Following reports that First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth is set to announce his Government priorities today, including significant further devolution and a formal request for powers to determine the timing and process of an independence referendum, Janet Finch-Saunders MS, Member of the Welsh Parliament for Bangor, Conwy and Môn, has raised serious concerns about the direction of the new Government.
Janet said:
“Less than six months ago, Plaid Cymru was presenting itself to voters as the party that would help fix our health service, improve education and strengthen our economy. Yet these are the very services that remain under enormous pressure following years of Welsh Labour Government, which Plaid Cymru supported for 27 years. Now the mask has slipped. In my view, Plaid Cymru has misled voters about its priorities.
Janet added:
“At the Plaid Cymru conference, the First Minister said: ‘We make it clear it is us that should call the referendum when the time is right. But that’s not for now or the next government.’ Yet here we are, with independence and the pursuit of further constitutional powers seemingly at the heart of the Government’s agenda.
While people are waiting months for treatment, patients are receiving care in corridors, children are being failed by our education system and businesses are crying out for growth, and our public transport is a disgrace. The First Minister is prioritising discussions about independence with Keir Starmer and the First Ministers of Scotland and Northern Ireland.
She continued:
“That is completely out of touch with the priorities of people across Wales.
The Government should be focused relentlessly on cutting NHS waiting lists, ending corridor care, preventing a lost generation of learners and creating well-paid jobs. Those are the issues that affect people’s lives every single day.
“Instead, we are seeing political energy diverted towards a constitutional project that the latest survey commissioned by YesCymru found was supported by just 32% of respondents. People voted for a Government to deliver better public services and a stronger economy. They did not vote for independence to become the Government’s overriding priority.
“If Plaid Cymru continues down this path and neglects the issues that matter most to families across Wales, it will have some very serious questions to answer at the next election. I believe that if a Senedd election was called tomorrow, voters will be thinking twice about voting Plaid Cymru.”
ENDS
Photo: Janet Finch-Saunders MS/AS
