Plaid leader slams Reform UK in key speech ahead of final Senedd term
Emily Price
Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth will accuse Reform UK of “playing on people’s fears and stoking anger” in a key speech to mark the beginning of the final Senedd term before the Welsh election.
Ap Iorwerth has described the May 7 Senedd election is a “historic opportunity” for Wales to elect a government that is “focused on getting to grips with the issues facing the country.”
A YouGov voting intention poll carried out in December predicted that Plaid is on course to win the largest number of seats in the Welsh Parliament.
Reform UK is also predicted to do well at the election with the party regularly polling almost neck and neck with Plaid Cymru.
Reform’s leader, Clacton MP Nigel Farage, still has yet to appoint a Welsh leader.
The party’s previous leader in Wales, Nathan Gill, was recently jailed for ten and a half years for taking bribes in return for making pro-Russian statements in the European Parliament.
Reform was predicted to win the recent Caerphilly by-election triggered by the sudden death of Labour incumbent Hefin David.
However, on polling day Reform comfortably beaten by Plaid Cymru.
A Plaid win at the Senedd election this year would represent a landmark change in Welsh politics as Labour has been the party in power in Cardiff Bay since the dawn of devolution 26 years ago.
Multiple polls have indicated a significant collapse in support for Welsh Labour.
Under the new 96-seat Senedd system, projections suggest the party in power could win as few as 6 to 10 seats, down from their current position of 30 seats in a 60-member chamber.
Historic
The Senedd’s current opposition party – the Welsh Conservatives – are also facing a potential historic low in support with polling showing the Tories are falling to fourth place behind Plaid Cymru, Reform UK, and Labour.
Speaking at the beginning of the final Senedd term on Tuesday (January 13), Rhun ap Iorwerth is expected to say that momentum from successive opinion polls has revealed that support for Plaid is “greater than ever”.
Plaid’s leader will say that “2026 is a year of new opportunities” and that unlike the current Labour government, Plaid Cymru “won’t take the people of Wales for granted”.
He will add that the party will work harder than ever before to earn the trust of the people of Wales ahead of the Welsh election to deliver for the country, and stop Nigel Farage’s party from getting into power.
‘Opportunities’
Ap Iorwerth MS said: “2026 is a year of new opportunities for Wales, to elect a government whose sole mission is to create a fairer, more ambitious Wales.
“Whether that’s through fixing the NHS, helping Welsh-owned businesses grow, supporting families struggling with the cost of living crisis, or demanding fairness and standing up for Wales – a Plaid Cymru government will always do what’s right by our communities.
“While momentum is with Plaid Cymru and support for our positive vision for Wales is greater than ever, we’ll work tirelessly over the coming four months to build trust and earn every single vote.
“This is the year we say no more to London parties who only see Wales as a stepping stone to Westminster.
“For too long, Labour have taken Wales for granted, and they’re now out of the race.
“Reform is seeking to take advantage of that through playing on people’s fears and stoking anger, but Plaid Cymru is offering hope and ambition for Wales’ future – which even Labour themselves admit.
“Make no mistake: voting Plaid Cymru isn’t voting for change for the sake of change – it’s a vote to put Wales back on track, with a government whose priorities are that of its people and only answerable to those it represents.
“Let’s not waste this opportunity. Together, we can make history and create the confident Wales we know it can be by voting for a Plaid Cymru Government on 7 May 2026.”
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I pray that these progressive parties generate some consensus on tactical voting to keep deform and its hate out of Wales.
Tactical voting will be very difficult or nearly impossible with this new voting system,
That’s not the case as I understand the de Hont system. The d’Hondt formula is a mathematical method that assigns seats based on the proportion of votes each party receives . It’s designed to translate vote share into seats proportionally. So, how many votes each party gets is vital! Everyone should vote Plaid to keep Regorm out.
We face an existential crisis. English nationalists in Reform will erase Cymru as a nation. Roll back devolution & turn us into a County of England!
We do indeed need to keep Deform out of Wales. Our voting system and high number of ignorant pensioners means they WILL make headway, but we need to all vote for parties that care about the future of Cymru. Plaid for me. (Although one Labour member also. The amazing Sarah Murphy)
Oi!!!😡😉😁 I’m a pensioner but I’m certainly not ignorant, you would be surprised the amount of people of my demographic who absolutely despise the fascist/Nazi scum that walk among us. There are ignorant people (some wilfully so) among all the age groups throughout the land unfortunately. Let’s leave the “othering” rhetoric to the fartrage mob & RTD in his bunker down the vale.
Wind yer neck in Agnes, there are just as many ignorant folk other age groups are found among pensioners. will be vulnerable to the Reform “offer” while others are just keen to hear something like a vision and policies from the other parties. Knocking the bogey man alone just won’t suffice.
To be fair, the over 65s were the only age group that voted by a supermajority (60%) to trash the hopes and dreams of young people in 2016. Isn’t it likely they’ll try to repeat that trick?
They’ll be over 75 or dead in May 2026.
