Plaid Cymru pledge to form a government that will stand up for Wales
With just 100 days to go until the Senedd election on 7 May 2026, Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth has said the vote represents a chance for “positive new leadership” in Wales.
Marking the milestone, Mr ap Iorwerth said Plaid Cymru’s plans for government were rooted in issues affecting everyday life, including the NHS, the cost of living and economic renewal.
His comments come as successive opinion polls place Plaid Cymru in pole position to form the next Welsh Government.
The latest YouGov polling suggests Plaid Cymru is backed by 37% of voters, ahead of Reform UK on 23%. Labour, which has governed Wales in some form since devolution began in 1999, trails far behind on just 10%, now behind the Greens on 13%.
Speaking ahead of the election countdown, Mr ap Iorwerth said: “In just 100 days, people across Wales will be heading to the polls, and communities can vote for positive new leadership that only Plaid Cymru can deliver.”
He said this would mean a government “steadfast in standing up for Wales when we are shortchanged by Westminster”, pointing to what he described as long-standing injustices over funding, rail investment and devolved powers.
Mr ap Iorwerth also said a Plaid-led government would prioritise improving NHS performance, supporting small businesses, creating better-paid jobs and keeping wealth within local communities.
Education and childcare would also be central, he said, highlighting plans for what Plaid describes as the most generous free childcare offer in the UK, alongside a renewed focus on literacy and numeracy.
“That’s the difference a Plaid Cymru government can make,” he said. “Policies which will make a real, genuine difference for so many communities.”
He also reiterated that Plaid Cymru was best placed to prevent Reform UK from gaining influence in Wales, warning that the threat posed by the party was “very real”.
Heated
The comments come amid a heated political backdrop, with the future direction of Wales and the wider UK increasingly in focus.
At the weekend, First Minister Eluned Morgan warned there was a “danger” the United Kingdom could eventually break up if ‘nationalist’ parties gained power across all the devolved administrations.
Appearing on Sky News’ Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, Baroness Morgan was asked about comments by Scotland’s First Minister, SNP leader John Swinney, who suggested the May elections could spell the “end of the road” for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer if Labour performs badly.
While saying leadership decisions were a matter for Labour’s parliamentary group, the First Minister acknowledged that pressure on the Prime Minister would be inevitable if the party suffered significant losses.
Constitutional consequences
She also warned of wider constitutional consequences, noting that Sinn Féin’s Michelle O’Neill is already First Minister in Northern Ireland and that the SNP could retain power in Scotland.
“I think there’s a real possibility” the UK could break up in future, Baroness Morgan said. “The elections in May could have profound implications, not just for Wales and its public services, but for the whole of the United Kingdom. The danger is real.”
Support our Nation today
For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.
Prior to the Caerphilly by -election Reform shared joint favouratism with Plaid to gain most seats at the Senedd
Even Money .
Refrom now pushed out to 9/4.
That really is a hell of a walk in the betting.
They can thank Alison Vyas and her son for that .
Powell the former aide to the Russian asset Gill completely floored when she put to him his toxic campaign had made her feel fearful .
A defining moment in Welsh political history
The night Reform lost Wales .
https://www.oddschecker.com/politics/welsh-politics/senedd-election/most-seats
‘Standing up for wales’ – sounds powerful and emotional, but it’s vague rhetoric. Same with Eluned; people know a vote for plaid won’t mean the UK is breaking up in summer 26.
Time for some concrete policies, folks!
The Westminster group can do more. Whitehall doesn’t act because it’s the right thing to do but it might act for an easier life.
https://news.sky.com/story/number-of-written-questions-to-government-departments-doubles-in-a-year-13491299
I agree – it is time for concrete policies: how about the following?
Sadly, many of the things you mention are controlled by Westminster rather than the Senedd, so good luck with that wishlist!!
The first two would cost Wales £300a and £1bn per year
3 – legally very tricky – there is a reason it hasn’t already been done
4 – rail is partially devolved, just the infrastructure, ut don’t eblieve nonsense of Plaid that there is 5bn waiting
A different VAT rate for online transactions would be better than yet another tax.
And the missing £5bn for rail would need Barnett retrospectively applied which is possible. Whitehall shouldn’t profit from its underinvestment that would’ve had to have happened one day, probably after an embarrassing Spanish style disaster caused by decades of Whitehall diverting the Welsh population share of englandandwales spending into English upgrade projects.
Rob W and Alwyn – glad my post has stimulated some thoughts. Do you have any policy suggestions?
Personally I cannot wait for the UK to break up ,our Wales and Peoples desperately need Independence, it,s our only way forward and to prosperity.
I do hope that Plaid are the ones to free us from captivity by this greedy bunch of crooks.
The union is dead.