EQUALITY FOR WALES
A WALES FOR YOU
It has been nearly 60 years since our first MP was elected into Westminster and since then we have consistently represented Wales on a national scale. But we have changed and adapted to fight the issues which actually face Wales. Westminster continues to show disdain to the Welsh Government and by extension the Welsh People. No advancements on devolution were made by the previous Government, despite promising to do so in 2015.
Rural Wales is still littered with the tips of the former coal industry, which pose a danger to life to those who live near it. It has been 52 years since 144 people died in the Aberfan disaster, 116 of those lost were children. Yet, little progress has been made to address the coal tips which loom over the Welsh countryside. This issue predates devolution, and Westminster needs to pay for the cleanup of these tips, which are a danger to lives of thousands in Wales.
Wales has had a stable poverty rate over the last 18 years, sitting at around 23%, which has been exacerbated by the cruel Conservative cuts to Welfare. This shows how Wales must take charge of it’s own welfare system, in order to properly fight Poverty.
These are just two examples of how Westminster has neglected its duties in Wales, not only now, but historically as well. How can we trust the Westminster based parties to deliver for Wales and properly fight for the changes needed.
This manifesto contains our vision for Wales’ future, and aims to harness the potential of Wales on a level not seen before. A plan that will bring down poverty, create a new green industry and show Westminster parties that it is possible for Wales to have a bright future. This election, we have a choice. A choice to secure a bright future for Wales, or a future that leaves Wales insecure and in economic ruin. What the last 8 years of tory rule have taught us is that Westminster hardly pays Wales any mind. They have failed to uphold the provisions recommended by the St. David’s Command Paper and floundered entirely when it came to addressing the needs of the Welsh People. We must continue to fight for change in the World and Wales, despite the challenges we face.
Change does not come about quickly. We must start now in order to secure Wales’ economic success. It starts with one seat, one vote, one person. It starts with Plaid Cymru.
Leanne Wood
A WALESFIRST SETTLEMENT
Westminster has made no advancement on Welsh Devolution since 2014. A half-hearted effort was made by the Labour Party earlier this year to devolve electoral competence, alongside some other areas. This bill was a vague mess, and despite amendments, Plaid Cymru made the decision to vote against it.
Furthermore, no efforts have been made to incorporate the suggestions of the St. David’s Order Paper into legislation, and therefore Wales is missing out on crucial powers once again due to Westminster’s ignorance.
It is clear now more than ever that Westminster can no longer properly serve Welsh Interests, demonstrated by the Conservative Government’s lack of a bold plan or action for Wales. This is why a stronger and fairer devolution settlement is required to secure Wales’ future,
Plaid Cymru will provide a new settlement to include the issues that we deem key to unlocking our future. We will be working with the next incoming Government, as well as the Welsh Government to ensure that the devolution settlement benefits the Welsh People.
A Fair Devolution Settlement
Justice and Policing
Currently, Wales’ justice system is plagued with being tied to the English system. Westminster has underfunded our justice system, and the Welsh Government ends up footing the bill.
The Commission on Justice in Wales is in process of producing a report, aimed at highlighting issues in the Welsh System and advocating for a devolved justice system.
We have worked in Parliament to try and fix this grave injustice, however no attempt from the previous Government has been made to assist us in this task.
In Plaid Cymru’s new devolution settlement, we will bring forth provisions that establish a new Welsh Justice system, allowing for lower rates of crime and full control over the prosecution of Welsh citizens. As well as devolving all aspects of Policing to the Welsh Assembly.
Welsh Police forces only stand to gain from this new power, and could receive an additional £25,000,000 a year from Barnett Consequentials, equating to around 900 more officers keeping our streets safe.
Wales is behind other Devolved Parliaments when it comes to Justice and Policing, with both Scotland and Northern Ireland having full control over their systems. Even some areas of England, like Greater Manchester and London have more powers over policing that the Welsh Assembly. Once again, Westminster fails in its duty to the Welsh People. By working with the Welsh Government, we will place pressure on the incoming Westminster Government to devolve all aspects of Justice and Policing to the Welsh Assembly, and finally give Wales a proper chance to keep it’s streets safe.
Broadcasting
A Fair Devolution Settlement
Plaid Cymru support the devolution of broadcasting powers to Wales, including the power to regulate, oversee and secure accountability for broadcasting and communications within Wales.
We want to see the establishment of an independent Broadcasting Authority for Wales and see no reason why governance of S4C should be in the hands of Westminster, rather than our democratically elected representatives in Wales.
Taxation and Welfare
Wales taxpayer money currently goes entirely to Westminster and often does not end up benefitting them in the slightest. Wales has the potential to reduce the necessity for UK Government funding, if all aspects of taxation were devolved to the Welsh Assembly.
As a part of Plaid Cymru’s plans to create a new settlement, front and centre would be the devolution of all taxes, as well as the ability to create new ones. This would allow for Wales to decide it’s own destiny and reduce the reliance on Westminster Funding for the Welsh Government.
Under the Conservatives, benefits such as Personal Independence Payments have been cut to shocking lows. Many people in Wales relied on Universal Credit payments prior to the cuts and this has brought forth the issue of benefits. Should welfare be even partially devolved to the Assembly, we could tackle poverty in Wales head on.
Energy
Given the rise of the cost of energy prices and the failure to take action by the Conservative Government, Energy must be devolved to Wales as a matter of priority. This isn’t just about affordability however, we must move forward in building renewable sources of energy in Wales.
