Plaid Cymru News Feed

Plaid Cymru bids the Welsh Six Nations squad good luck

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:01 +0000

As the 2012 Six Nations competition gets underway, Plaid Cymru AMs have wished the Welsh squad good luck.

The leader of Plaid Cymru Ieuan Wyn Jones has said:

The squad did us proud out in New Zealand last autumn, and I’m looking forward to an equally impressive performance in this Six Nations. Their thorough preparations have made them a physically and mentally strong team that we are all extremely proud of.

I’m sure that they will enjoy great success in this campaign, and I wish Warren Gatland and the squad the best of luck.

Plaid Cymru’s spokesperson on Sport Bethan Jenkins AM said:

The professional attitudes, great team spirit and hard work and dedication of our national rugby team make them excellent role models for young people. I look forward to cheering them on every step of the way during this Six Nations tournament, and I wish them the best of luck!

Support for greater powers, or independence for Wales has increased significantly - ITV-YouGov poll

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:01 +0000

Commenting on the ITV-YouGov poll released today (Thursday), Plaid Cymru’s Jonathan Edwards MP said;

“Support for greater powers, or independence for Wales has increased significantly in the space of just a year - up from 17% 42% when people consider the possibility of Scottish independence.

“There can be no doubt that political structures of the United Kingdom are changing. Wales must not be defined purely in relation to what happens north of the border. We must chart our own path.

“Wales is clearly growing in confidence and people are now leading the calls for greater responsibilities to be transferred so that we in Wales can create jobs, help our businesses grow and improve people’s lives.

“Plaid Cymru will be setting the agenda on these issues by showing how control over our own affairs will give Wales the best possible chance to help our nation flourish.

“Meanwhile, the unionists parties face a major crisis in terms of the future of the UK.

“Only yesterday, Labour united with the Tories in Westminster to vote against giving Wales control over our vast natural resources. It seems that once again, Labour prefers Tory rule to home rule.”

Plaid proposed energy revolution - Labour and Tory MPs team up to vote it down

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:01 +0000

Extraordinary scenes as labour block devolution of energy powers to their own Government

Plaid Cymru MP Jonathan Edwards yesterday repeated calls for energy powers to be transferred to the Welsh Government, currently run by Labour - but his motion was defeated by Labour MPs, who teamed up with Conservatives MPs to stop their own party in Wales taking these powers.

Jonathan Edwards hoped to introduce a bill in Westminster which would give the Welsh Government powers over energy generation in Wales – something supported by both Labour and the Conservatives in their Welsh general election manifesto last year, where they argued that there should be an increase from the present 50MW limit.

Mr Edwards argued that the proposal would lead to equality with Scotland and Northern Ireland and that it would allow Wales to better fight fuel poverty if we had responsibility for our own resources.

Welfare Reform is an assault on the vulnerable

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:01 +0000

Plaid Cymru’s Leanne Wood AM has said that the UK government’s Welfare Reform Bill is no more than an ideological attack on benefit claimants and some of the most vulnerable people in society.

In a Plaid Cymru debate in the Senedd to highlight the effects that the UK government’s policy is having on people in Wales, Ms Wood said that benefit reforms are affecting Wales disproportionately, and said that the case for the devolution of the benefit system is clear.

Labour failing in its duty to protect Wales Plaid

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:01 +0000

Plaid Cymru’s leader Ieuan Wyn Jones has accused the Labour Government of failing in its duty by dragging its heels at a time when Wales is slipping back into recession. The Plaid Cymru leader pointed to recent figures which have shown a drop of 0.2% in GDP. He added that figures showing a drop of 0.9% in manufacturing output, and a fall of 0.5% in the construction industry are particularly worrying for the Welsh economy. Mr Jones criticised the Labour government’s failure to take action to boost Wales’ economy despite these indicators pointing towards economic decline.

Wales can pay its own way Plaid AM

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:01 +0000

Plaid Cymru AM Simon Thomas in a debate in the Senedd has argued that Wales can be a self-reliant nation, but only if the Welsh government has power over its natural resources.

