News

Plaid Cymru sets out childcare, NHS and child poverty pledges in 2026 manifesto

Published

2 months ago

April 9, 2026

Rhun ap Iorwerth’s party says plan is radical and fully costed as it bids to lead next Welsh government

PLAID CYMRU has launched its manifesto for the 2026 Senedd election, setting out a programme focused on childcare, health, education and tackling child poverty as the party seeks to convince voters it is ready for government.

With opinion polls suggesting Plaid could be in contention for its strongest ever Senedd result, the party is presenting itself as a serious alternative administration under leader Rhun ap Iorwerth.

Rather than putting major constitutional change at the centre of the campaign, Plaid’s manifesto concentrates heavily on public services and living standards. While the party continues to support Welsh independence, it is not proposing an independence referendum during a first term in government.

Instead, Plaid says it would establish a national commission for Wales, with a budget of £500,000, to examine future constitutional options including further devolution and the foundations for a future white paper on independence.

On education, Plaid is promising to widen access to free school meals. The party says it would extend free meals to year seven to 11 pupils in households receiving Universal Credit, with no income cap. It is also pledging new incentives to attract teachers and says it wants to strengthen Welsh-medium education.

However, questions remain over whether enough Welsh-speaking staff could be recruited to support the scale of expansion Plaid is proposing across childcare and education.

The party is also promising a review of the Curriculum for Wales, alongside clearer guidance for teachers, in what appears to be an acknowledgement of continuing concern about how the reforms are working in practice.

In health, Plaid says it wants to cut waiting times, although the manifesto itself does not contain a detailed overall target. Rhun ap Iorwerth has said that under a Plaid-led government no-one would be waiting two years for treatment within the first year, with wider waiting lists brought back to pre-pandemic levels by the end of a Senedd term.

The manifesto also says Plaid would consider “all options” for reforming Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board in north Wales, leaving open the possibility of structural change at Wales’ largest health board.

On higher education, Plaid says it would prioritise a review of universities and their funding amid growing financial pressure in the sector. The party says it wants to ensure more Welsh government spending on higher education remains in Wales.

The manifesto also proposes refocusing the Seren programme towards Welsh universities and boosting participation from disadvantaged communities. Critics, however, may argue that such a move risks narrowing options for the most academically able students.

Housing and tourism policy also feature prominently. Plaid says it will review the effectiveness of current second homes and self-catering holiday let rules, including the controversial requirement for holiday lets to be rented out for at least 182 days a year to avoid being treated as second homes for council tax purposes.

That rule has been defended by those concerned about housing shortages in tourism hotspots, but it has come under strong criticism from tourism operators who say it is harming local businesses.

Plaid is also proposing to explore a Welsh child payment of £10 a week for children under six in families receiving Universal Credit. The idea would begin as a pilot scheme aimed at addressing child poverty.

But there are doubts over how easily such a scheme could be delivered, given that Wales does not have the same benefits powers as Scotland, where a similar payment already exists. Any full rollout could depend on cooperation from the UK government.

Taken together, the manifesto suggests Plaid Cymru is trying to broaden its appeal beyond its traditional base, offering a platform centred less on constitutional change and more on bread-and-butter issues such as health, schools, housing and family finances.

Whether that approach is enough to persuade voters Plaid is ready to run Wales may prove one of the defining questions of the 2026 election campaign.

Business

Plaid energy policy challenged by Labour after Adam Price interview

Published

16 hours ago

May 24, 2026

Tom Sinclair

LABOUR SAYS MINISTERS MUST EXPLAIN COST AND TIMETABLE FOR PYLON PLANS

PLAID CYMRU’S approach to energy infrastructure has come under scrutiny after Energy Minister Adam Price was challenged over plans to reduce the use of overhead pylons in Wales.

Mr Price defended the Welsh Government’s position during an appearance on BBC Radio Wales’ Sunday Supplement, arguing that communities must have greater confidence in how major grid projects are handled.

Plaid Cymru has pledged to give communities a stronger voice over energy developments and to look more closely at alternatives to overhead transmission lines, including underground cabling where possible.

