Below is a letter by Emyr Gruffyd which appears in today's Western Mail.
"SIR – I was rather disappointed to read some of Dr Sibani Roy’s comments (Letters, May 12). I am aware that Dr Roy is a well-respected councillor for the party and works hard, especially on the issue of ethnic minority community cohesion.
However, I could not help noticing that she had fundamentally misunderstood many of Plaid Cymru’s policies on the Welsh language.
Plaid policy does not in any way advocate forcing people to learn the language to obtain employment, as Dr Roy seems to be suggesting. However, she must realise that many jobs in the public sector in North Wales ask for a qualification in Welsh as it is a region where the language is widely spoken, and a language of preference for a large proportion of the population.
As she herself will know, Plaid is strongly in favour of welcoming people of all backgrounds to settle into our communities, while at the same time increasing opportunities for people to use the Welsh language in all aspects of life, especially in the workplace and in business.
Dr Roy is also mistaken in suggesting that language policy is the cause of Plaid’s mediocre performance in the General Election; our share of the vote increased greatly in English-speaking constituencies such as Rhondda and Cynon Valley, while it suffered in the Welsh-speaking heartlands.
Dr Roy must realise that Plaid has been the only party that has cared and fought for the interests of the Welsh language since its establishment in 1925.
Unlike the Labour Party, which has thrown all its socialist principles out of the window, Plaid Cymru will never forget our core commitment to ensuring that the Welsh language is given the respect and the attention that it deserves.
EMYR GRUFFYDD
Chairman of Cardiff Cymru X – Young Plaid Ifanc"
Tuesday, 18 May 2010
Monday, 10 May 2010
Our Future in the Balance
Gan Daniel Pryce Lawrence
Well, its all over. Or is it? As it seemed likely, we are now in Hung (Balanced) Parliament territory, and predicting what will happen in the coming days and weeks is not an easy game. As I write this the talks between the parties are in full swing. But can all these parties, with their different ideologies and plans for the future of the UK form some sort of stable government? Will it be a Tory/Lib Dem government or will we see a rainbow coalition of the 'progressive' parties to fend off the Tory threat, the arithmetic is there, but only just. Can Plaid secure a good deal for Wales at the end off all this?
It has to be said it was not a great night for Plaid on May 6th, we failed to gain our main target seats of Llanelli, Ynys Mon, Ceredigion and Aberconwy, although we did put ourselves in a strong position for next years Assembly elections. But what went wrong? There certainly wasn't a lack of effort on the part of Plaid Cymru and Cymru X activists. Was it the parties campaign strategy? Plaid have always struggled in UK elections compared to Assembly elections, where it is more difficult to stress the importance of our unique message in the wider British context. But one factor that played against us must have been the impact of the leaders debates on the whole campaign.
The UK leadership debates focused minds on the 3 main London parties, and these debates essentially became the election campaign for each of the parties. Even the supposedly 'slick' media performer David Cameron suffered from these with his poor first performance, but at least he had the exposure and the opportunity to rectify it. It was argued that Plaid wasn't going to form the next government and being a relatively small player had no right to access this potential game changer. It sounds fair enough if we are looking at things from a UK wide perspective, but from a Welsh one it wasn't. British media is Welsh media to all intents and purposes, and we sadly suffer from Wales' poor media sector. One national newspaper read by less than 70 000 people will not give us a good opportunity to act on an equal playing field.
It seems that Plaid was squeezed at this election, and we struggled to really make the argument for major change that people are really screaming out for. The sad fact is that if Plaid had won an extra 4 MP's, we would have had much more of a positive change here in Wales, then a couple of extra Tories, Liberals or Labour members could ever make.
Despite all this, change does now seem inevitable, whether for the good of Wales or bad we are yet to see. The last couple of days of election fallout have been fascinating, and it is clear that whatever happens now British politics will be changed for ever. As I write this I have learned that Gordon Brown has stated his intention to step down as Labour leader and therefore Prime Minister, and a rainbow coalition of the progressive parties has become a more realistic option. Plaid could make real gains for Wales.
