Labour putting “breaks” on Welsh aspirations, Plaid Cymru warn

Labour are “putting the brakes on Welsh aspirations”, twenty-five years after a parliament for Wales was established, Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth MS will argue today.

Speaking ahead of the last First Minister’s Questions before the UK General Election on Thursday 4 July, Rhun ap Iorwerth said that Plaid Cymru is the only party saying “yes” to Wales in line with people’s wishes since 1997.

Rhun ap Iorwerth MS will call out Labour’s ‘do one thing and say another’ on issues such as fair funding, HS2 money owed to Wales, ending the two-child benefit cap and devolving powers over justice and policing where any appetite by Labour in Wales to pursue these issues are being quashed by Labour HQ in London.

Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth MS said:

“The political history of Wales for nearly thirty years is one of our nation saying “yes.”

“Yes” in 1997 to having a parliament of our own and “yes” to making more of our own decisions in 2011.

“After twenty-five years in power in Wales, the Labour Party now appears to be putting the brakes on devolution and failing to keep pace with people’s ambitions.

“Whatever Labour in Wales claims to believe, any attempts to join Plaid Cymru in saying “yes” to fair funding, HS2 consequentials, scrapping the two-child benefit cap and devolving powers over justice and policing are falling on deaf ears in London.

“Keir Starmer has made it clear that when it comes to Wales, his answer is too often “no.”

“Hoarding power in Westminster is something we’re used to from the Tories, but with UK Labour adopting a similar approach, it’s clear that only Plaid Cymru MPs will give Wales a voice in the UK Parliament.

“Labour members in Wales are right that the two-child benefit cap is the single greatest driver of child poverty.

“Labour members agree with us that control over the Crown Estates should be handed to Wales, as part of the drive to unlock our economic potential.

“If only Keir Starmer respected them and listened.

“As things stand we just face more of the same – more cuts to public services but no more powers to change our nation for good.

“I urge anyone fed up of how Labour are taking Wales for granted to vote for Plaid Cymru on 4 July as the only party committed to putting our communities before party interests.”