Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorweth warns ‘Reform would set Wales back decades’ as he declares election a two-horse race
Plaid Cymru’s leader described the upcoming May election as a two-horse race between his party and Reform UK, stating that it was a difference between “culture or ignorance, humanity or indifference”.
Rhun ap Iorweth told the International Convention Center in Newport that a Reform government would set Wales back decades, while also targeting the Welsh Labor Party, which has run out of ideas after 27 years of governing the country.
Labor has led Wales since the Senedd was first formed as the National Assembly for Wales in 1999, but if opinion polls are to be believed, the May election could see an end to more than two decades of rule.
Mr ap Iorwerth told the packed conference room: “For Labor the party is over and so the election in May will be a choice between two opposing futures.
“Tolerance or division, progress or decay, defiance or obedience, culture or ignorance, humanity or indifference, Plaid Cymru or Reformation.
“We all know that a Reform government will set our country back decades.
“We offer hope – hope that can overcome people’s fears of other political forces that are taking Wales down a dark path.
“And we hope that in the end Wales will have a government willing to stand up to Keir Starmer, (Welsh Secretary) Jo Stevens and anyone else who denies our nation the justice it deserves.”
The Senedd election in May could lead to a once-in-a-generation shift in Welsh politics, with both Reform and Plaid Cymru hoping to win enough seats to form a new government.
Plaid Cymru had previously worked with the Welsh Labor government in cooperation agreements across a range of policy areas but withdrew from its most recent partnership in 2024.
On Friday Mr ap Iorwerth accused Reformation of using Wales as an “electoral springboard”.
He added: “They say they accept devolution for now. But they oppose it on a whim. We all know they have zero commitment to Wales or our nation.”
Mr ap Iorwerth also told the conference he would “oppose Keir Starmer” if he becomes first minister of Wales in May.
His comments come after Sir Keir stressed the importance of standing “side by side” with Labor First Minister Baroness Eluned Morgan during her visit to South Wales last week.
Speaking alongside Lady Morgan at Taff’s Well Depot, the Prime Minister said: “I cannot overestimate how important it is for our two governments to work together.”
On Friday Mr ap Iorwerth said: “From day one, as your first minister, I will work to reset the relationship between the Welsh and UK governments.
“A relationship that is now characterized by disrespect, indifference and sometimes willful ignorance.
“My first meeting with the UK Prime Minister would demonstrate a commitment to constructive and sincere work.
“But it will also demonstrate my clear expectation that the will of the people of Wales should no longer be ignored.
“This is fair funding, equality of powers with Scotland, a new Wales Bill to put these issues into law as a matter of urgency – nothing less will do.”
Dan Thomas, leader of Reform Wales, said: “Wales has a clear choice at the election in May.
“On the one hand you have Plaid, which has supported Labor for a generation, supporting policies such as Nation of Sanctuary and covering 20mph speed limits.
“On the other side is Reform, the only party that can deliver the real change Wales deserves.”
A Labor Party spokesman in Wales said: “Once again we’re getting nothing new from Plaid Cymru. They won’t answer tough questions.”
“This is the same old fantasy politics that will turn out to be as ‘unrealistic’ as the net zero commitments they abandoned.”