Wales is a nation rich in Natural Energy resources, such as tidal, wind and hydro-electric capabilities. Currently the UK Government does not allocate enough funding for projects that harness this potential. This needs to be changed.
The devolution of Energy also provides the opportunity for the creation of thousands of high-skill jobs. If we move forward with Renewable Energy Projects, there’s no telling the economic benefit it could provide, as it paves the way for a new high-skilled renewable industry. It would also attract investment from companies looking to get involved in a new, exciting green industry.
Wales is a country that produces a surplus of electricity, the majority of which is exported to other parts of the country. This means that the costs for Welsh Consumers is directly affected by the deficit of other parts of the UK.
By securing powers over our own energy, we can bring down the cost of energy for all consumers in Wales, by creating a new national grid and a new regulator specifically for Wales. We can prioritise Welsh interests before then selling the surplus to other energy companies in the UK.
This will also accelerate the transition of Wales to becoming a green economy, allowing us to invest in infrastructure like smart grids and energy storage. It also ensures that we can keep committed to our own climate goals and become a net-zero country.
A Fair Devolution Settlement
Rail Infrastructure
The Railways in Wales have suffered greatly from inefficient infrastructure in the last 20 years. Westminster has showed a complete lack of willingness to change this. We must again take matters into our own hands. Wales needs a built-for-purpose railway that properly connects our communities.
Devolved Rail Infrastructure would allow for Wales to accelerate the electrification of existing lines. Out of the four mainline rail lines in Wales only 2 of them are currently electrified or being electrified as of writing. There are plans to finish the electrification of the network, but it is not moving forward fast enough. If we are serious about reducing Wales’ impact on the climate we need to take bold action to completely phase out the usage of diesel and petrol locomotives.
Under British Rail and the following privatisation, Wales’ rail network became heavily disconnected. The closure of the CaerfyrddinAberystwyth line meant that the North and South rail networks of Wales stands majorly disconnected, without elongating the route through England. This increases the reliance on cars for journeys North to South in Wales, something which we must desperately try to reduce. Plaid Cymru is proposing to rebuild the Aberystwyth-Caerfyrddin Line and finally reconnect these communities.
Wales currently misses out when England plans large Rail Infrastructure projects. For example, HS1 and HS2. The plans for HS2 are likely to be labelled an “England and Wales Project” despite it being entirely in England and not benefitting Wales in the slightest. If Rail Infrastructure is devolved, the Welsh Assembly would not miss out on funding through Barnett Consequentials in the way it would in its current form.
Crown Estate
Currently the Crown estate is just another revenue stream for the UK Treasury, where it will be allocated to spending which may not necessarily benefit Wales. How is that fair?
Wales has the potential to use it’s coastline and take advantage of the Wind speeds to create a massive wind farm on the current crown estate.
Crown estate profits could easily bring half a billion pounds of renewable energy into Wales, and yet Westminster has denied multiple attempts to devolve it.
We are hoping to work with the next Government in Westminster to finally devolve the Crown Estate and further the possibility of a green Wales.
Saint David’s Day Command Paper
In 2015, the UK Government published the St David’s Day Command Paper, claiming it would strengthen Welsh devolution. But nearly three years later, its promises remain largely unfulfilled.
Instead of a clearer and stronger settlement, Wales received the Wales Act 2017; a confused and limited piece of legislation that failed to deliver key commitments made in the Command Paper. Powers over policing, justice, broadcasting, and the Crown Estate remain in Westminster, and the new “reserved powers” model has created legal uncertainty, not clarity.
Plaid Cymru warned this would happen. We believe the people of Wales deserve a devolution settlement based on fairness, respect, and real autonomy; not half-measures and broken promises.
We will fight to ensure that Wales is no longer treated as an afterthought; and that the powers promised to us are not only delivered, but extended.
A Fair Devolution Settlement
Barnett Formula
For a long time, the Barnett Formula has failed to properly fund the needs of Wales, instead tailoring itself on England’s needs. Whilst it does allocate extra funding to the Welsh Government, it does so in an inefficient and improper manner.
Plaid Cymru is committed to creating a new funding formula that actually caters to the needs of Wales, and that works in collaboration with Westminster
Fair funding is the first step to achieving a Wales that will work for the Welsh People. The Barnett Formula aims to ensure that we receive fair compensation for the Government funding projects elsewhere, specifically England. Without re-evaluating the way that the formula works and creating a new one we are closed to the possibility of a fairly funded Wales.
Bank Holidays
Wales has the fewest number of Bank Holidays in Europe, and no power over when those Bank Holidays take place.
Plaid Cymru believes that the power to decide Bank Holidays in Wales should be in the hands of the Senedd, and that our national day, St David’s Day, should be a Bank Holiday in Wales on March 1st each year.
BREXIT AND WALES
In 2016, Wales narrowly voted to leave the European Union. Plaid Cymru is in favour of the UK remaining in the European Union as we believe that Wales only stands to lose from leaving.
One of the main arguments for Brexit was that the EU threatens national sovereignty, when in reality it does not The EU has an elected parliament, which aims to promote peace, its values, and the well-being of its citizens, whilst also offering freedom, security, and justice without internal borders. The Union is a fundamentally good thing for Wales, and the Welsh Government benefits massively from European Structural Funds, which fund infrastructure projects. From 2000-2018, over £5.3 Billion have been invested into Wales from the EU, and no party has promised to replace the funding which we will lose by leaving the EU.
