Green party sets out terms to support Plaid Cymru government
Nation.Cymru staff
The Wales Green Party has said its support for any new Welsh Government will depend on securing key policy commitments, as it confirmed it is open to talks following the Senedd election.
Leader Anthony Slaughter said the party would seek to deliver on its “Green objectives” in any discussions with Plaid Cymru, which emerged as the largest party but fell short of a majority.
He also hailed the defeat of Reform UK.
Mr Slaughter said: “We welcome the defeat of Reform and congratulate Plaid Cymru on their result – this is a victory for everyone who wanted to keep Reform’s divisive, Trumpian politics out of Wales. We are a welcoming nation – and Wales needs to stay a place where everyone is treated with respect and dignity and can thrive.
“When it comes to the next government of Wales, we are open to having conversations, but no decisions have been made at this point. In any negotiations we will be looking to deliver on the Green objectives that people voted on in this election – including action to address the cost-of-living crisis, protecting our NHS, fixing the renting crisis, and restoring our natural environment.”
The Greens made a historic breakthrough in the election, winning two seats in the Senedd for the first time. Slaughter was elected in Cardiff and Penarth, while environmental campaigner Paul Rock was elected in Cardiff Ffynnon Taf.
The party’s manifesto includes proposals to replace council tax with a land value tax paid by landlords, freeze rents, build 60,000 social homes and end no-fault evictions.
Other pledges include ending corridor care in the NHS, introducing cheaper bus fares, extending free childcare, and bringing water services under greater public control, alongside a commitment to climate and nature recovery.
The result leaves Plaid Cymru on 43 seats in the 96-member Senedd, meaning it must secure support from other parties or form a coalition to govern.
Plaid leader Rhun ap Iorwerth has said he will “reach out” to other parties with urgency and intends to put himself forward as First Minister.
With Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens all ruling out cooperation with Reform UK, which finished second with 34 seats, attention is likely to focus on whether Plaid can reach an agreement with smaller parties.
Representation
Zack Polanski, leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, said the party had prioritised gaining representation in the Senedd.
“When myself and my deputies Rachel Milward and Mothin Ali were elected a year ago we were very clear that breaking through and gaining representation in the Senedd was our number one priority. If you asked us six months ago no one expected us to get more than one seat but we have doubled that.”
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This is where the opposition parties get to decide if they’re modern progressive pragmatists cooperating and collaborating in any way necessary to improve the lives of ordinary people, or if they’re proudly uncompromising faux red line corbynist hardliners that would rather things got worse than do any kind of deal with anyone, like the Welsh Cons.
What have got to offer? They’ve not got the numbers. Not even enough to form an official Senedd grouping.
There’s no guarantee that Labour will do anything, but abstain. This scenario is not unlike where the SNP were in 2007, they made a deal with 2 Green MSPs and passed the world’s first climate change legislation. It created jobs and improved the Scottish environment. Are you against creating jobs and improving the environment?
Is he against creating jobs. No. Does that mean he agrees with the rest of you. I doubt it. You see they are not mutually inclusive. Wales has been a bane for the environment, we made the economy reliant on the extraction of fossil fuels. Did it create jobs?
They might make all the difference. If Reform and Labour are stubbornly opposed, Lib and Green support plus a Con agreement to abstain is another route. Who is the Llywydd and deputy will be significant here too.
The libs maybe, but she is too few. The greens, apart from the fact that Polanski cannot open his mouth without putting his foot in it . This leader is claiming a victory with 2 seats and a defeat for reform with 34. You will have a grouping that will be pulling from 3 different directions, and you would have two seats trying to override 43, it would end in tears.
Not sure what you’re imagining but these calculations will be redone for every single vote as a minority government. It’s not about securing a coalition or other long-term agreement.
So imagine Labour and Reform are working together to try and collapse the government and force an election by failing to pass a budget.
The budget can still pass if the Cons abstain (as they might to distinguish themselves from Reform) and the Dems and Greens vote with Plaid.
Dom, I am perfectly aware of what you have written.
So why challenge the original post that the Lib and Greens can make difference.
Also they are bad at arithmetic 43+2 does not make a majority. No Rhun did exactly as I said earlier. His first decision was a wise one.
You don’t need 49 to pass legislation. You just need more votes in favour than against.
Dom, of course, the trouble is unless you have the majority you have to make a deal on abstentions. So you are still in the same spot
Why’s that a problem?