The issue has become increasingly sensitive in rural parts of Wales, where proposed pylon routes linked to renewable energy schemes have raised concerns about landscape impact, tourism and local consultation.

However, Welsh Labour said the minister had failed to explain when any restriction on pylons would take effect, or who would pay the additional cost of placing cables underground.

A Welsh Labour spokesperson said: “Adam Price keeps saying how clear their manifesto was and yet he won’t say when they’re banning pylons. They won’t say who is paying for the extra cost of undergrounding cables.

“Without certainty, companies won’t invest. That’s thousands of clean, green energy jobs at risk. Plaid need more than a plan to have a plan.”

Labour said the Welsh Government must now set out how its policy would work in practice, including whether it amounts to an outright ban, what exemptions would apply, and how any extra costs would be funded.

The debate highlights the challenge facing ministers as Wales seeks to expand renewable energy generation while addressing public opposition to large-scale grid infrastructure.

Community

Pembroke Fair praised as well-organised community event

Published

16 hours ago

May 24, 2026

Tom Sinclair

HORSES, STALLS AND FAMILY CROWDS RETURN TO MONKTON

FAMILIES, horse owners and visitors turned out in force for Pembroke Fair on Saturday (May 23), with many praising the event as one of the best organised in recent years.

Held at the Community Centre Field in Monkton, the annual fair brought together horse owners, traders and local families for a traditional day centred around horses, ponies, stalls and socialising.

Coloured cobs, heavy horses, ponies and horse-drawn traps attracted attention throughout the day, with many visitors gathering around the field to watch the animals being shown and led around the site.

A variety of stalls selling everything from clothing and ornaments to tack and second-hand goods helped create a lively market atmosphere, while food vendors kept visitors fed throughout the day.

Despite overcast conditions at times, the event remained busy, with many attendees staying for several hours to enjoy the traditional fair atmosphere.

Community members later took to social media to praise the smooth running of the event, with several publicly thanking organiser Charlie Price for his efforts in bringing the fair together.

Comments described the day as “well organised” and praised the welcoming atmosphere, with many saying it was encouraging to see a long-standing local tradition continuing to thrive.

The fair once again brought together members of the travelling community, local residents and horse enthusiasts from across west Wales.

A horse drive was also due to take place on Sunday (May 24), continuing the weekend’s celebrations.

Photo captions:

Traditional gathering: Horses, ponies, horse-drawn carts and market stalls drew crowds to Pembroke Fair in Monkton on Saturday (Pic: Herald).

News

Watchdog criticises health board over £10m GP contract checks

Published

2 days ago

May 23, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A HEALTH board has been criticised by Audit Wales after GP contracts worth more than £10m were awarded without sufficient due diligence checks.

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board allowed a GP partnership associated with eHarley Street Primary Care Solutions to take on eight GP contracts in south-east Wales, with a combined annual value of around £10.1m.

Audit Wales said the board should have carried out greater scrutiny before approving the arrangements, including checks on financial resilience, workforce plans, business risks and the partnership’s ability to manage several practices at once.

However, the watchdog found no evidence of fraud and noted the board was dealing with significant pressure in general practice, including vacant contracts and limited interest from other bidders.

The report said weaknesses in governance and scrutiny contributed to later disruption and uncertainty for patients and staff when problems emerged.

Concerns included financial and workforce pressures, unpaid invoices, and issues relating to tax and pension payments. Some contracts were later handed back, requiring the health board to step in to protect services.

Natasha Asghar MS, Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Minister for Health and Social Care, said the findings were “deeply concerning”.

She said: “Patients and staff were left facing disruption and uncertainty because proper scrutiny was not carried out before these contracts were awarded.

“The Welsh Conservatives believe lessons must be learned to ensure robust checks are in place, protect frontline services and restore confidence in primary care across Wales.”

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board accepted the recommendations and said it had already strengthened its processes.

Audit Wales said the case highlighted the need for stronger checks before GP contracts are transferred, particularly when a single partnership is taking on multiple practices in a short period.