Will Hayward - Wales Journo

“I am not afraid to embarrass Starmer” - The Rhun ap Iorwerth interview We spoke to the leader of Plaid Cymru

I sat down with Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth who the polls suggest is most likely to be the next First Minister of Wales.

We discussed how we plans to get get concessions from Keir Starmer.
willhaywardwales.substack.com/p/i-am-not-a...

In launching the Welsh Labour manifesto, Eluned Morgan did not mention Keir Starmer once.

Eluned Morgan pledges to "end homelessness in Wales by 2034".

This will seemingly replace their previous 2021 plan to "end homelessness by 2026".

Eluned Morgan has just announced "5 pledges" to the people of Wales in what she has coined "fairness you can feel".

She's will to say:

“And here’s a message to our competitors in this election. You cannot fix waiting times with a hashtag. You cannot grow wages on TikTok. You cannot build a hospital with a committee. You need a plan. You need priorities. You need delivery. That’s what Welsh Labour is offering”

In Newport today where Eluned Morgan is launching Welsh Labour's Senedd election campaign.

“There is a fundamental disconnect between Wales’ needs, defined by Plaid, and what they can realistically achieve. They accurately dissect the challenges Wales faces across a whole range of issues. But this slams into the solid brick wall of the reality that: No more money is coming”

Inside the Plaid Cymru conference Do their plans add up?

open.substack.com/pub/willhayw...
Part 1 of 3 of @willhaycardiff.bsky.social newsletter about the @plaidcymru.bsky.social party conference

Whether you support Plaid Cymru or not, it's important that they are scrutinised and held to account.

#Cymru #WelshPolitics #Wales #SeneddElection #PlaidCymru

Inside the Plaid Cymru conference Do their plans add up?

I spent the last two days at the Plaid Cymru conference.

They are the party most likely to form the next Welsh Government so the mood was excited.

Read the assessment here:

willhaywardwales.substack.com/p/inside-the...

Plaid Cymru have published their “first 100 day plan” for if they win the election.

On first reading it feels very much like a plan to make a plan….

Take a look at the part on culture.

Full analysis tomorrow in the newsletter.

If you're interested in Welsh politics I would highly recommend this substack, along with the "For Wales, See Wales podcast"
This is the journalist Reform director of communications called a "Cunt" proves he must be doing something right, gets my vote👍

Plaid leader Rhun ap Iorwerth’s speech was over 5,000 words.

Not one of them was “independence” or “annibyniaeth”.

The Will Hayward Newsletter | Substack Helping you understand Wales and Welsh politics. Click to read The Will Hayward Newsletter, a Substack publication with thousands of subscribers.

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Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth enters the conference hall at the ICC in Newport.

Full analysis this weekend in the newsletter. Sign up in next post.

Wouldn't it be amazing if we had a system where people could just vote for the parties they most like, rather than to stop the party they most hate?

First Past the Post needs to be put out of its misery.

I am starting to worry that "Tactical Choice" was not a reputable website.

YouTube video by For Wales See Wales What word would you use to describe Reform? | For Wales See Wales

The latest pod is out!

What word would you use to describe Reform?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXCR...

It is absolutely not an endorsement.

But the ability of some figures to bounce around well-paid public sector jobs doesn’t always strike me as a robust system open to new ideas and change.

I don’t know Ms Harrhy or have knowledge of her competency levels. Perhaps she is fantastic. The Welsh Gov say her appointment was following a rigorous and highly competitive appointment process

It does seem bizarre that the taxpayer has paid a woman £200k to leave her job for which she was absent for 9 months (while able to work) only for her to be given another very well-paid role at the taxpayers’ expense.

A majority of councillors present at a meeting at the time voted in favour of the £209,000 settlement rather than pursue a lengthy and potentially costlier formal investigation or arbitration process.

The absence was initially through sickness for 2 months but she was off for 9 months more despite being deemed fit to work after raising concerns relating to former council leader Sean Morgan and a senior officer.

The Welsh Government has just announced Christina Harrhy will be the new head of the Disused Tips Authority for Wales.

Haven’t heard of her? She used to be CEO of Caerphilly Council.

When she left the council she was given a £209,000 settlement after previously being absent for almost a year…

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The Welsh Tory leader just stood up in the Senedd and said he "stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the people of Ukraine."

It's worth noting that one of his parties flagship policies in Wales is to abolish the Nation of Sanctuary which is overwhelmingly aimed at supporting Ukrainian refugees.

This is really interesting.

These word clouds from a recent @moreincommonuk.bsky.social looking at Wales.

It lists the 16 words most associated with Labour, Plaid, the Tories and Reform.

There is a lot to say on this.

For the full analysis see the link in comments.

“Dangerous” - How people in Wales feel about each party Plus we break down how the Welsh Gov stats are not telling the full story

Full breakdown here: willhaywardwales.substack.com/p/dangerous-...

This is really interesting.

These word clouds from a recent @moreincommonuk.bsky.social looking at Wales.

It lists the 16 words most associated with Labour, Plaid, the Tories and Reform.

There is a lot to say on this.

For the full analysis see the link in comments.

On the way back to Wales after 3 days in London.

I still have my wallet, phone and watch.

It’s a very cool city and I felt as safe as I do anywhere.

Beware the snake oil sellers.

This is Reform MS Laura Anne Jones inside the Welsh Parliament railing against a decision by a Bangor Uni student society to ban Reform from a debate.

It is worth noting that Ms Anne Jones has previously repeatedly declined requests for interviews with journalists.