Let us hope in the days ahead that in the ashes of the old politics, a new more open and fair politics can emerge. I for one would be keen to see a change in the voting system, and a move towards a fairer more proportional system of electing our representatives. I have heard from a number of people since the election telling me that they had voted, but that it was a waste because their chosen candidate had no hope of winning. There can be no greater incentive for young people to vote tactically in the future (where we would find ourselves only ever voting against something rather than for something), or not to vote at all when faced with democratic choices in the future. At a time when people have less trust in political institutions and the political establishment than they have had for decades, and when cynicism rules, surely it is time we re-adjusted the system to give power back to the people. This is our perfect opportunity.
Gan Daniel Pryce Lawrence
South Wales East Representative
Well, its all over. Or is it? As it seemed likely, we are now in Hung (Balanced) Parliament territory, and predicting what will happen in the coming days and weeks is not an easy game. As I write this the talks between the parties are in full swing. But can all these parties, with their different ideologies and plans for the future of the UK form some sort of stable government? Will it be a Tory/Lib Dem government or will we see a rainbow coalition of the 'progressive' parties to fend off the Tory threat, the arithmetic is there, but only just. Can Plaid secure a good deal for Wales at the end off all this?
It has to be said it was not a great night for Plaid on May 6th, we failed to gain our main target seats of Llanelli, Ynys Mon, Ceredigion and Aberconwy, although we did put ourselves in a strong position for next years Assembly elections. But what went wrong? There certainly wasn't a lack of effort on the part of Plaid Cymru and Cymru X activists. Was it the parties campaign strategy? Plaid have always struggled in UK elections compared to Assembly elections, where it is more difficult to stress the importance of our unique message in the wider British context. But one factor that played against us must have been the impact of the leaders debates on the whole campaign.
The UK leadership debates focused minds on the 3 main London parties, and these debates essentially became the election campaign for each of the parties. Even the supposedly 'slick' media performer David Cameron suffered from these with his poor first performance, but at least he had the exposure and the opportunity to rectify it. It was argued that Plaid wasn't going to form the next government and being a relatively small player had no right to access this potential game changer. It sounds fair enough if we are looking at things from a UK wide perspective, but from a Welsh one it wasn't. British media is Welsh media to all intents and purposes, and we sadly suffer from Wales' poor media sector. One national newspaper read by less than 70 000 people will not give us a good opportunity to act on an equal playing field.
It seems that Plaid was squeezed at this election, and we struggled to really make the argument for major change that people are really screaming out for. The sad fact is that if Plaid had won an extra 4 MP's, we would have had much more of a positive change here in Wales, then a couple of extra Tories, Liberals or Labour members could ever make.
Despite all this, change does now seem inevitable, whether for the good of Wales or bad we are yet to see. The last couple of days of election fallout have been fascinating, and it is clear that whatever happens now British politics will be changed for ever. As I write this I have learned that Gordon Brown has stated his intention to step down as Labour leader and therefore Prime Minister, and a rainbow coalition of the progressive parties has become a more realistic option. Plaid could make real gains for Wales.
Let us hope in the days ahead that in the ashes of the old politics, a new more open and fair politics can emerge. I for one would be keen to see a change in the voting system, and a move towards a fairer more proportional system of electing our representatives. I have heard from a number of people since the election telling me that they had voted, but that it was a waste because their chosen candidate had no hope of winning. There can be no greater incentive for young people to vote tactically in the future (where we would find ourselves only ever voting against something rather than for something), or not to vote at all when faced with democratic choices in the future. At a time when people have less trust in political institutions and the political establishment than they have had for decades, and when cynicism rules, surely it is time we re-adjusted the system to give power back to the people. This is our perfect opportunity.
Gan Daniel Pryce Lawrence
South Wales East Representative
Thursday, 6 May 2010
Pob lwc heno!
Luke James
Cadeirydd/Chair
(Scroll down for English)
Mae adain ieuenctid y Blaid, Cymru X, yn dymuno pob hwyl i'n ymgeisyddion a'n gweithwyr heno.
