Plaid Cymru Leader Positions Welsh Election as Fundamental Choice Between Culture and Ignorance
Rhun ap Iorwerth, the leader of Plaid Cymru, has delivered a powerful address at his party's largest ever conference, framing the upcoming Welsh parliament elections in May as a stark choice between "culture or ignorance, humanity or indifference." Speaking in Newport, south-east Wales, ap Iorwerth positioned the contest as a direct battle between his party and Reform UK, claiming that both Labour and the Conservatives are "slipping away" from relevance in Welsh politics.
Radical Plans and Progressive Vision
The clear favourite to become the next Welsh first minister outlined a comprehensive radical plan designed to boost Wales' fortunes. Key proposals include establishing 10 surgical hubs to tackle NHS waiting lists and ensuring every school in Wales has a library. Ap Iorwerth announced that on Saturday, the party would reveal a detailed blueprint for its first 100 days in power following the Senedd elections.
He emphasized that his government would aggressively pursue "fair funding" for Wales and demand "parity of powers" with Scotland. While not explicitly mentioning independence—a fundamental Plaid aspiration—ap Iorwerth called for a new Wales bill and proposed establishing a standing commission to spark a national conversation about the nation's future shape.
Sharp Criticism of Political Rivals
Ap Iorwerth reserved particularly sharp criticism for Reform UK, describing their candidates as "faceless" and council leaders as "feckless." He warned that these figures represent "the canaries in the mine" regarding what Nigel Farage has planned for parliament and the people. The Plaid leader accused Reform of having "deep pockets to spread propaganda" and evangelize what he called the "deepfakes of Elon Musk's putrid platforms."
Regarding Labour, ap Iorwerth criticized Welsh Labour leader Eluned Morgan for what he viewed as defending Keir Starmer's "catastrophic poor judgment" concerning Peter Mandelson. He declared that Labour, which has dominated Welsh politics for a century, is no longer fit to govern the nation.
Conference Atmosphere and Growing Momentum
The conference opened with local Plaid Senedd member Peredur Owen Griffiths invoking the spirit of the 1839 Newport rising, when chartists marched demanding democracy and were met with bullets and establishment resistance. Throughout the event, speakers emphasized cultural importance, with leading member Heledd Fychan stating that "culture is not something nice to have" but rather "the backbone of our nation."
Attendees noted the unusually vibrant and upbeat mood at what many described as the largest Plaid conference they had ever attended. Siân Thomas, who has attended approximately 50 Plaid conferences, expressed confidence that the party would win in May and use that victory as a springboard for further electoral success in county and community elections.
Growing Membership and Strategic Positioning
Plaid Cymru is particularly pleased with the influx of younger members joining the party. Among them was Alison Vyas and her son Cole, who gained attention during Plaid's successful Caerphilly byelection campaign when they fiercely criticized Reform during a BBC debate. Ap Iorwerth noted that they weren't Plaid members then but have since joined because they share the party's vision of "building bridges and breaking down barriers."
While acknowledging the Green Party's success in the Gorton and Denton byelection, ap Iorwerth expressed confidence that Welsh voters seeking a progressive alternative would turn to Plaid. Community councillor Myfanwy Davies described the Greens as "our sister party" with no fundamental tension between the two movements, though she declined to speculate about potential cooperation in the Senedd election.
The conference merchandise stall offered telling symbols of the party's direction, selling T-shirts featuring a miner's helmet alongside the Welsh word for independence: "annibyniaeth." As Plaid prepares for what it views as a pivotal election, the party is positioning itself not just as a political alternative but as the guardian of Welsh culture and progressive values against what it characterizes as the indifference and division represented by Reform UK.