Plaid Cymru’s ideal scenario is one which the UK does not leave the EU at all. However with Article 50 being triggered, and a mandate being given in the 2016 referendum, Plaid Cymru is not naive enough to believe we will not be exiting the union under the next Government. Whilst we will continue to voice opposition to Brexit in Parliament, we will work with the both the Welsh and UK Government to ensure that any Brexit deal is fair for Wales, and does not hinder Welsh interests.
This section outlines our non-negotiables when it comes to a Brexit Deal, which we will fight for in Parliament and work with the UK and Welsh Governments to bring to reality.
Brexit and Wales
Free Trade Agreement
The European Union is Wales’ largest importer and exporter, meaning that multiple sectors of the economy are reliant on the free trade agreements in the EU. Should a situation arise where the UK is to leave the EU, a deal should include a free trade agreement in order to safeguard Welsh interests and industry. Tariffs between the UK and EU would lead to an increase in costs for manufacturers and consumers.
Freedom of Movement
Both Welsh and EU citizens benefit tremendously from freedom of movement. Not only does it mean that there is less hassle during immigration processes, but it opens huge opportunities for Welsh and European Students, who may want to travel to Wales for University or vice versa.
Plaid Cymru believes that in a Brexit scenario, the UK Government should ensure that travel between the UK and EU remains relatively simple, allowing for Welsh and EU students to travel easily and access opportunities abroad.
A Final Say Referendum
Plaid Cymru firmly believes that a final referendum should be held to determine the current favourability of Brexit. This will allow for Wales’ place in Europe to be safeguarded and protects thousands of jobs which rely on EU membership in Wales.
The Conservative Party have wasted two years, in which time, only preliminary negotiations have begun. They have wasted two years on their Brexit project, leading to market uncertainty.
Two thirds of Welsh Imports go to the EU, that is two thirds of our imports which are reliant on a free trade agreement. The best way to prevent paying tariffs on exports is to remain in the EU and hold a final say referendum.
A PROSPEROUS WALES
Wales is under grave threat of financial crisis, following the irresponsible cuts of Austerity. For years the Welsh Government has been shortchanged by the Conservatives, leaving finances in Cardiff Bay even more unpredictable than Westminster. This is one of the largest reasons that we fight so hard for a fair funding formula and the devolution of taxation and Welfare.
Plaid Cymru is prepared to take bold steps towards building a Wales with a prosperous future. In this chapter we will discuss our comprehensive financial platform, designed to fix years of neglect from Westminster. This will include our ambitious plan to revolutionise Wales’ economy and transform it into a new and exciting green economy.
We take the economy of this nation seriously and we will never break our mandate to the Welsh People. Our priority is simple, building an economy that benefits the entire nation, one that is no longer held back by an indifference held in Westminster towards Wales.
We will fight in the Assembly and the Commons to ensure that Wales is no longer shortchanged, and that the Welsh Government takes steps to increase economic output and potential nationwide. It’s simple, we can’t stand for the economic neglect Wales is currently facing. We cannot fix this without taking these steps, we are the only party seriously committed to fixing this grave injustice.
Wales Green New Deal A Prosperous Wales
We are demanding that the UK Government allocate an additional 1 per cent of GDP per year to capital investment over the next ten years. In Wales this would allow us to invest an extra £15 billion through a Welsh Green Jobs Revolution to shift the economy away from London. In addition we will be pressing the Treasury to allow the Welsh Government to borrow on its account up to £5 billion for capital investment. This will allow us to invest up to £20 Billion into this new deal, creating thousands of jobs and building new infrastructure to properly tackle the climate emergency and rising energy costs.
This investment capacity will allow for a new national construction fund, aimed at rebuilding Wales. If elected to government in 2021, we will embark on the largest rebuilding project since the start of devolution. We have a comprehensive plan for national infrastructure and green investment, aimed at reversing years of decline.
Projects could include:
A Green Housing Scheme
Ynys Mon Offshore Wind Farm
Nationalising Port Talbot and transitioning it to a Hydrogen Steel plant.
Investing in pollution-free busses
A network of local energy grids for Wales
Poverty
Wales in one of the most povertystruck nations in the UK, with a poverty rate of 23% in 2017. This has remained stable over the last 18 years, and is completely unacceptable for the future of the Welsh Economy. In the last Government, cuts to Welfare disproportionately affected Wales, shoiwing that Westminster can no longer be trusted with Welsh welfare.
As mentioned in section one of the manifesto, the best way to combat poverty rates is a Welsh welfare system, which actually is tailored for the Welsh people. The devolution of welfare to Wales, will give the Welsh Government a chance to properly address poverty in Wales, and allows for the Welsh Assembly to lead a targeted response to the crisis which is unfolding.
A Prosperous Wales
Housing Shortages
Across the UK, we are seeing a housing shortage on a scale not seen before. To combat this we must begin by building affordable and sustainable homes, ensuring that new developments align with local needs and the environment. We will also restore and re-purpose vacant properties into new, affordable housing.
The main issues we are seeing is a lack of supply bringing up the overall costs for houses nationwide. We need to directly address the lack of supply through re-purposing and building. We will also incorporate solar panels into all of these new houses, bringing down overall energy costs for the owners of these new developments.
Supporting Local Business
Plaid Cymru is committed to the success of Welsh Local businesses. To create success in these businesses, we will provide a new host of startup schemes and an efficient small business support service. Small business forms the backbone of the Welsh Economy and it’s important we do not leave them behind as we develop Wales’ econmy.