Mae'n sicr y bu pobl ifanc yn rhan pwysig o wireddu ein uchelgais i ennill seddi ar draws Cymru yn yr ymgyrch etholiadol hon.
Mae'r gwaith caled ar gyfer Cymru X yn dechrau ar ôl yr etholiad, pan y byddwn yn ciesio mynd a neges unigryw ein Plaid i Ffeiriau y Glas mewn prifysgolion a gwyliau mawr megis yr eisteddfod er mwyn recriwito y genhedlaeth nesaf o arweinwyr, gweithwyr a chefnogwyr - ac i sicrhau bod rhagor o bobl ifanc yn credu yn ein neges o Gymru rydd a theg.
Ond beth bynnag y canlyniad heno, rwy'n gwybod fy mod yn siarad dros bawb yn Ngymru X gan ddweud ein bod yn hyod freintiedig i fod yn dilyn yn ôl-troed cenhedlaethau o bobl a weithiodd yn galed dros ein hachos genedlaethol yn y gorffennol.
Yn wir, rydym yn ddiolchgar i aelodau a chefnogwyr Plaid Cymru a chwalodd ystydebau ac a weithiodd yn ddiflino i'n harwain ni i'r fan yr ydym heddiw - mewn Cymru groesawgar, ddwyieithog sydd ond fisoedd i ffwrdd o gael Senedd gyda phwerau deddfu.
Megis dechrau ydym ni wrth gwrs, ond, heb ddim rhagor i'w wneud nawr, hoffwn ddweud pa mor falch ydw i i fod yn aelod o'r unig Blaid sydd wedi ymladd dros fuddianau pobl Cymru ers 1925!
----------------------
Plaid Cymru's youth movement, Cymru X, wishes all our candidates and activists the very best of luck tonight.
Young people will no doubt have been a big part of achieving our goals and winning seats for Wales all across the country in this election campaign.
The big work for Cymru X starts after the election when we take our party's unique message to university freshers fayre's and youth festivals to recruit the next generations of leaders, activists and supporters - and more and more young people are believing in our message of a free and fair Wales as a result.
But whatever the results tonight I know I speak for all of Cymru X when I say we are priveleged to be following in the footsteps of generations of people who have campaigned hard for our national cause before us.
Infact, we are incredibly grateful to the members and supporters of Plaid Cymru who smashed through stereotypes and worked tirelessly to leave us where we are today - in a billingual, welcoming Wales which is just months from a law making Senedd.
This is, of course, just the begining but on election night, with nothing left to do for now, I want to say how incredibly proud I am to be a member of the only party which has fought solely in the interests of the people of Wales since 1925!
Cadeirydd/Chair
(Scroll down for English)
Mae adain ieuenctid y Blaid, Cymru X, yn dymuno pob hwyl i'n ymgeisyddion a'n gweithwyr heno.
Mae'n sicr y bu pobl ifanc yn rhan pwysig o wireddu ein uchelgais i ennill seddi ar draws Cymru yn yr ymgyrch etholiadol hon.
Mae'r gwaith caled ar gyfer Cymru X yn dechrau ar ôl yr etholiad, pan y byddwn yn ciesio mynd a neges unigryw ein Plaid i Ffeiriau y Glas mewn prifysgolion a gwyliau mawr megis yr eisteddfod er mwyn recriwito y genhedlaeth nesaf o arweinwyr, gweithwyr a chefnogwyr - ac i sicrhau bod rhagor o bobl ifanc yn credu yn ein neges o Gymru rydd a theg.
Ond beth bynnag y canlyniad heno, rwy'n gwybod fy mod yn siarad dros bawb yn Ngymru X gan ddweud ein bod yn hyod freintiedig i fod yn dilyn yn ôl-troed cenhedlaethau o bobl a weithiodd yn galed dros ein hachos genedlaethol yn y gorffennol.
