There’s a “actual alternative” for change in Wales on the subsequent election after 25 years of Labour rule, Plaid Cymru’s chief has stated.
Rhun ap Iorwerth stated his occasion should seize that chance and “construct belief” within the run-up to the 2026 Senedd election.
He informed his occasion convention that voters confronted the query of accepting second finest or taking “that first step in the direction of changing into the nation we all know we may be”.
Ap Iorwerth accused Welsh Labour of being unable to inform the distinction proper and incorrect after a 12 months dominated by donations to the former first minister Vaughan Gething.
The occasion’s convention threatened to be overshadowed on Friday by a row about the Plaid’s leader at Cyngor Gwynedd, Dyfrig Siencyn, after he refused to apologise to the victims of paedophile headteacher Neil Foden.
Senior figures stated his place on the high of the county council is untenable after his interview with Newyddion S4C.
Plaid Cymru secured its best-ever result at a UK general election in July because it received 4 Westminster seats, however it has by no means received a Senedd election since devolution in 1999.
Nonetheless, Plaid has labored with Labour in authorities as a coalition accomplice and, extra lately, as a part of a co-operation settlement.
Ap Iorwerth introduced that deal – which had been on account of final till December – to an abrupt end in May.
The chief informed the convention: “Wales can’t afford one other 25 years of Labour.”
He accused Labour of lecturing “everybody else about proper and incorrect” however not with the ability to “see the distinction themselves” over the £200,000 donation to former first minister Gething from a person beforehand convicted of environmental offences.
The row was one of many elements that led to his ousting in the summertime.
Ap Iorwerth added: “In contrast to Eluned Morgan, I’ll acknowledge that some issues are damaged however extra importantly I’ll be decided that nothing is past restore.”
Ap Iorwerth informed occasion members a Plaid Cymru authorities would “break the cycle of short-term considering which short-changes Wales”.
He vowed to assist the NHS by investing in preventative well being measures and would convey ahead a brand new finances inside 100 days of a Plaid authorities “with a promise that spending on preventative well being measures will improve yearly”.
“No extra sticking plaster, no extra blaming the person, no extra passing the buck.”
Throughout his speech on the Principality Stadium, ap Iorwerth introduced he would appoint a minister for public well being if he had been to develop into first minister in Could 2026 to make sure “a really nationwide mission of making more healthy lives which in flip delivers substantial financial savings”.
He additionally dedicated to “clearing the emergency upkeep backlogs” at Welsh hospitals earlier than 2030.
Earlier this week a critical incident was declared at Bridgend’s Princess of Wales Hospital after long-term harm was discovered to its roof.
He additionally stated Plaid Cymru would “be certain that kids are taught to learn in a means that works, utilizing finest observe in a means Welsh authorities appears intent on ignoring”.
The occasion would launch an “bold retrofitting programme” so vitality effectivity “is on the coronary heart of our housing coverage” and his occasion would additionally “enshrine in regulation a proper to an satisfactory house”.
He added Plaid would reinstate “significant targets for lowering baby poverty, which stays a cussed scourge on Welsh society”.
‘Seize that chance’
Chatting with Immediately on BBC Radio Four on Friday, he stated individuals “sense or have sensed” an inevitability about Labour being the occasion in authorities in Wales “and that’s why individuals have gone again to them time and time once more”.
“Our message, especially with the new voting system in Wales, is that its not inevitable, they’ll have a change,” he added.
In addition to the extra proportional system in 2026, the variety of seats in Cardiff Bay will improve from 60 to 96 and polling suggests Plaid is in a strong position to problem Labour.
It stays probably a deal of some type should be struck between two or extra events to type a authorities following the following election.
However ap Iorwerth informed journalists earlier than the convention he “cannot see a situation” the place Plaid would co-operate with the Welsh Conservatives or Reform UK.
With no majority of the seats within the Senedd, Labour should strike a cope with one of many opposition events once more when it must move subsequent 12 months’s finances.
Ap Iorwerth stated his occasion was not “looking for a finances deal” and “the ball may be very a lot in Labour’s court docket”.
Evaluation – Gareth Lewis, BBC Wales political editor
Plaid Cymru are nearer than they ever have been to changing into the largest occasion within the Senedd.
They’ve simply had their best-ever common election end result and a few polling suggests they’re neck-and-neck with Labour forward of 2026.
The occasion is buoyant and feels that it has momentum. However with that comes the stress to show constructive polling into Senedd seats.
As they get nearer to probably returning the primary non-Labour first minister within the historical past of devolution, the scrutiny may even construct up.
They’re maybe getting a style of that in the beginning of convention with the row round Dyfrig Siencyn.