A Prosperous Wales 24
Trade and Industry
Plaid Cymru is committed to ensuring that trade relations between the EU and UK are fair for Wales. With two thirds of Welsh exports ending up in an EU country, a trade agreement which ,includes Tariffs on key industries, like agriculture and steel, are unacceptable. By ensuring that a fair trade deal remains in place with the EU, we can ensure that the supply chains of Welsh business are secure into the future and that Welsh manufacturing can tap into the larger, European market. The growth of Welsh industry is something that we take seriously. This is why we will be creating a Welsh Industry transition service, which will help to transition workers from traditional industry to the new green era of industry we are moving into.
Plaid Cymru will establish a grant programme for tech startups, to help bolster a new Welsh technology industry. We will also create a STEM learning pipeline, to help create a skilled workforce for this new industry.
A Plaid Cymru Government would work towards nationalising the steelworks at Port Talbot and transitioning it to a hydrogen steel plant. This will mean that the future of Welsh Steel is secure. This will also prevent unnecessary job cuts to the plant. Existing workers would all be kept on and retrained as a part of the industry transition service mentioned previously.
Plaid Cymru will also push for better infrastructure and transport links, making it easier for businesses to trade within Wales and beyond. By prioritising homegrown industries and international trade, we will build a prosperous, self-sufficient economy for Wales.
A Prosperous Wales 25
Fiscal Powers for Wales
However, as previously mentioned in chapter one, we cannot make this big of a difference without proper fiscal responsibility devolved to the Welsh Government.
This includes taxation, welfare and the profits from the crown estate. This why we will be working with Westminster to ensure we get the fiscal powers that we so truly deserve.
It’s not fair for the Welsh Government that they have little to no room in their budget because Westminster shortchanges us, or outright refuses to give us powers over taxation. Plaid Cymru will do all it takes to get Wales the financial powers that we so truly deserve.
EDUCATING WALES
The importance of an education system that properly equips the next generation for jobs, is now more important than ever. Education in Wales is a devolved matter, and the previous Welsh Governments have failed to properly advance this vital part of our nation any further.
We take the education of the next generation of Wales seriously, and commit to doing everything we can to make the next generation the strongest we’ve ever seen.
We will also invest around £1.2 Billion into Schools in Wales, to improve facilities. We will create a more succinct and comprehensive teacher training programme, to ensure that every child in Wales receives a high standard of education.
Schools are currently faced with a mental health crisis, with a 27% increase in the number of students requesting mental health support in the last 3 years. Funding will be allocated to schools for the purpose of providing mental health support to all students and tackle the crisis head on.
Preparing the next generation also requires teaching skills useful for later life. A new comprehensive and mandatory Life Skills curriculum will be set up for Welsh students, to properly assimilate students into the Adult World, something which the current standard of education is failing to do.
Educating Wales
Welsh Language
Plaid Cymru believes that the education of the Welsh Language is one of the most important parts of preserving our heritage and culture. Our language is one of the last remaining Celtic languages in the world, and is the Celtic language with the largest number of speakers.
Plaid Cymru would introduce a project, called Cymraeg 2050, aiming to bring 1 million new Welsh Speakers into Wales by 2050. This will ensure that the future of the Welsh Language is protected and that future generations understand the heritage and history of Wales.
We will ensure that all children have access to quality Welsh language teaching to enable them to achieve fluency through their school life. To do this, we will provide targets for increasing the number and percentage of subjects taught through the medium of Welsh in schools currently teaching mainly through English, as recommended by Professor Sioned Davies in her 2013 report One Language for All.
Higher Education Support
Access to higher education in Wales has been dwindling over the last few years. There are a range of reasons for this, one of the many being the cost of higher education.
Plaid Cymru believes that education should be accessed by everyone in the nation, regardless of financial background, By lowering maximum tuition fees in Wales, and investing in creating affordable housing for Welsh students, the overall financial burden of university, will decrease.
We will also abolish university fees for students wishing to venture into certain professions, such as Nursing and Medicine, to ensure that we maintain a healthy number of workers in Key Professions.
We will work with universities to ensure that they receive an appropriate amount of compensation for the revenue lost from the decrease of tuition fees.
Educating Wales
Curriculum Reform
We have a multitude of educational reforms planned, all for our first year in office. This includes a move away from traditional GCSEs and place more emphasis on a new qualification, which is equivalent, known as a Vocational Certificate of Secondary Education or VSCE, for short. The new qualification will be entirely vocational and we will work with industry experts to create courses that place an emphasis on the field that they teach. Each will be assessed differently, with a final project being undertaken, rather than an exam. Courses could include:
Agriculture, horticulture and forestry, Animal Care, Business, accounting and finance, Performing arts, Engineering.
This is only a sample list, in total there are around 15 courses we plan to introduce over a 5 year term. Additionally, a new life skills curriculum will be introduced in Schools across Wales, which is aimed at teaching young people the skills required for adult life, such as budgeting and time management.
We will dedicate specific schools in Wales as providers for VCSEs and grant them funding for the equipment required for the new qualifications They will act as an earlier introduction to industry, as well as providing an option for less academic students where they can thrive.
30 Educating Wales
Tackling Mental Health
Over the last 3 years, calls to mental health services from Welsh students has increased by 27%.
This is an unacceptable figure, the mental health of students in Wales is a top priority for Plaid Cymru. We will introduce a programme to give schools in Wales the mental health support needed by their students, starting with secondary schools, where the need is greater.
As a part of the new teacher training programme, there will be a mandatory course on mental health training, specifically teaching teachers to be proactive and intervene if needed.
Expanded Teacher Training
We will set up a new, organised programme for teacher training, to ensure that teachers receive wellrounded and comprehensive training that covers key areas, such as mental health.