The Plaid AM said:

“The First Minister Carwyn Jones must fight for regulation, control and ownership of our wind, water, wave and solar resources. We must have national ambition from the Welsh government with a proper concern for the long term future of our planet. As the first annual report from the Climate Change Commission for Wales outlined Wales is well placed to play a leading role in the development of a global low-carbon economy but the Welsh government faces a number of challenges that require urgent and collective action.

Four in running to lead Plaid and move Wales forward

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:00:01 +0000

Candidates for Leadership 2012 announced

Four candidates will be standing for the leadership of Plaid Cymru. Assembly Members Dafydd Elis-Thomas, Elin Jones, Simon Thomas and Leanne Wood have all accepted nominations to stand in the election to succeed Ieuan Wyn Jones as Leader of the Party of Wales.

Nominations opened for the post of Leader on 3 January and closed at midnight last night (Thursday 26th). Hustings meetings will take place across the nation during February before ballot papers are sent to every member at the end of the month. The result of the ballot will be announced at a special event in Cardiff on 15 March, one week before Plaid’s spring conference.

Plaid membership up 23%

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:00:01 +0000

Wave of new members pledge to play part in making Wales better

Plaid Cymru has revealed that its membership has increased 23% in the past 4 months.

As nominations closed at midnight last night, the party said that its recent membership drive had been a big success and bodes well for the future as the party continues the process of renewal. The party will be confirming the exact rise in membership later today.

Since October the party has been undertaking one of its biggest ever membership drives, encouraging people to be part of Plaid at this crucial time in the nation’s development.

The membership drive used traditional and new media to communicate Plaid’s message to tens of thousands of people over the last four months - using online advertising, facebook, text messaging as well as other innovative techniques to communicate with the thousand of potential members who share in its vision for a better Wales. A letter was send to thousands of known supporters and branches, constituencies and members across Wales have all participated in the campaign to reach out to new supporters.

Partnership of equals: the only positive way forward for the nations of these Isles

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:01 +0000

Current devolution settlement will always hold our nation back

As the Scottish Government today announces its plans for the independence referendum, Plaid Cymru’s MP for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, Jonathan Edwards has said that the current devolution settlement delivered by Labour wasn’t sustainable and would always hold our nation back.

He said that public opinion and events had left most of the political establishment behind over further constitutional change and the time had now come for Wales to chart its own course and take control over the vital job-creating economic levers in order to flourish.

Last minute push for members on Saint Dwynwen s day

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:01 +0000

With just 24 hours left before nominations close for the Plaid Cymru leadership election, the Party is undertaking a last minute membership push to encourage new members to join the party.

The party has already seen a surge in its membership over the past three months as people join the party in order to play their part in the exciting leadership contest as well as showing their commitment to helping moving Wales forward in the coming years.

Plaid will be sending a special Love Wales, Join Plaid message on the day of Saint Dwynwen - the Welsh patron saint of love.

The greeting, sent out by text messages, email and via facebook and twitter to tens of thousands of supporters will invite supporters to join the party by midnight tomorrow night in order to get a vote in the upcoming leadership election.

Lack of delivery - hallmark of Labour government

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:01 +0000

Plaid Cymru AM, Bethan Jenkins, has said that Labour’s lack of delivery is a record to be ashamed of. The Plaid Cymru AM for South Wales West said that the reality of Labour government has been uncertainty, confusion, downgraded services, reduced terms and conditions for council workers and a distinct lack of delivery.

Peacocks losses a national scandal that must be rectified

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:01 +0000

Plaid Cymru calls for immediate action to help Peacocks workers

Plaid Cymru has called for a UK Government inquiry into the role of a publicly owned bank involved in the Peacocks affair – and immediate action to assist the company and workers that have lost their jobs.

Labour on the back foot no ideas on future of Wales

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:01 +0000

First Minister’s lack of ambition for Wales exposed in Senedd

Labour leader Carwyn Jones’ lack of ambition for Wales was today publicly exposed during First Minister’s Questions in the Senedd.

Plaid AM calls for house building programme to create jobs and tackle fuel poverty

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:00:01 +0000

Plaid Cymru’s housing spokesperson, Leanne Wood AM, has called on the Labour Welsh Government to bring forward a programme of house building and renovation to boost both economic growth and the supply of affordable housing. Leanne Wood AM added that the programme should aim to tackle fuel poverty, by improving the energy efficiency of existing housing stock as well as providing a timely boost to the construction industry, safeguarding jobs.

