Plaid Cymru secures policy goals with one vote in the National Assembly for Wales

A vote to elect the First Minister of Wales has resulted in Plaid Cymru achieving major victories on policy from the minority Welsh Government.

The policy wins include:

• A plan to increase the number of GPs
• Better childcare provision
• New all-age apprenticeships – so whatever a person’s age they can benefit from apprenticeship opportunities.

Mid and West Assembly Member, chief negotiator for Plaid Cymru of the ‘Compact to Move Wales Forward’ Simon Thomas said:

“Plaid Cymru has managed to secure significant commitments, which are a major victory for us. These include policies from 5 of our 9 key election pledges. They include work on: childcare; the delivery of new all-age apprenticeships; work on a New Treatment Fund for the NHS and a plan to increase the numbers of GPs and primary healthcare workers in Wales.

“Following this achievement in the first week, I will now be working to ensure all parts of the Mid and West region benefit from these initiatives”

“Immediately Plaid Cymru has shown how an effective opposition behaves, contrast this with the Conservatives in 2011 who failed to challenge the appointment of Carwyn Jones as First Minister and did not win any policy concessions.

“Our agreement with Labour will deliver for the whole of Wales – from NHS patients, to the economy and for working parents. We are being responsible and cooperative to make real gains for people in Wales

“The compact that we have developed with Labour does not form the basis of a coalition deal nor confidence and supply, it is merely to allow Labour to nominate and elect a First Minister

“Our actions demonstrate how hard we will make the minority Welsh government work throughout the remainder of the term.

“The Party of Wales as an effective opposition we will continue to press for the best possible deal for the people of Wales.”