Election is ‘constructive’ for ‘different politics in Wales’, says former Plaid leader

The result of the Senedd election is “constructive” for a “different politics in Wales”, according to the former leader of Plaid Cymru.

Dafydd Elis Thomas, who fell out with the party he used to lead, and became an independent Member of the Senedd, was reacting to what looks like a tough election for his former colleagues.

So far, the Labour has performed strongly in Wales, which is in stark contrast to the party in England where there have been big losses.

Elis Thomas, who became Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism in the Labour-led Welsh Government, and stepped down from being the MS for Dwyfor Meirionnydd at the election, said every time he sees a “tendency” for Wales to do things “differently” than in England, he is “full of joy”.

The former Plaid leader also said that he had voted for Mark Drakeford in the election and that it wasn’t the first time he has voted for other parties.

‘Success’ 

He told Etholiad 2021 on S4C: “I’m joying in the success of my friends in Plaid Cymru and in the Labour Party, and this is a very constructive result for a different politics in Wales.

“One of the things I always worried about for the 22 years of being a member of the Assembly, certainly the early years of trying to establish devolution and establish understanding among the general public of what was happening.

“Every time I see a tendency in Wales to do things differently to what is happening in England, I am full of joy.

“I voted for Mark Drakeford. This isn’t a secret. I’ve told Mark Drakeford and I’ve said it publicly in places. But this isn’t the first time for me to vote for different parties, and that is the nature of the system isn’t it.

“On the list of course there is an opportunity the if somebody wants to vote for a party on a list that’s different to what someone does in a constituency isn’t there.”