There will be subject specific courses for teachers, and each training programme will include a placement at a school to learn skills on the job.
Teaching degree apprenticeship programmes will be set up to increase the number of teachers in Wales. Working with universities across the country, the courses will take 5 years to complete, and will combine a mixture of placement and academic work. This will be available from 2021 at the earliest, and will provide an additional route into teaching.
Modernising School Infrastructure
Schools in Wales will be able to apply for grants, totaling £250,000 each, to improve outdated technology and equipment in schools.
Under the last Government schools saw a flatline in funding for infrastructure upgrades and repairs. It has left schools in Wales outdated and some in very treacherous conditions. Through our new Schools programme, we will be investing millions into new infrastructure and other general repairs for schools.
Educating Wales
Apprenticeships
Plaid Cymru recognises that Apprenticeships are vital for post-16 education. They allow for students who don’t have academic avenues to pursue an instant route into an industry and earning a wage. To support apprenticeship provider and the apprentices themselves, we increase funding for programmes across Wales.
On top of this, we will increase the minimum wage for apprentices so that they can earn a fairer amount for the work that provide to companies. We will work with apprenticeship providers and apprentices alike to determine this new minimum wage.
Fair Wages for Teachers
Plaid Cymru recognises that teachers are the backbone of our education system, and we are committed to ensuring they are fairly paid for their dedication and hard work. To address years of real-terms pay cuts, we will introduce a three-year pay rise plan, delivering an immediate 10% increase in year one, followed by inflation-linked rises in years two and three. This will help retain experienced teachers, attract new talent into the profession, and reduce the number of educators leaving due to financial pressures.
Alongside pay increases, Plaid
Cymru will improve working conditions by reducing excessive workloads, increasing classroom support staff, and ensuring teachers have more time for lesson planning and professional development. We will also introduce a retention bonus for long-serving teachers, rewarding their commitment to Welsh education.
A STRONG WELSH NHS
The Welsh NHS is in a sorry state, not entirely due to the Welsh Government, but due to a lack of funding for innovation and services. The entire NHS is facing these issues, and they’re not just isolated to Wales.
In order to fix the NHS, we must first look at what’s causing the key issues and establish the key to fixing them. For example, hospitals in Wales have outdated infrastructure, which can lead to inefficient service for people who need it. All of Wales’ 84 hospitals are working with less money than desired. Plaid Cymru will properly fund the NHS, and put an end to the current mismanagement we are seeing across Wales. We will establish recruitment targets for the Welsh Government and address the shortage of medical professionals in Wales by incentivising them, through higher pay and better benefits. Plaid Cymru has also committed to abolishing tuition fees for students in the medical field and providing further financial compensation to these students. This will help people considering entering the healthcare industry into not worrying about their finances.
The understaffing in the NHS is becoming dangerous. Understaffing means that staff have to pick up extra and work longer shifts. This creates fatigue, especially with workers that have responsibilities like children or parents at home. Plaid Cymru will aim to recruit 1500 nurses, 1000 doctors and 200 dentists over a 7 year period. This ensures that as staff retire, we are replacing them, as well as filling the current gap in NHS staffing.
A Strong Welsh NHS
Mental Health Strategy
Plaid Cymru believes that mental health must be treated with the same urgency and investment as physical health. To achieve this, we will guarantee faster access to mental health support by increasing NHS funding, cutting waiting times, and expanding crisis intervention services. Our plan includes the development of community-based mental health hubs, ensuring that people can access support close to home without relying solely on hospitals. We will prioritise early intervention, making counselling and psychological therapies more widely available to prevent conditions from escalating. Additionally, a dedicated suicide prevention strategy will strengthen crisis teams, improve post-crisis support, and raise awareness to reduce stigma and save lives.
Supporting mental health also requires action beyond the NHS. That is why Plaid Cymru will work to improve mental health provision in schools and workplaces, ensuring that every school has access to a counsellor and employers implement wellbeing policies. We will take a holistic approach, addressing the wider social, economic, and cultural factors that impact mental health, ensuring services are tailored to the needs of diverse communities across Wales.
By investing in preventative care, improving accessibility, and embedding mental health support in everyday life, we will build a healthier, more resilient Wales where no one is left behind.
36 A Strong Welsh NHS
Governance
Plaid Cymru believes that the governance of the NHS in Wales must be transparent, accountable, and focused on delivering the best possible patient care. To achieve this, we will reform the management structures of NHS Wales to ensure that decisions are made efficiently and in the best interests of patients and frontline staff.
We will strengthen democratic oversight by giving local communities a greater voice in shaping healthcare services and ensuring that Health Boards are held accountable for their performance. A key priority will be cutting bureaucracy and redirecting resources to frontline services, reducing waste, and making sure that funding reaches those who need it most.o be proactive and intervene if needed.
This body will work alongside patient advocacy groups and healthcare professionals to drive improvements and hold decisionmakers to account. Plaid Cymru will push for greater long-term planning in NHS governance, ensuring that funding, workforce recruitment, and service development are sustainable and future-proofed
We will also establish an independent NHS Wales Audit and Improvement Body to oversee performance, identify inefficiencies, and ensure that best practices are shared across all health boards.
This will create a transparent and efficient Welsh NHS, which ends needles bureaucracy and provides the high-quality care that Wales has been missing.
