Spirit of Caerphilly by-election could propel Plaid into government, says leader
Matthew Horwood/Getty ImagesPlaid Cymru has launched its campaign for the Senedd election, comparing the battle for voters in May to its successful fight in 2025's Caerphilly by-election.
Rhun ap Iorwerth said the "spirit" of that vote, where Plaid Cymru beat Reform into second and Labour into third, could "drive us forward into the formation of the first ever Plaid Cymru government".
He said Labour's time "is up" and the election is a "straight choice between Plaid Cymru and Reform, between hope and division".
The election will take place on 7 May. Opinion polls have suggested that Plaid is vying for first place at the Senedd election, versus Reform.
Plaid Cymru say they want to cut NHS waiting lists, raise school standards and tackle child poverty.
Speaking at the Workmen's Hall in Bedwas, in the Caerphilly constituency won by Lindsay Whittle, Rhun ap Iorwerth said the by-election had made "history".
Labour suffered its first parliamentary defeat in the seat for 100 years at the October vote.
"Well five weeks from now Wales can make history again and that spirit of Caerphilly 2025, whose energy we still feel in Bedwas today, could be the spirit that drives us forward to the formation of the first ever Plaid Cymru government for Wales".
He said the people of Wales had "embraced" Plaid's "nation mission". "Our challenge now is to bring all of Wales with us".
Ap Iorwerth said the 7 May poll was the "most important election in the history of devolution".
"Labour's time is up," he said. "This now is a straight choice between Plaid Cymru and Reform, between hope and division, between credibility and chaos."
The party has set out seven priorities for the election:
- cutting NHS waiting lists and speeding up treatment times
- free childcare worth £30,000
- raising school standards
- creating well-paid jobs and a plan to support business
- tackling child poverty
- standing up for Wales to get a fair deal from Westminster
Ap Iorwerth told BBC Wales that his plans are "carefully costed" and "deliverable".
During his speech at the Workmen's Hall Lindsay Whittle described Westminster as the "enemy".
Later, ap Iorwerth said: "I've made it very, very clear that I want to have a very constructive relationship with the UK prime minister, standing up for Wales in a way that we've never seen from a Welsh government before."