Jonathan Edwards MP calls for greater responsibility within the financial sector as profit-making peacocks is put into administration

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:01 +0000

Financial sector is 'self-serving cash machine for economic elite

Plaid Cymru has strongly criticised the Royal Bank of Scotland for its intention to award its chief executive Stephen Hester a bonus of £1.2m despite a fall in share prices.

The announcement comes just days after RBS pulled the plug on profit-making fashion retailer Peacocks who have been put into administration leaving thousands of livelihoods at risk.

Plaid Cymru's Economy spokesman, Jonathan Edwards MP, said:

I am deeply saddened to hear of yet another large employer in Wales being let down by the London financial sector. Welsh high streets face an increasingly difficult time – 18 months after closure 300 Woolworths stores throughout the UK still stand empty and I don’t want to see a similar legacy for Peacocks.

RBS was bailed out with billions of pounds of taxpayers' money during the financial crisis, yet showed great reluctance in lending to a profitable business during its time of need.

In recent years, the financial sector in Britain has created an unacceptable culture of rewarding failure and neglecting responsibility. RBS evidently believes that lining the pockets of one individual is more important than securing the future of 10,000 livelihoods.

The UK Government needs to curb executive pay and reform the banking system so that it works in the interests of the real economy rather than a self-serving cash machine for the economic elite.

Plaid responds to unemployment statistics

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:00:01 +0000

Call for swift and decisive action to boost economy

Plaid Cymru Economy spokesperson, Alun Ffred Jones AM, has said that a slight improvement in unemployment figures today (Wednesday 18^th January) brings hope that the jobs crisis in Wales is bottoming out. However he warned that the economic outlook is still bleak and called on the UK and Welsh governments to act swiftly and decisively to stimulate growth and create new employment.

Labour AMs exposed for misleading public over hospital cuts

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:00:01 +0000

After misleading on downgrading during campaign, Labour at it again

Plaid Cymru has accused Labour of renewed attempts to mislead the people of Wales over hospital downgrading and centralising health services.

Plaid’s Health Spokesperson Elin Jones AM pointed at examples around Wales where Labour AMs say they are opposed to the threats to their local hospitals, yet those same AMs voted in favour of downgrading and centralisation when the issue came before the Assembly in September (28/9/2011).

Plaid publishes report to move the Party of Wales forward

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:00:01 +0000

Plaid Cymru has today published the conclusions of its Party review – Moving Forward: Renewing Plaid for Wales.

The chair of the renewal process, Dr Eurfyl ap Gwilym said he hoped it “would act as a catalyst for a full debate within Plaid Cymru and lead to further success both for Plaid Cymru and the Welsh nation.”

The decision to renew the party, after recent electoral disappointments, was announced by Party leader Ieuan Wyn Jones in July 2011 and led to the establishment of a panel to oversee a complete review of Plaid.

A team of six, chaired by Dr ap Gwilym, looked at all aspects of the party, including structures; membership; vision, strategy and policy; campaigning methods; and communication. Evidence and views were gathered from Plaid representatives, grassroots members, supporters and from people outside the Party over a period of five months.

Plaid Leader calls on government to get behind Peacocks

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:00:01 +0000

Bailed out bank should not be pulling plug on Peacocks – Ieuan Wyn Jones

Plaid Cymru Leader Ieuan Wyn Jones AM raised the difficulties being faced by prominent Welsh retailer, ‘Peacocks’ during First Minister’s questions in the Senedd this afternoon. Mr Jones called on the First Minister to ensure that the company is made aware of any support that the Welsh government is able to offer.

Embarrassment for Labour as First Minister contradicts MPs

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:00:01 +0000

The Labour First Minister has openly contradicted his own party’s Welsh MPs after they voted to support the use of the private sector in the NHS.

A Westminster opposition motion, supported by 23 of Labour’s Welsh MPs, endorsed the private sector playing an important role in the delivery of NHS care. However, during Questions in the Senedd, the First Minister refused to say whether the MPs’ view was the official Labour view.