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Tackling Addiction
A Strong Welsh NHS
Plaid Cymru recognises the life-changing effects of addiction. We also recognise that current addiction therapies and treatments are inefficient and not working. We also recognise addiction is often genetically predisposed, meaning that addicts were given a gene that makes them more vulnerable to addiction. This is key to understanding why we must stop treating addicts as criminals, they are people too, who did not necessarily have control over what started their addiction.
This is why we will be increasing Government funding to addiction and rehabilitation centres across Wales. We need to have a proper strategy to addressing this crisis, which is why we will ensure that each local authority in Wales has at least one designated hub for the rehabilitation of addicts.
Plaid Cymru will also ensure that addicts are not criminalised by police or the general public, through the launch of a public awareness campaign. Addicts are not the problem, the people who supply and deal illegal substances are. This is why we will be taking a more organised and targeted response to the supply of these substances and dish out harsher penalties for the people who manufacture, supply and deal them. Prevention and early intervention are key to tackling addiction before it takes hold. We will introduce comprehensive education programs in schools to teach young people about the risks of substance abuse, focusing on informed decision-making, resilience, and mental wellbeing. These programs will be community-led, involving healthcare professionals, people with lived experience, and local organisations to provide real-world insights and support. Additionally, we will expand outreach services to identify and support at-risk individuals early, ensuring they have access to counselling, mentorship, and social programs that promote healthier lifestyles and reduce the likelihood of addiction taking root.
38 A Strong Welsh NHS
Recruitment
Plaid Cymru is committed to tackling the NHS staffing crisis in Wales by investing in a bold and ambitious recruitment programme for doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals.
Over the next seven years, we will recruit 1,500 nurses, 1,000 doctors, and 200 dentists to ensure that our health service has the workforce it needs to provide high-quality care. This strategy will focus on both attracting new professionals to Wales and retaining existing staff by improving working conditions, reducing excessive workloads, and ensuring fair pay for NHS workers.
To make a career in healthcare more accessible, Plaid Cymru will abolish tuition fees for students in Wales studying medicine, nursing, dentistry, and other key healthcare professions. In return, graduates will commit to working within NHS Wales for a set period, ensuring that public investment directly benefits Welsh patients. By removing financial barriers to entry, we will create a sustainable pipeline of homegrown talent, reducing long-term reliance on expensive agency staff and overseas recruitment.
We will also introduce targeted incentives to attract experienced healthcare professionals to Wales, particularly in rural and underserved areas. This will include relocation support, specialist training opportunities, and career development programmes to encourage NHS staff to build long-term careers within the Welsh health service. By investing in recruitment, training, and retention, Plaid Cymru will ensure that NHS Wales has the skilled workforce needed to deliver first-class healthcare for all
A Strong Welsh NHS 39
Fair Pay and Benefits
Plaid Cymru believes that fair pay and strong benefits are essential to retaining and motivating NHS workers in Wales. To address years of underpayment and rising living costs, we will implement a structured pay rise plan, ensuring that NHS staff receive an above-inflation pay increase of 8% in year one, 6% in year two, and 5% in year three. This will help close the gap created by years of real-terms wage cuts and ensure that Wales remains an attractive place for healthcare professionals to work.
In addition to better pay, we will introduce a comprehensive benefits package to support NHS staff in both their professional and personal lives. This will include free childcare for NHS workers, helping to ease financial pressures on working parents. We will also introduce a housing support scheme, providing grants and interest-free loans to help healthcare professionals purchase homes, particularly in rural areas where recruitment is more challenging.
Plaid Cymru will also improve work-life balance by increasing staffing levels to reduce excessive workloads, ensuring fair shift patterns, and expanding mental health support services for NHS staff. We will introduce a paid sabbatical scheme, allowing long-serving healthcare workers to take time off for professional development or personal wellbeing without financial hardship. These measures will help reduce burnout and improve job satisfaction.
Finally, we will restore full NHS pay restoration for junior doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers, ensuring they are properly rewarded for their dedication. We will work closely with trade unions and professional bodies to ensure that future pay negotiations are fair and transparent.
INNOVATING TRANSPORT
Under the previous Government, bus services in Wales had their budgets slashed. It can be placed again down to the lack of funding and devolved income that the Welsh Government receives. However, the Welsh Government has also failed busses in Wales, with a study suggesting that the distance travelled by bus services in Wales had decreased by 20% from 2006-2016. A 20% decline over ten years would not be accepted in any other part of the UK, so why should we accept it here?
Furthermore, Welsh railways represent about 11% of the total makeup of railways in the UK, and yet we receive only around 1% of the total funds that go into the railways. Ask yourself, is this fair? Of course it’s not. The UK Government hasn’t been funding our railways properly and there’s a long-standing history of Welsh Railways being neglected, dating back to the Beeching cuts in the 1960s. We have lacked a sufficient railway connection between the North and South of Wales since 1965. The effect is that people wanting to travel between Aberystwyth and Caerfyrddin have to go all the way around Wales and then through Chester, Crewe, Birmingham and other railway stations.
Transport in Wales is at a major crossroads, we cannot keep the current situation as it is. Westminster and the Welsh Government must answer and fix the grave injustices present in our transport system.
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Rail Strategy
Rail in Wales is disconnected. The lack of a North-South connection that does not go through England. It currently takes seven hours to go from Aberystwyth to Caerfyrddin (Carmarthen), which is a ridiculous amount of time for towns that are only 49 miles apart. We are looking at re-opening the former line between Aberystwyth and Caerfyrddin, as well as a line between Afon-Wen and Bangor. This will create a huge link between Caerfyrddin and Bangor, finally connecting the two sides of Wales once and for all.
