Plaid Cymru offers new ideas, new energy and new ambition for Wales – Rhun ap Iorwerth

The people of Wales are ready for new leadership, party leader Rhun ap Iorwerth has said during the final First Minister’s Questions of the Sixth Senedd term ahead of the election on 7 May.

The Plaid Cymru leader says Labour cannot hide the fact that voters want a change of government in Wales – and that Plaid are ready to govern, having already delivered for Wales even in opposition.

Mr ap Iorwerth cited numerous examples of influence over the Labour Welsh Government: Free School Meals for all primary aged children and the north Wales Medical School – as well as its actions on the Gaza genocide to urge the Senedd to call for an immediate ceasefire.

During the exchange, the Plaid Cymru leader said the Labour Welsh Government has failed to stand up for Wales whilst Plaid stood by Welsh communities, never shying away from  calling out the Prime Minister when Wales has been shortchanged or bypassed by the UK Government.

Rhun ap Iorwerth MS said,

“The First Minister cannot hide the fact that the people of Wales are ready for new leadership. That’s what Plaid Cymru offers. New ideas and energy. New ambition. After 27 years of Labour First Ministers.

“We in Plaid Cymru have taken seriously our role of holding this Government to account. But it’s also been about getting things done form opposition.

“Free school meals – we lost count of the times Labour voted against, but Plaid Cymru never gave up.

“A North Wales Medical School - an idea once dismissed outright by Labour - now a reality after a long Plaid Cymru campaign.

“I’m proud of the stance we as a party took on the Gaza genocide, ensuring that Wales’ voice was heard loud and clear.

“And when Wales has been bypassed or shortchanged by UK government it was Plaid Cymru calling it out with Labour backbenchers only joining in when it became electorally expedient to do so.

“That’s just a flavour of how a Plaid Cymru government would show new leadership. Why is it that so often on policies that matter to people, as well as the polls, where Plaid Cymru leads, Labour follows?”