MS WARNS CLOSURES COULD DAMAGE RURAL COMMUNITIES

CLAIRE ARCHIBALD MS has urged Pembrokeshire councillors to protect village schools ahead of a key vote on the future of Ysgol Clydau and Manorbier Church in Wales School.

The Member of the Senedd for Ceredigion Penfro has written to councillors before today’s meeting, asking them to consider the wider impact that losing small rural schools could have on children, families and local communities.

Ms Archibald said village schools provided a type of education that was becoming increasingly rare, offering smaller, more familiar settings where children were well known by staff.

She visited Manorbier Church in Wales School on Friday, where she met staff and saw the school for herself.

Ms Archibald said: “Small village schools provide families with a type of education that is increasingly rare. They offer a more homely environment where children are well known by their teachers and where strong relationships exist between the school, families and the wider community.

“Not every child thrives in a large, busy setting. For some children, particularly those who struggle with anxiety or additional learning needs, a smaller school environment can make a real difference.”

During her visit to Manorbier, Ms Archibald said she was impressed by the care shown to pupils and the strong sense of community around the school.

She added: “These schools are not simply buildings where lessons take place. They are an important part of village life and often sit at the heart of their communities.”

In her letter to councillors, Ms Archibald said the decision was not only about buildings or numbers, but about whether different types of education were valued for different children.

She also pointed to the exceptional circumstances faced by Manorbier following the fire at the school, and said the community had already shown how strongly it valued the school through local support.

Ms Archibald warned that once rural schools close, they are very unlikely to reopen.

She said councillors should support deferral if they were not satisfied that every question had been answered and every alternative properly explored.

The future of Ysgol Clydau and Manorbier Church in Wales School is due to be decided by Pembrokeshire County Council today.

Labour says urgent action is needed as Plaid Cymru outlines plans for housing and town centre reform

WELSH LABOUR has accused the Plaid Cymru-led Welsh Government of relying too heavily on reviews and task forces rather than taking immediate action to tackle housing pressures and struggling high streets across Wales.

The criticism came after comments from Welsh Labour spokesperson for Housing and Communities, Jayne Bryant MS, who said Plaid Cymru had failed to match ambition with delivery.

In a statement issued on Tuesday (June 9), Ms Bryant said Labour supported efforts to improve access to housing and revitalise town centres, but argued that progress was being slowed by further assessments rather than concrete policies.

She said: “We all want to see better access to housing and thriving high streets across Wales. But yet again today, we hear of reviews and task forces from Plaid Cymru, but no immediate actions.

“The Welsh Labour Government delivered almost 20,000 homes in five years, protected Help to Buy Wales when it was scrapped in England, and improved renters’ rights. When will we see tangible action from Plaid Cymru?”

She added: “This is now a running theme from this Plaid Cymru government – discussion over delivery, reviews over rollout.”

The comments follow recent announcements by the Plaid Cymru-led administration indicating that housing access and regeneration will be subject to further assessment, with ministers signalling new reviews into how communities can be supported.

Housing remains one of the most politically sensitive issues in Wales, particularly in rural and coastal areas such as Pembrokeshire, where rising house prices, second homes and shortages of affordable housing continue to place pressure on local residents.

Town centres across Wales have also faced increasing challenges in recent years, with changing shopping habits, business closures and economic pressures prompting calls for renewed investment and reform.

Plaid Cymru has previously defended its approach, arguing that long-term structural problems require careful planning and evidence-based policy rather than short-term fixes.

The political row comes as housing affordability and local economic regeneration are expected to remain key battleground issues in Welsh politics over the coming months.

Welsh Government says it will apply the law following Supreme Court ruling on definition of sex

ALL FOUR Plaid Cymru MPs have backed a Westminster motion opposing the UK Government’s draft Code of Practice on services, public functions and associations.

The code follows the UK Supreme Court ruling that, for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010, the terms “sex”, “woman” and “man” refer to biological sex.

Early Day Motion 240, tabled at Westminster on June 1, states: “That the draft Code of Practice for Services, public functions and associations, a copy of which was laid before this House on 21 May, be disapproved.”

The four Plaid Cymru MPs listed as supporters are Liz Saville Roberts, Ben Lake, Llinos Medi and Ann Davies, who all signed the motion on June 3.

The issue has sparked criticism from Conservatives and Reform, who argue the guidance is needed to protect women-only spaces such as domestic abuse refuges, hospital wards and changing rooms.

Natasha Asghar MS, Welsh Conservative Member of the Senedd for Casnewydd Islwyn, said: “Women in Wales deserve clarity, dignity and safety. That means having the right to single-sex spaces enshrined and protected in law.

“Plaid Cymru’s MPs have just voted against the guidance designed to make that a reality.

“Plaid needs to explain why they are siding against women-only spaces. These are not legal technicalities. They are refuges for domestic abuse survivors, hospital wards and changing rooms. Real spaces where real women have a right to privacy and safety.”

Laura Anne Jones MS also raised the issue in the Senedd, accusing Plaid MPs of a “complete betrayal of women and girls.”

She challenged Deputy First Minister Sioned Williams over women’s refuges, girls’ changing rooms and other protected spaces.

Ms Jones said: “It is shocking that all four of your Plaid MPs in Westminster backed a motion this week opposing single-sex services for women.

“This is nothing short of a complete betrayal of women and girls right across Wales.”

Responding in the Senedd, Sioned Williams accused Reform of trying to turn a sensitive legal issue into a culture war.

She said the Welsh Government had a duty to implement the law and was already applying the Supreme Court judgment.

Ms Williams said: “As a Government, we have a duty to implement the law, and as I said, we are already applying the current law, including the judgment of the Supreme Court.

“We have made clear that we will fully abide by our legal obligations. If the code of practice is approved, we will apply it lawfully in line with our legal duties.”

She added that Westminster MPs of all parties had the right to scrutinise whether the guidance “gets the balance right.”

The Welsh Government has now issued a further statement to The Herald.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “We are committed to tackling discrimination and supporting women and girls, in a respectful and inclusive way that upholds the rights and dignity of all people.

“We respect the Supreme Court’s decision and are carefully reviewing the draft Code and its implications for Wales.

“We will lawfully and fully apply the EHRC Code of Practice in a way that continues to support inclusive services and work with public bodies and service providers to ensure the Code is implemented consistently, while maintaining dignity and respect for everyone.”

The issue remains politically sensitive, with opponents of Plaid’s position saying the draft code is necessary for clarity over single-sex spaces, while the Welsh Government says it will apply the law while maintaining dignity and respect for all groups.