Plaid Cymru will work towards establishing this rail link as well as completing the electrification of all railways in Wales.
Bus Services
Plaid Cymru is committed to creating a reliable, affordable, and sustainable bus network that serves all communities across Wales.
We will introduce a fully integrated, publicly controlled bus system, ensuring that routes, timetables, and fares are designed to meet the needs of passengers rather than private profit. This will include expanding bus services in rural and underserved areas, guaranteeing that every community has access to regular and reliable public transport.
To future-proof Wales’ bus network, Plaid Cymru will invest in a zero-emission fleet, transitioning all buses to electric or hydrogenpowered vehicles by 2035. This will significantly reduce air pollution and help Wales meet its climate targets. Plaid Cymru also believes that Westminster should give the Welsh Government powers over the franchising of the Wales and Borders franchise, so that a Welsh Government can nationalise the system and make it more efficient for all the users in Wales.
We will establish a publicly owned railway company called Trafnidiaeth Cymru Trenau
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Reducing Fares
Plaid Cymru is committed to making public transport more affordable by introducing a nationwide fare cap on buses and trains, ensuring that travel costs remain fair and accessible for all. We will work towards bringing rail and bus services under public control, allowing us to set lower, standardised fares rather than leaving prices to private companies. To encourage greater use of public transport, we will introduce free bus travel for under-22s and over-60s, along with discounted fares for low-income workers and students.
In addition, Plaid Cymru will create a one-ticket, one-price system across Wales, allowing passengers to use the same ticket for buses, trains, and trams, making travel simpler and more affordable. We will also invest in local and regional travel cards, offering unlimited travel at a low monthly cost. By reducing fares and improving integration, we will make public transport the most convenient and cost-effective choice, helping to cut congestion, lower emissions, and connect communities across Wales.
Road Safety
Plaid Cymru is committed to making Wales' roads safer for everyone by prioritising improvements to road infrastructure and road safety measures. We will invest in upgrading and maintaining key roads, particularly in rural and high-risk areas, ensuring they meet modern safety standards. This includes installing more speed cameras, better lighting, clearer signage, and dedicated cycling lanes to protect all road users.
Additionally, Plaid Cymru will introduce more traffic-calming measures in residential areas and support local authorities in rolling out driver education campaigns focused on safe driving habits. These steps will help reduce accidents, protect pedestrians, and ensure a safer driving environment across Wales.
RESTORING WELSH CULTURE
Plaid Cymru is deeply concerned and strongly opposed to the cuts to Welsh cultural organisations introduced by Labour in Wales, and the impact that this is already having on Welsh national life. For many years, the funding for Welsh institutions has not kept pace with inflation and costs, meaning that they have been asked to continue to provide the same, or more, services without being properly funded to do so.
This has now reached a critical point that threatens the existence of vital cultural, heritage and arts organisations in Wales and safeguarding our national collections for future generations. Having long recognised that Wales is under-funded by the UK Government at Westminster, Plaid Cymru support additional funding being provided that will directly assist these to carry out the roles that they are required to deliver.
Plaid Cymru will expand and protect the Welsh Language, through education and the introduction of new Welsh Language acts.
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Welsh Language
Wales is a bilingual nation, where Welsh and English are both official languages.
Enabling access to the Welsh language for all is vital to allow everybody in Wales to take advantage of economic and employment opportunities and participate and access all aspects of Welsh culture. However, for the Welsh language to thrive, we need to ensure that it is used on a daily basis in all spheres across Wales – in the home, in the workplace and when socialising
Plaid Cymru continue to commit to raising the status of and allocate additional funding for Prosiect 2050 to create a million Welsh speakers by 2050. As a central part of Government, it will be able to influence and guide policy decisions across all departments. This will include ensuring Welsh for all through the education system, support for Adult Learners of Welsh, supporting Mentrau Iaith and Welsh language hubs to promote social activities in Welsh.
We believe that there should be a Welsh Language Education Act, working towards universal Welsh medium education. Working closely with local authorities, we would ensure that if targets for Welsh medium education improvements are missed, the cause is established and action taken to rectify failings.
We will ensure that all children have access to quality Welsh language teaching to enable them to achieve fluency through their school life. To do this, we will provide targets for increasing the number and percentage of subjects taught through the medium of Welsh in schools currently teaching mainly through English, as recommended by Professor Sioned Davies in her 2013 report One Language for All.
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Welsh Artefacts
A number of important and significant Welsh artefacts are held outside Wales, such as the Mold Gold Cape, the Moel Hebog Shield and the portrait of John Ystumllyn. Plaid Cymru believes that these should be returned to Wales and used in a way which benefits the nation from which they originate, rather than be held elsewhere. We believe that this principle applies to other artefacts which were removed from their original country and are now hosted elsewhere.
Bank Holidays
Wales has the fewest number of Bank Holidays in Europe, and no power over when those Bank Holidays take place. Plaid Cymru believes that the power to decide Bank Holidays in Wales should be in the hands of the Assembly, and that our national day, St David’s Day, should be a Bank Holiday in Wales on March 1st each year.
Access to the Arts, Culture and Heritage
Plaid Cymru believes that the arts are for everybody and that our organisations should continue to provide greater support and opportunities for everybody to engage with them and participate, irrespective of their background.
This requires partnerships between stakeholders to foster relationships between locally based cultural activities and our national institutions. Wales should also be a host to high quality cultural organisations, which celebrate our history and heritage, and reflect the realities of life in Wales. There should be no reason to sacrifice quality in order to ensure access for all.
