades and this time round the… Read more »
I live in a Labour constituency so I will vote Plaid even though it won’t make a difference. But if I was living in a tory consistency then I would definitely vote tactically.
First past the post is such an archaic system unfit for any 21st century democracy where if you don’t vote for the lesser of two evils, you get the worst of two evils.
Are Labour planning to curtail our human rights by taking us out of the ECHR?
Shame this Party remains so misogynistic and unable to have conversations with women. Banning an international women’s charity from attending shows how backward looking they have become. No policies on health or education or schools.
After the next general election, Plaid will have one female MP and one female rep. in the House of Lords. Brilliant, right?
The recent Nation Cymru headline ‘Every Plaid Cymru Cymru Councillor in Carmarthenshire said the party was wrong to block MP who assaulted his wife from standing again’ is clear evidence of the reality of how backward looking they have become.
In which case, let’s hope that they fail to win a single MP, and fail to be represented in the House of Commons since 1974. The Tories, Labour and Lib Dems will look after Welsh interests in Westminster. Brilliant. Real progress.
Health and education are devolved, therefore is a matter for Senedd elections. Unless you think Plaid should focus on England only matters over reserved matters that impact Wales.
Why would anyone vote for Plaid or any Party without looking at all their policies in all settings? Perhaps you don’t think any Plaid candidate should stand as an MP. According to you they have nothing to contribute to Westminster and the UK budgets. Perhaps you think they are in Westminster just for non devolved matters…defence, police, justice. Anything else?
That’s not what I was implying, and I feel like you are putting words into my mouth. Of course people should look at Plaid’s policies. But since we are talking about the upcoming UK election then the emphasis should be on non-devolved matters ie justice, policing, constitution, foreign affairs etc. Health and education policies enacted in Westminster only apply to England.
First Minister Gething, so sad you did not have the courage to sack Eluned Morgan…
Agree Plaid would be a better option for Wales than the two main parties. Lets face it it would be difficult to do any worse.
The Labour Party have lost their way, they have swallowed the tory line on the economy and have morphed into being tory mark 2. While the Nasty Party are not worth considering.
Talk of establishment parties, I thought for a minute this was a Reform UK speech. A rather depressing line that highlights the mentality not only of Rhun but also a large portion of the electorate. ‘In Wales we do things differently, keep the Tories out, put Wales interest first’. Notice the order? This is also being encouraged for the UK wide general election. ‘We have got to get these Tories out, hold your nose and just vote Labour and get it done’. This is not a healthy democracy. It should not be the a case of vote for me because… Read more »
“Lastly, once again we are treated to the humiliating spectacle of Plaid Cymru shaking their begging bowl. “
It’s ironic that those that are fans of the Union are the ones that feel that the poorer parts should not get what they need. Not exactly a selling point for a kingdom that’s so united that it calls itself The United Kingdom.
A case of – All for one and err that’s it. Don’t complain.
