Plaid Cymru must be open for grassroots members to have their say
*English follows below*
Heledd Gwyndaf, ymgeisydd ar gyfer swydd Cyfarwyddwr Cyfathrebu Plaid Cymru
Wrth roi ei enw ymlaen i fod yn Gadeirydd Plaid Cymru, mae Dewi Evans eisoes wedi gwneud gwahaniaeth.
Mae eisoes wedi gorfodi ei wrthwynebydd i feddwl falle bod angen iddo gael ‘syniad’ – a dyma holl bwynt cyflwyno enwau ar gyfer etholiad.
Nid yn unig ei fod yn cynnig dewis i aelodau, mae’n creu sgwrs, yn cynyddu diddordeb, creadigrwydd ac arloesedd.
Mae hefyd yn sicrhau nad oes unrhyw unigolyn yn dod i feddwl bod ganddo/ganddi ‘hawl’ i safle o ddylanwad o fewn ein plaid. Mae’n fraint sy’n rhaid ei ennill.
Ond mae rhai agweddau ar yr ymgyrch hon wedi bod yn salw, ro’n i wedi fy syfrdanu pan gefais fy meirniadu a’m sarhau yn gyhoeddus am feiddio cyflwyno fy enw fel Cyfarwyddydd Cyfathrebu.
Mae’r feirniadaeth honno ohonof yn tynnu sylw at sut mae lleiafrif dylanwadol o fewn Plaid Cymru wedi dod yn anghyfarwydd ag aelodau llawr gwlad ein plaid yn cynnig ein henwau ar gyfer swyddi pwysig. Rhaid i’n plaid fod yn ofod diogel i aelodau llawr gwlad gymryd rhan yn y broses ddemocrataidd o fewn y blaid. Ac yn bendant ni ddylem gael ein sarhau a’n beirniadu am ddim ond rhoi ein henwau ymlaen.
Dw i’n credu y gallaf i wneud gwahaniaeth, o gael fy ethol yn Gyfarwyddydd Cyfathrebu. Rwy’n gyfarwydd, oherwydd fy ngyrfa mewn rolau cyfathrebu a marchnata mewn amrywiaeth o feysydd – yn reolwraig ac yn ymgynghorydd, â’r angen i greu strategaethau cyfathrebu mewnol ac allanol effeithlon. Mae angen i ni estyn allan yn effeithiol at bob math o bobl a chymunedau a bod yn llawer mwy cynhwysol.
Dau o fy mhrif bwyntiau maniffesto, fel Cyfarwyddydd Cyfathrebu yw:
1.) Rhaid inni ddadlau dros annibyniaeth yn ein holl gyfathrebiadau â’r cyhoedd, gan gynnwys ein trafodaethau yn ymwneud ȃ Brexit. Ei barodrwydd i ddod ȃ’r gair ‘annibyniaeth’ yn ôl I drafodaethau’r Blaid oedd un o’r pethau a enillodd yr ymgyrch arweinyddiaeth i Adam Price. Rhaid i annibyniaeth fod yn rhan ganolog o negeseuon clir Plaid Cymru.
2.) Mae angen gwell cyfathrebu â’n haelodau. Mae angen i ni gyfathrebu’n well ar bob mater, gan gynnwys cyfranogiad ein haelodau ar bob lefel o fewn y blaid. Mae angen i ni gymryd cyngor gan aelodau a manteisio ar y sgiliau a’r arbenigedd yn ein plaid ein hunain.
Mae’n hanfodol ein bod yn fwy effeithiol wrth estyn allan at ein haelodau, mae’n gyfle nad ydym yn manteisio arno ar hyn o bryd ond mae’n hanfodol os ydym am ennill yn 2021. Mae angen ail gysylltu ac ymgysylltu gyda trwch yr aelodaeth gyffredin.
Mae angen hwylusydd i lais yr aelodau llawr gwlad i’n cynrychioli mewn modd ystyrlon. Rhaid i aelodau llawr gwlad deimlo perchnogaeth dros y Blaid unwaith eto. Mi fyddai cydweithio gyda’r Cadeirydd yn allweddol i hyn.
Rwy’n gefnogol iawn i Dewi Evans wrth iddo sefyll i fod yn Gadeirydd y blaid. Mae ei faniffesto yn un andros o dda, fel y mae ei record yn ymwneud yn y gorffennol â Plaid Cymru, yn enwedig ei rôl fel cynghorydd yn hen Orllewin Morgannwg ac yn nes ymlaen yn Castell-nedd Port Talbot.