Yn wir, rydym yn ddiolchgar i aelodau a chefnogwyr Plaid Cymru a chwalodd ystydebau ac a weithiodd yn ddiflino i'n harwain ni i'r fan yr ydym heddiw - mewn Cymru groesawgar, ddwyieithog sydd ond fisoedd i ffwrdd o gael Senedd gyda phwerau deddfu.
Megis dechrau ydym ni wrth gwrs, ond, heb ddim rhagor i'w wneud nawr, hoffwn ddweud pa mor falch ydw i i fod yn aelod o'r unig Blaid sydd wedi ymladd dros fuddianau pobl Cymru ers 1925!
----------------------
Plaid Cymru's youth movement, Cymru X, wishes all our candidates and activists the very best of luck tonight.
Young people will no doubt have been a big part of achieving our goals and winning seats for Wales all across the country in this election campaign.
The big work for Cymru X starts after the election when we take our party's unique message to university freshers fayre's and youth festivals to recruit the next generations of leaders, activists and supporters - and more and more young people are believing in our message of a free and fair Wales as a result.
But whatever the results tonight I know I speak for all of Cymru X when I say we are priveleged to be following in the footsteps of generations of people who have campaigned hard for our national cause before us.
Infact, we are incredibly grateful to the members and supporters of Plaid Cymru who smashed through stereotypes and worked tirelessly to leave us where we are today - in a billingual, welcoming Wales which is just months from a law making Senedd.
This is, of course, just the begining but on election night, with nothing left to do for now, I want to say how incredibly proud I am to be a member of the only party which has fought solely in the interests of the people of Wales since 1925!
Sunday, 25 April 2010
The Champions of Wales Hold Ceredigion Rally
By Iago ap Steffan
Well, it was great to see so many people out in force on Saturday in bright and sunny Ceredigion. Plaid Cymru held a huge rally, endorsing its candidate Penri James, in Aberystwyth town centre. The atmosphere was amazing and it was so inspiring to have so much support from Plaid members and local people.
It felt like a day at the Oscars, lol, with the amount of 'celebrities' in town. We had Plaid councillors, AMs, an MP and its MEP out to meet and greet the local people. Not to mention the number of Plaid members, supporters and locals that just wanted to hear what Plaid had to offer. The biggest fans must have been the Lib Dem and Labour activists that were so interested in joining us that day, they really couldn't keep away.
A number of Plaid politicians spoke at the event (Dafydd Iwan, Jill Evans, Elfyn Llwyd, Ieuan Wyn Jones and Elin Jones), but the talk of the town was the speech from one of Wales' best known politicians and hero of devolution, ex-Labour MP - Ron Davies. Davies came to Ceredigion to back Plaid Cymru and Penri James and to shout out to the people of Wales that the death of Labour was the birth of Plaid - Labour was the 20th century, Plaid the 21st - the future!
Penri James had a great reception with loud cheers and chants from all over the square. He promised to work for the people of Ceredigion. This is what the people wanted to hear especially since they currently had an invisible Lib Dem MP Mark what's his name. Penri is a local guy who has lived and worked in the area all his life. A family man with great morals and someone who has worked hard to get round as many houses as he can to listen to what the people of Ceredigion actually want from their MP. This door to door campaign did not start two weeks ago like the Lib Dems, but for around two years now. Ceredigion needs a champion for Wales and who else to better represent them than that of Penri James!
As I said, Plaid had much support that day and everyone, after the rally, helped out and either distributed leaflets or canvassed. What I would like to say to all those who lent a hand is...DIOLCH YN FAWR IAWN; especially to the students of Cymdeithas CymruX Society Aberystwyth (CCXS) who have worked hard all year round and deserve praise. Plaid and CymruX would not have a future without the determination and hard work of people like yourselves. :)
Well, it was great to see so many people out in force on Saturday in bright and sunny Ceredigion. Plaid Cymru held a huge rally, endorsing its candidate Penri James, in Aberystwyth town centre. The atmosphere was amazing and it was so inspiring to have so much support from Plaid members and local people.