Equalities
Plaid Cymru support compensation for women who have been negatively impacted by the changes in pension provision, as highlighted by the Women Against State Pension Inequality campaign (WASPI).
We reaffirm our commitment to ensure that LGBTQ+ voices and experiences are heard and will continue to actively promote LGBTQ+ rights. We will promote LGBTQ+ inclusion throughout society, including all workplaces and participation in sport, as part of a broader effort towards healthier lifestyle.
Plaid Cymru abhors racism in all its forms. We recognise that people from the global majority are structurally disadvantaged, and proactive steps need to be taken to tackle and dismantle this structural racism. In fields such as criminal justice, youth justice, recruitment, progression through education, health care and mental health, minority ethnic groups continue to face unacceptable direct and indirect discrimination.
Climate Change
Plaid Cymru recognises that the climate and nature emergencies are the biggest threat to mankind on a global scale, and reaffirms our commitment to reaching net-zero targets in Wales by 2035 and reversing biodiversity decline by 2030. This requires collaboration and planning to achieve a just transition.
We all have a part to play in tackling the global emergency Forecasters have made clear that the world is on course to becoming an uninhabitable planet. Wales can and must play its part in ensuring that the world changes its course –and we must do this in a way that is equitable and just for generations now and in the future.
The Wales Green New Deal and the Devolution of energy play as part of our commitment to an ecofriendly Wales.
Peace and Security
Plaid Cymru wants to see Wales as part of a global community where we work together to keep each other safe and secure.
Both the Tories and Labour want to spend billions on the renewal of an ineffective and unnecessary nuclear weapons system. Plaid Cymru are determined to prevent the renewal of a weapon of mass destruction and to scrap Trident. We will resist all attempts to relocate nuclear weapons in Wales or in Welsh Waters.
We will instead base our regiments at home in Wales with a properly funded and lookedafter defence force. We will also work with the UK government and other agencies on cyber-defences to prevent technology attacks upon Wales and the rest of the United Kingdom.
Plaid Cymru believes that, with the exception of binding international treaties, the decision to go to war should require the support of all four nations and we demand that a vote is held in the Senedd prior to any UK-supported military intervention in foreign affairs. The people of Wales have a democratic right to support or oppose such incursions.
Plaid Cymru will take responsibility for our Welsh based veterans, in consultation with the Welsh Veterans Partnership. Veterans have been forgotten by successive governments, with vast numbers continuing to suffer mental and physical health issues with little access to the services they require. We will make sure that veterans receive excellent health care, including mental health care, and adequate housing
Miscellaneous 50 Animal Welfare
Currently, 80% of animal welfare legislation comes from EU law. We cannot trust the Westminster government when it comes to animal welfare. As members of the EU, countries may adopt more stringent rules than the EU animal welfare legislation, which sets down minimum standards. However, the UK Government has been resistant to going further than the EU minimum in the past over fears that this would weaken UK competitiveness.
If we leave the EU, the UK will be seeking to strike trade deals with economies much larger than its own – countries such as the USA that have much lower animal welfare standards than the EU. It will be doing so from a position of weakness.
Plaid Cymru will demand that future trade deals seek to strengthen rather than weaken animal welfare legislation. However, the best way of securing animal welfare protection is by stopping Brexit, allowing us to build upon the foundations provided by EU law.
Food
The Welsh food and drink sector is integral to the prosperity and health of communities throughout Wales. The food supply chain is worth £7 billion to the Welsh economy, while the food and drink industry employs an estimated 240,000 people. We will seek to create a stronger domestic food market underpinned by a more resilient processing capacity supported by more pro-active public procurement policies. We will also protect and grow the Welsh brand, building on the highest environmental and animal welfare standards. We support a GMO-free Wales and the continuing moratorium on GM crops in the EU
Plaid Cymru will fight for full powers for the Senedd over food labelling. This would allow us to build on and enhance the Welsh brand, helping promote and add value to our internationally renowned Welsh produce.
Agriculture
Farming is the backbone of rural communities across Wales and agriculture is an important sector in terms of the broader Welsh economy. Currently, well over half of most Welsh farmer’s incomes come from the direct payments they receive through the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy. Direct payments provide stability and security to farmers and are crucial in ensuring the vitality of Welsh farms and the wider rural economy.
Plaid Cymru believes that more must be done to tackle bovine TB. Experience from other countries shows that we must be more effective in tackling TB in wildlife if we are to get a grip on the situation. Evidence from the Downs study recently underlined the contribution that removing badgers can have on TB breakdowns, which is why Plaid Cymru believes it has to be part of the answer in Wales.
Plaid Cymru is calling for the devolution of powers relating to dog attacks on livestock In the north of Wales alone, there were 449 recorded cases of dog attacks between 2013 and 2017. As well as causing distress to animals they incur a large financial burden on farmers. The four main pieces of legislation that currently cover livestock attacks are antiquated and do not fit with current agricultural practices or the seriousness of the offence. Devolution and a change in the legislation is necessary to ensure the seriousness of this offence is understood, and that Welsh police forces have the powers to properly trace and deal with offenders.
Fishing
The Welsh fish and shellfish sector is worth £25 million to Wales and exports 90% of its produce, much of it to the EU. The vast majority catch shellfish, exporting them live to the continent or further afield via EU trade deals. Welsh capture fisheries, aquaculture producers and seafood supply chains are particularly vulnerable to any hold-ups in the transporting of their produce. If they are held up in ports, they can deteriorate and lose value. Any tariff barriers or non-tariff barriers would have an immense impact on their viability.