Gall edrych yn ôl ar yrfa oes fel pediatregydd ymgynghorol. Er nad yw bellach yn gweithio mewn ysbyty clinigol, gofynnir am ei farn yn rheolaidd mewn achosion heriol a sensitif. Mae ei faniffesto, fel Cadeirydd yn cynnwys:
- Bod yn Gadeirydd i bawb yn y Blaid
- Cadw mewn cyswllt rheolaidd gyda’n aelodaeth ar faterion amserol
- Tyfu aelodaeth i 10,000 erbyn 2021
- Amnest i aelodau sydd wedi cael eu diarddel
- Sicrhau llwybrau gyrfaol effeithiol i’n holl aelodau staff
- Agor swyddfa wleidyddol yng Ngogledd Cymru
Mae’n hanfodol bod pobl yn ymrwymo i swyddi pwysig o fewn Plaid Cymru. Mae’r dewis sydd gennym ar ein papurau balot eleni yn gam gwych ymlaen.
Os ydych chi’n cytuno â’m gweledigaeth dwi’n gofyn i chi fy nghefnogi yn y gynhadledd yn Abertawe yr Hydref hwn a phleidleisio i mi fel Cyfarwyddydd Cyfathrebu.
Mi fydd y blychau pleidleisio ar agor yn y gynhadledd yn Theatr y Grand yn Abertawe, ar y dydd Gwener y 4ydd o Hydref rhwng 11.40 y bore a 5 y prynhawn, ac ar y dydd Sadwrn y 5ed o Hydref rhwng 8.30 y bore a 2.20 y prynhawn.
Gwinllan a roddwyd i’n gofal.
Heledd Gwyndaf, candidate for the position of Plaid Cymru Director of Communications
In putting his name forward for the role of Chair of Plaid Cymru, Dewi Evans has already made a difference.
He has already forced his opponent to think he should maybe come up with ‘an idea’. And this is the whole point of putting names forward for election.
Not only does it give membership choice, it also creates conversation, increases interest, creativity and innovation.
It also ensures that no individual has a ‘right’ to a position of influence within our party. It is a privilege to be earned.
But some aspects of this campaign have been ugly. I was stunned with disbelief when I was criticised and indeed insulted for merely putting my name forward as Director of Communications.
This criticism of me highlights how an influential minority within Plaid Cymru has become unfamiliar with grassroots members of our party putting our names forward for important positions. Our party must be a safe space for grassroots members to participate in the democratic process within the party. And we should definitely not be slapped down for simply putting our names forward.
I am familiar, due to my career in communications and marketing roles, as manager and consultant, within a variety of fields, with the need to create efficient internal and external communication strategies. We need to effectively reach out to all sorts of peoples and communities and be much more inclusive.
Two of my main manifesto commitments, as Director of Communications are:
1.) We must make the case for independence in all of our communications with the public, including conversations around Brexit. The way forward for us in Cymru is independence. The fact that Adam Price brought the word ‘independence’ back to our party was a central part of his successful leadership campaign and it must be a central part of Plaid Cymru’s clear messaging as we move forward.
2.) We need better communication with our members. We need to communicate better on all issues, including the involvement of our members on all levels within the party. We also need to take membership advice and take advantage of the skill base and expertise within our own party.
It is essential that we are more effective in reaching out to our members, it is an opportunity we are overlooking but is vital if we are to win in 2021. We must reconnect and engage with grassroots members. We need a facilitator for the voice of grassroots members to represent us in a meaningful way. The grassroots members must once again feel ownership of the Party. Key to this would be collaboration with the Chair.
I am very supportive of Dewi Evans standing for Chair of the party. His manifesto looks pretty darn good to me, as does his past involvement with Plaid Cymru, especially his role as a councillor in the old West Glamorgan and later on in Neath Port Talbot.
He can look back on a lifetime’s career as a consultant paediatrician. Despite no longer working in clinical practice his opinion is regularly sought in challenging and sensitive cases. His manifesto as Chair includes:
- Be a unifying Chair
- Keep members involved with surveys and polling on topical issues
- Grow membership to 10,000 by 2021
- An amnesty for expelled members
- Ensure effective career development pathways for all Plaid Cymru staff
- Open a political office in North Wales
It is crucial that us, the members, commit ourselves to important positions within Plaid Cymru. This year’s line up is a great step forward.
If you agree with my vision, I would be very grateful for your support in the conference in Abertawe this autumn and for your vote for me as Director of Communications.
The voting booths will be open in the conference at the Grand Theatre on Friday 4 October from 11.40am until 5pm, and on Saturday 5 October from 8.30am until 2.20pm.
Gwinllan a roddwyd i’n gofal.
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Heledd yn dyfynnu yn berthnasol iawn – “Ei barodrwydd i ddod ȃ’r gair ‘annibyniaeth’ yn ôl i drafodaethau’r Blaid oedd un o’r pethau a enillodd yr ymgyrch arweinyddiaeth i Adam Price. Rhaid i annibyniaeth fod yn rhan ganolog o negeseuon clir Plaid Cymru.”
