THIS year’s Senedd election will be framed as “a straight choice between Plaid and Reform”, according to Rhun ap Iorwerth, who is set to deliver the message to party members at their conference today.
Addressing delegates in Newport, the leader of Plaid Cymru is expected to argue the coming vote represents a choice between “tolerance or division” and “progress or decay”, adding that “the party is over for Labour”.
Plaid Cymru’s standing has risen to 37 per cent in the latest poll by ITV Cymru Wales and YouGov in January, up from 30 per cent in September, while Reform UK fell from 29 per cent to 23 per cent.
In his speech, ap Iorwerth will accuse Reform of treating Wales as an “electoral springboard”, claiming the party has “no accountability, no seriousness and no policies”.
He is expected to tell delegates: “We offer hope — hope that can overcome people’s fears of other political forces leading Wales down a dark path.
“Hope that things can get better for our Health Service, that our elderly relatives won’t have to wait so long for treatment, and that the burden of childcare costs on our sons and daughters’ household budgets will be eased.
“And hope that, finally, Wales will have a government willing to stand up to Keir Starmer, to Jo Stevens and anyone else denying our nation the fairness it deserves.”
The comments prompted a response from Dan Thomas, leader of Reform Wales, who said voters faced a clear choice in May.
“On the one hand is Plaid, who have propped Labour up for a generation, supporting policies like the Nation of Sanctuary and blanket 20mph speed limits,” he said. “On the other is Reform, who are the only party that can deliver the real change Wales deserves.”
Plaid Cymru is also preparing to unveil a “First 100 Days” plan for government. Ap Iorwerth is expected to pledge to “do politics differently in Wales”, promising a more transparent, people-centred administration focused on improving public services and rebuilding trust in Welsh democracy.