It felt like a day at the Oscars, lol, with the amount of 'celebrities' in town. We had Plaid councillors, AMs, an MP and its MEP out to meet and greet the local people. Not to mention the number of Plaid members, supporters and locals that just wanted to hear what Plaid had to offer. The biggest fans must have been the Lib Dem and Labour activists that were so interested in joining us that day, they really couldn't keep away.
A number of Plaid politicians spoke at the event (Dafydd Iwan, Jill Evans, Elfyn Llwyd, Ieuan Wyn Jones and Elin Jones), but the talk of the town was the speech from one of Wales' best known politicians and hero of devolution, ex-Labour MP - Ron Davies. Davies came to Ceredigion to back Plaid Cymru and Penri James and to shout out to the people of Wales that the death of Labour was the birth of Plaid - Labour was the 20th century, Plaid the 21st - the future!
Penri James had a great reception with loud cheers and chants from all over the square. He promised to work for the people of Ceredigion. This is what the people wanted to hear especially since they currently had an invisible Lib Dem MP Mark what's his name. Penri is a local guy who has lived and worked in the area all his life. A family man with great morals and someone who has worked hard to get round as many houses as he can to listen to what the people of Ceredigion actually want from their MP. This door to door campaign did not start two weeks ago like the Lib Dems, but for around two years now. Ceredigion needs a champion for Wales and who else to better represent them than that of Penri James!
As I said, Plaid had much support that day and everyone, after the rally, helped out and either distributed leaflets or canvassed. What I would like to say to all those who lent a hand is...DIOLCH YN FAWR IAWN; especially to the students of Cymdeithas CymruX Society Aberystwyth (CCXS) who have worked hard all year round and deserve praise. Plaid and CymruX would not have a future without the determination and hard work of people like yourselves. :)
Tuesday, 20 April 2010
Looking For Our Voice Again – The Undemocratic Debates
By Iago ap Steffan
Well as everyone probably knows the starting gun for the ‘leaders’ debates’ has been taken. We saw our first leaders’ debates Thursday; held by ITV in Manchester with an audience who live in England only (same rules apply to the Sky and BBC Leaders' Debates to come). Now I for one did not watch the debate. Why? Well because Wales was not represented. Not only was Plaid not able to take part, but as I have read, Wales was not mentioned and most of the topics were issues only to do with England.
Now, Nick Clegg might have won the debate, which has affected the polls not only on a UK level, but here in Wales. The Lib Dems have doubled their poll rating; this is the reason why we have been asking for a voice in the UK debates. What we can be proud about is that of the Sky News Welsh Leaders’ Debate, where Ieuan Wyn Jones had won the popular vote; 55% of those polled http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2010/04/19/viewers-rate-plaid-cymru-leader-ieuan-wyn-jones-top-in-welsh-party-leaders-debate-91466-26268472/. I look forward to what people think of the ITV Welsh debates tonight. We must also praise the hard work of our candidates on the BBC Welsh debates, Peter Ryder in Delyn and Heledd Fychan for Mongomeryshire, who both done extremely well and gained a great reception from the studio audience. Keep up the good work.
The English media have said that this is because Plaid Cymru are not putting up candidates all over the UK; well neither are the Lib Dems or Labour who have no candidates in Northern Ireland; also if this is the case where is the Green Party and, God-forbid, UKIP? If these are Prime Ministerial debates, why is Nick Clegg there? No-one believes that he will be the next PM, not even the Lib Dems themselves. Plaid Cymru and the SNP are in government in both Wales and Scotland, whereas the Conservatives and Lib Dems are not in ANY national government. The people of Wales and Scotland are yet again ignored by the EBC (English Broadcasting Corporation), ETV (not ITV) and ESKYB (instead of British Sky Broadcasting). We need a stronger voice.
Due to the undemocratic state that we unfortunately live in today, when other European nations have reformed their systems, this is now the time to fight and work harder than ever before to make sure Wales has Plaid MPs to represent our corner of this island. We have key seats all over Wales and we need to make sure that all of us, our friends and family too, get ourselves out there and help campaign to ensure Plaid win. We can't be complacent, we all have to work hard and who knows maybe we will win more than just our key seats. If you support Wales, support Plaid, the only party that will put you and your nation first and look after those most vulnerable in our society.
