Appetite Grows for Devolution

The Welsh public have demonstrated a thirst for greater powers for Wales and Plaid must lead the way. That was the message from  Plaid Cymru’s Ieuan Wyn Jones during a panel discussion at the Plaid Cymru spring conference at Ffos Las, Trimsaran on the Future of the United Kingdom.

During the discussion, Mr Jones pointed out that recent polls show that the majority of people in Wales believe that the Welsh Government should have tax-raising powers. He said that the wheels had been set in motion on this with the Silk Commission’s inquiry
into the devolution of fiscal powers, and that Plaid Cymru is in a position to lead the debate on this.

Plaid Cymru’s Ieuan Wyn Jones AM said:

“We are currently in an interesting situation, where post-referendum on law making powers, the Welsh people have clearly indicated an appetite for more powers. They want Wales to have more responsibility and more accountability.

“Plaid Cymru now have an opportunity to move this debate forwards. We have submitted a detailed and thoughtful contribution to the Silk Commission which sets out which powers we think should be devolved to Wales, and we will continue to make the case for this. When Plaid Cymru is strong we can make our voices heard.

“At present, the electorate are ahead of the institutions on this matter, and we need to continue to push the agenda forwards.” 

It’s time to stop believing that poverty is inevitable

Plaid Leader’s pledge to push hope in inaugural speech

Leanne Wood will use her inaugural speech as Plaid Cymru Leader to urge the people of Wales to build a nation that offers hope, not despair to its people.

At her party’s Spring Conference in Llanelli, Leanne will emphasise Plaid’s message that poverty and hardship do not have to be inevitable. She will say:

“For real progress we need to learn to hope. To dream big dreams. Let’s decide today, from now on, to do politics differently. Let’s decide to do our politics positively. Let’s talk about ideas. Not personalities. Let’s talk about our vision of what Wales can be.

“Let’s push hope not fear. And optimism, not despair.

“If we can do that, not only will we see a better politics, but we will also see a better Wales.”

“Plaid Cymru must become the party of hope. In our day-to-day
practical work, we will fight to protect jobs, we will defend those things that are important to people.

“We will fight to protect pay and to protect our local public services. We are the party which has respect and which shows common decency towards pensioners, young people and people without work.”

Ms Wood will outline her determination to focus on Wales’ economy in order to bring about a better future. She will say that sustainable
development, and renewable technologies in particular, offer the opportunity for a second industrial revolution in Wales.

“I think there are three giant goals we need to set ourselves in the coming decade. We must build the green economy, invest in
our knowledge base and create the infrastructure for success in the 21st century.”

“Let’s get the tax powers that can power our economy, so we can reward those Welsh companies that invest in the sectors of the future.
And let’s make sure the best of our companies invest in our most
precious workforce: our people.”

Leanne will also use her speech at Ffos Las in Carmarthenshire to outline the crucial role local authorities can play in changing Wales’ economic prospects. She will also talk about what motivates her
as Plaid Cymru Leader.

“We will not accept that our poverty is inevitable. We will not accept what our opposition says: that this nation cannot be successful. We will believe in the ability of our businesses to thrive and in our families to prosper.

“In fact we are finished with putting up with things as they are because that’s how it has always been. We are done with simply
surviving and with just muddling through. We want our people to soar.” 

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

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 publishes report to move the Party of Wales forward

Moving Forward: Renewing Plaid for Wales

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.

The 80-page report published today includes 95 recommendations for the party to consider over the coming months. Significant changes are expected to be made to the party following this report with the aim of improving electoral performance and ensuring that Plaid becomes the natural political home for all in Wales who share the party’s ambitions to see the nation succeed.

Key recommendations in the report include;

• The establishment of a National Academy to revolutionise campaigning and organisation, as well as nurturing the community champions and national leaders of the future.
• A radical modernisation of the party’s campaigning methods to create a permanently campaigning party equipped with the tools that are necessary for a modern 21st century party.
• The establishment of a more effective mechanism for policy formulation. Ensuring that the skills of members, supporters and external experts are utilised in order to ensure better policy development.
• An acceptance that the Party needs greater clarity over its aims in order to be able to present a coherent and united message to the people of Wales.
• Fundamental changes to the Party’s structures in order to ensure clearer leadership and greater accountability from all Plaid representatives.

Chair of the renewal process, Dr Eurfyl ap Gwilym said;

“It is our hope that this report will act as a catalyst for a full debate within Plaid Cymru and that our recommendations will form the basis of an action plan which will lead to further success both for Plaid Cymru and the Welsh nation.

“Recent decades have seen tremendous progress in Wales with Plaid Cymru always in the vanguard. If we grasp the opportunities ahead we are confident that the best is yet to come. In the words of one of our greatest historians: ‘We have the faith and confidence that the nation in its fullness is yet to be’.”

Jocelyn Davies AM, one the six members tasked with overseeing the renewal process said;

“This comprehensive report includes 95 recommendations that will, in our view, help transform the way we campaign, engage with the people of Wales and communicate our ambitions for our nation.

“We’re determined to ensure that Plaid becomes the natural political home for all in Wales who share the party’s ambitions to see the nation succeed and this review will provide the foundation on which the can build success over the coming years.

“While Plaid Cymru has set the political agenda in Wales over many decades it has not capitalised on the increase in Welsh identity and the growing support for the people of Wales having greater control over their own affairs.

“We recommend that the Party needs to debate and clarify its constitutional goals and agree possible paths to their achievement. Only by so doing will the Party be able to present a coherent and united message to the people of Wales.

“In all its policies the Party needs to demonstrate the relevance of its constitutional programme and how a Welsh Government with greater powers will be able to deliver better lives for our people. This means placing even greater emphasis on fields such as education, health and the economy. It is by doing this that Plaid Cymru will engender more support for its wider and longer term programme including its constitutional goals.

“Our report recognises that Plaid Cymru’s strength is its membership. We believe that the Party needs to transform its campaigning methods to become a permanent, more effective campaigning force. We have proposed that the party develops a National Academy to revolutionise the way elected representative, members and supporters campaign in our communities and communicate our message.”