Fans of the union? What makes you think that?, because I criticised Plaid Cymru? Saying ‘give us, give us, gives us’, sounds like begging. Maybe Mr ap Iorwerth did not intend for it to read like that, but it does give that impression. Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t the UK government provide the Welsh government with around £18 billion for three years per year from 2021.? If Mr ap Iorwerth feels that is not sufficient, why would he and his party give their blessing to; a policy that has cost £32 million to introduce (excluding future costs) and… Read more »
Your “begging bowl” comment is a carbon copy of an argument that British nationalists make. You chose to support your opinion by interpreting the Plaid position as “give us, give us, give us” which is an interpretation that British nationalists routinely make. Does your “£32 million” comment refer to the 20mph limit?If so we all know who’s attempting to rally the troops by sounding that bugle. Your wellbeing might have been and still is being negatively affected by the underfunding that the Barnett formula produces. If not then you’re fortunate the wellbeing of many people in Cymru has been and… Read more »
‘British nationalists’ it gets worst! Maybe alt-right to appear next? I notice how you conveniently ignore me referring to the £18 billion block grant settlement from 2021 for three years. As for the begging bowl, or maybe now just begging comment I will stand by it. Why is he begging/asking the UK government to ‘give us the levers we need to build a powerhouse parliament, and freedom to prove… that this is not as good as it gets for Wales’? This can only be achieved through the UK government and the ‘treasury coffers’? Only after this does Mr ap Iorwerth… Read more »
Those that want Cymru to be a nation state are referred to as Welsh nationalists so what’s wrong with referring to those that want Britain and northern Ireland to be the nation state, British nationalists. It’s a rhetorical question as the answer is of course because Unionists as they prefer to be called use “Nationalist” to suggest bigotry, prejudice and other unsavoury traits. Are you being thin-skinned on behalf of those that would not hesitate to call you a Welsh nationalist? Maybe I’m wrong and you’re a British nationalist, if so perhaps you could correct me. There isn’t a contradiction… Read more »
Nothing wrong with being a Welsh, Scottish, English or Irish nationalist. It appeared that you were calling me a British nationalist because I criticized the speech made by Mr ap Iorwerth. You might not feel that there is a contradiction, but to quote an article, ‘fair funding is a double edged sword for nationalists, screaming more money undermines the case for independence by sticking your hands in someone else’s pocket’. Concerning ‘bugle boy’ Mr Davies, what has he got to do with the 20 mph expenditure? Him criticizing a policy does not mean that anyone else who disagrees is either… Read more »
” but to quote an article, ‘fair funding is a double edged sword for nationalists, screaming more money undermines the case for independence by sticking your hands in someone else’s pocket’.” The article can be read at https://stateofwales.com/how-is-wales-funded/ What you quote is in the full article immediately followed by ‘But at the same time, without extra investment (particularly in infrastructure, people and skills), it makes achieving independence more difficult as it harder to address some of the structural problems holding the Welsh economy back compared to the rest of the UK.’ British nationalists will know why accusing Welsh nationalists of picking… Read more »
No motives on my part whatsoever. I used what you deem as ‘the first sentence’ because although it uses a different word ‘screaming’ to my begging, it highlighted a similar issue that I had, that being the impression of asking for more money from the UK government while being a nationalist pro independence party. The reason I did not feel the need to include the ‘second sentence’ was because I could not see its relevance with Mr ap Iorwerths statement. Maybe if he had expanded his speech to include elements similar to the quote you used above, we might not… Read more »
“The reason I did not feel the need to include the ‘second sentence’ was because…”
And it undermines the credibility of your opinion you sought from the first sentence.
“Mr ap Iorwerth could have said just how much funding he felt was needed.”
Looks like you think Mr ap Iorwerth omitting detail that shores up his opinion is a fault but Swn Y Mor omitting part of a quote that undermines his opinion is not.
I don’t see how Mr ap Iorwerth ‘omitting’ details shores up his argument at all. It was his lack of detail that prompted me to comment in the first place. As for your accusation that I was deliberately ‘omitting part of the quote’ that undermined my opinion, I have to disagree. The quote first reads ‘but at the same time without extra funding…..it makes achieving independence more difficult’. Mr ap Iorwerth makes no mention of achieving independence in relation to funding. He does however mention ‘piecemeal devolution’. The second half of the quote talks about ‘structural problems holding the Welsh… Read more »
Rhun ap Iorwerth is right. For Wales to have a voice, especially at Westminster, voters must elect as many Plaid Cymru MPs possible. Scotland is listened to because they elected 43 SNP MPs to Westminster to champion its causes. The reality is there’s no other party that truly has Wales interests at heart other than Plaid Cymru. And don’t forget, the Labour party, Conservatives and Liberals all have more than one master where Plaid serves only one. Wales.
Any journalist in attendance should ask for Mr ap Iorwerths response in regards to the recent FOI reply regarding Penrhos. It shows how the Plaid Cymru led Isle of Anglesey council have spend in the last ten years around £144,000 pounds on fighting their own taxpayers, with £25,000 spent in the last year alone.