How was that “supermajority” computed when all votes were cast by secret ballot? Some wonk put together an all seeing algorithm and suckers bought it hook line and sinker. I think you need to have a deeper look at all the drivers of rejection if you really want to avoid a repeat experience.
Polling of course.
YouGov immediately after the vote had the Boomer share at 64%:
https://yougov.co.uk/politics/articles/15796-how-britain-voted
By 2019 this had dropped to 60%:
https://lordashcroftpolls.com/2019/03/a-reminder-of-how-britain-voted-in-the-eu-referendum-and-why/
I think it’s the rural vote you need to worry about along with the incomer retiree, a large number of tory fan boys out here, will they stay or will they go Reform??
I think we can all agree that voting for a party that will improve Wales is the aim. What change do you think is needed and how do you envisage Plaid delivering that?
Offord (farages Scottish accomplice) is pushing to charge NHS patients.
Guess what Trump will do in Wales. Sorry, farage.
The party where racists feel safe will gut the NHS, sell it off, and your waiting times may go down but its 15k up front for that wrist xray. The waiting time going down probably because people cannot afford to get treatment or meds.
Waiting times going down, in part, because people are paying to go private. Time was that only a handful of wealthy people went private but it seems to be becoming the norm. Two lads in our office, both just normal guys on average type incomes, have recently paid for leg operations because the NHS wait was years. I don’t think any politicians will ever be brave enough to reform the NHS but its happening through choices made by us – the public. The more we decide to pay for private care, the more provision will arise to meet the demand.… Read more »
Plaid has this Families vote.
I think it’s looking likely reform won’t be around in 5 years judging on what’s happening in London. The Senedd is going to end up having 30+ independents or some new party founded by god know who!
There new recall rules should mean they could all be ousted by voters quite soon, especially if they end up in Gill’s situation.
only if they’re found guilty of misconduct
Can’t be long before a Russian Snowden leaks a spreadsheet containing all the assets and how much cash they’ve had.
You mean the new rules of about politicians telling lies? Obviously, the sentiment is a good one but how on earth will this work in practice? For example, Steven Reed made a speech in a farming conference before the 2024 general election specifically stating that Inheritance Tax would not be imposed on farms in order to win rural seats (which happened). Before the year was out, this promise had been totally abandoned and he was on the airwaves supporting the new IHT policy? I could have used any number of examples here but the point is, where does the usual… Read more »
I think that’s quite possible. Plaid is almost certainly going to lead the Senedd for 5 years but it will be interesting to see what actual change this brings. Our problems in Wales stem from the lack of business, decent jobs and wealth creation. I haven’t yet heard anything from Plaid that even suggests that it acknowledges that this is a problem. For a party that believes in Independence, its an oddity that the go to solution for all problems is to call on London to send more money. Wouldn’t a party aiming to make Wales independent want to build… Read more »
Reform have plenty of cash to throw around
They will be using the campaign to focus on discrediting Labour nationally
Meanwhile rip a hole through Conservatives
Expect to see some more high profile defections in next weeks in Wales
Just seeing Morgan off the premises will be a main aim
Everything is geared to get Farage into No 10
Wales will be used just for fun and games
Labour are already discredited nationally, surely? The polls are showing them in 3rd place behind Plaid Cymru and Reform. Little point in them wasting their bullets on Labour. Reform do indeed have plenty of cash, and a lot more media coverage nationally (although not as much as in England). But they’re a one-trick pony whose message on immigration is currently of little relevance to this country. Even if they win the election they’ll be powerless to decide who does and doesn’t move here from across the border, so a vote for Reform is a wasted vote. They’ll never apply themselves… Read more »
Labour discredited ? Well sure but they want to bury them too . A sea of turquoise in Wales is further ammunition to close the deal to get NF into No10 Since Caerphilly its probably hit home for the first time that Plaid are going to best them ; Guns trained on Labour & hoping some stray bullets will take out Plaid too Reform’s presence in the Senedd will be just an irritant ,looking to frustrate business effectively operated from London They will be firing plenty of bullets Immigration of course their party piece but they will be bashing away… Read more »
Reform UK’s presence in the Senedd will certainly be an irritant, but if they win (or are allotted) enough seats they will also frustrate any pro-Wales legislation proposed by the next Welsh Government. How their performance in May impacts on voting behaviour in the other UK member-countries isn’t the issue as regards this article.
We don’t just need reform dealing with, we need their supporters to be dealt with too.
Supporting enemy intelligence services is a criminal offence carrying high penalties and these people are in our communities, walking free. National security needs to be a priority too.
Unpatriotic criminals are a fact of life I’m afraid. In all walks of life and all political parties. All we can do is root them out as best we can.
After decades of every Welsh election essentially returning the same result, this Senedd election does look consequential.
Here’s my concern though. Wales does need change but what change is Plaid offering? It sounds very much like Plaid is just re-offering us the same old Labour agenda with the only change being that it will be delivered by different people in a different party?