Felly bydde yn ddiddorol cael dehongliad pam fod y Blaid wedi neidio, nid ond symud, o’r llwybr a creu “cytundeb” neu perthynas hynod unochrog gyda’r Unoliaethwyr yn y Blaid Ddemocrataedd Rhyddfrydol ( sydd yn enw ofnadwy o amherthnasol i’r fath griw wrth-ddemocrataidd)
Independence must always be at the heart of Plaid Cymru in the stay way it is for the SNP in Scotland. However, there is merit in making an electoral pact with the Liberal democrats for Westminster elections. There is no way that Plaid Cymru, SNP and Sinn Fein even if they win all the contested seats can form a government at Westminster, or am I wrong? Plaid Cymru must always stand in all local and Senedd elections – this is our country – we stand for independence. The Liberal democrats share many (or most) of our other values – it… Read more »
She made a very pertinent point about Adam Price being the first Plaid Cymru leadership candidate for years to mention the ‘I’ word, and you’re right, Heledd, it must have raised his stock among members sufficiently to get him elected.
I’m curious to know who criticised the decision of a woman with a responsible role in Cymdeithas to stand as communications director. She can communicate the hind legs off a donkey. Got it! It’s her support for Dewi Evans, isn’t it?
Only one statement is really pertinent and different from any other political spiel!
“An amnesty for expelled members”
Hmmm……….I wonder who she can be thinking of?
So we are going to let expelled members rejoin, despite their offence against the movement or other members? Ridiculous contention!
PC is an inclusive broad church. It doesn’t expel members needlessly so, If someone has been expelled from PC you can bet it’s for a very good reason. Don’t we care who we allow to be members anymore?
Populists?
Supporters of transphobia?
Misogynists?
Homophobes?
What next! Fascists? Anti independence supporters?
Oh dear!
Plaid Cymru WAS a broad church.. Members have been expelled for disagreeing with Alun Ffred & the ruling cabal. Rules are disregarded when it suits to allow for e.g those who haven’t been in the party the required length of time to stand as candidates. This has happened in Llanelli and Ynys Môn. Favoured members can be abusive to others, call others assholes, but if a single comment offends an elite in any way that is deemed harassment and bullying. You may have witnessed the shameful attacks on Dr Dilys Davies in the last few days, demanding her expulsion from… Read more »
Plaid has not been a broad church since the 1980s, when the National Left did a Momentum-type takeover, which morphed into a takeover by the Womens Section. Why this was necessary, I didn’t see at the time and don’t see now. After all, Plaid members were and still are very often church/chapelgoers. Pacific well-intentioned people who put Wales first. True then, true now, outside the Bay and Pontcanna. But for how much longer? Here are points in issues: ‘Let expelled members rejoin?’ As Adam Price said – solve the quarrels. Never heard of Rehabilitation of Offenders? Didn’t Wales pretty much… Read more »
That guy Jenkins is the sort of pseudo Socialist who does a bad job of hiding the nasty little Fascist authoritarian creep that lurks under a very flimsy facade. Come out Rich and show us your brown/black shirt, or is it a nice shade of lavender these days ?
This guy Huw davies, is the sort of stupid moron who has no cogent argument but in order to protect his populist idol, jumps in blindly to abuse sickeningly instead of presenting argument. I live in Pen y Bont ar Ogwr Byt! Come and see my Yes Cymru shirt! Come and see if you’ll call me a fascist to my face? Frightened little Keyboard warrior!
“Populists” do please explain, without abuse.
Easy. Read ‘Nationalist Populism – The Revolt against Liberal Democracy’ by Eatwell and Goodwin. Penguin, cheap and easy to get on Kindle. Genuine attempt to tease out and distinguish
– well intentioned left and globalists who have discounted people’s attachment to community and country
– well intentioned people who are attached to community and country and want to protect them
– nasties by any standard.
Loads of stats, thoughtful text. Decide for yourself
This Richard Jenkins who’s popping up : is he the Richard Jenkins demonstrating the zeal of a new convert?
Richard Jenkins @rustydamage6
·May 23 I’ve voted @UKLabour at every election since I first became eligible to vote. But today was time for a change as my vote went to @Plaid_Cymru as I feel they are the only viable option for Wales in the #EuropeanElections2019 #MyVote
Perhaps Richard needs to know that respect within Plaid is a prime principle, even if not all members live up to it. And no-one is expelled even for the grossest breaches of the principle.
Wrong Richard Jenkins. I have never voted Labour. You seem to think I have a dubious right to comment.
Who is this Max Wallis popping up! Someone who comments first without checking facts? I think even most idiots would appreciate that Richard Jenkins is a somewhat common name. Max Wallis on the other hand……..
I hope that Plaid will introduce voting for all members in future. I’m unable to go to Abertawe for the conference next weekend, but we should all have a say in party business and policy, as a matter of principle.
I have every confidence in the delegates that our and other branches send to conference, but democracy should be seen to be done.
Trueni mowr, yn y byd sydd ohoni, bod rhaid teithio i Abertawe i bleidleisio. Deng mil o aelodau. Beth fydd cyfanswm presenoldeb yn y Gynhadledd. Pedwar cant? Pum’ cant? 5% o’r holl aelodau. Ai dyma yw democratiaeth fodern?
Cytuno! Un bleidlais i bob aelodau, online with a password?