Well as everyone probably knows the starting gun for the ‘leaders’ debates’ has been taken. We saw our first leaders’ debates Thursday; held by ITV in Manchester with an audience who live in England only (same rules apply to the Sky and BBC Leaders' Debates to come). Now I for one did not watch the debate. Why? Well because Wales was not represented. Not only was Plaid not able to take part, but as I have read, Wales was not mentioned and most of the topics were issues only to do with England.
Now, Nick Clegg might have won the debate, which has affected the polls not only on a UK level, but here in Wales. The Lib Dems have doubled their poll rating; this is the reason why we have been asking for a voice in the UK debates. What we can be proud about is that of the Sky News Welsh Leaders’ Debate, where Ieuan Wyn Jones had won the popular vote; 55% of those polled http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2010/04/19/viewers-rate-plaid-cymru-leader-ieuan-wyn-jones-top-in-welsh-party-leaders-debate-91466-26268472/. I look forward to what people think of the ITV Welsh debates tonight. We must also praise the hard work of our candidates on the BBC Welsh debates, Peter Ryder in Delyn and Heledd Fychan for Mongomeryshire, who both done extremely well and gained a great reception from the studio audience. Keep up the good work.
The English media have said that this is because Plaid Cymru are not putting up candidates all over the UK; well neither are the Lib Dems or Labour who have no candidates in Northern Ireland; also if this is the case where is the Green Party and, God-forbid, UKIP? If these are Prime Ministerial debates, why is Nick Clegg there? No-one believes that he will be the next PM, not even the Lib Dems themselves. Plaid Cymru and the SNP are in government in both Wales and Scotland, whereas the Conservatives and Lib Dems are not in ANY national government. The people of Wales and Scotland are yet again ignored by the EBC (English Broadcasting Corporation), ETV (not ITV) and ESKYB (instead of British Sky Broadcasting). We need a stronger voice.
Due to the undemocratic state that we unfortunately live in today, when other European nations have reformed their systems, this is now the time to fight and work harder than ever before to make sure Wales has Plaid MPs to represent our corner of this island. We have key seats all over Wales and we need to make sure that all of us, our friends and family too, get ourselves out there and help campaign to ensure Plaid win. We can't be complacent, we all have to work hard and who knows maybe we will win more than just our key seats. If you support Wales, support Plaid, the only party that will put you and your nation first and look after those most vulnerable in our society.
Tuesday, 13 April 2010
Manifesto Launched
Gan Daniel Lawrence
Plaid Cymru has today launched its manifesto which has at its heart a commitment to protecting the most vulnerable in society during these difficult economic times. Pensioners and children are those who will suffer the most as a result of future spending cuts, and as a result it will be important that we fight this general election with them in mind.
As we campaign we should bear in mind that Plaid has a massive opportunity to make a real difference in setting the agenda after the election as we may (with the help of our allies the SNP) hold the balance of power in a hung parliament. It is important that as many young people get involved and help out in their local areas as possible. I'm helping out Chris Williams' campaign in Cardiff Central, and there are numerous other young energetic Cymru X members all across Wales helping out in their local constituencies.
This election is looking like it will be the most closely fought since 1992, and the electorate faces a real choice. The state of the economy will shape the arguments, but through it all we need to remember why a strong economy is so important, it is for the common health and wealth of the people of these nations, and it is not something Plaid will forget.
There hasn't been a hung parliament in the UK since 1974, and it would be a major shock for many people around the UK to wake up on May 7th to such a scenario. But we in Wales are a bit more used to the idea of a more balanced parliament. With proportional representation in the National Assembly, coalition government and the deals needed to achieve this are, and will inevitably be a common feature for the foreseeable future. Plaid Cymru have proved themselves skillful deal breakers, both within the Welsh Assembly (with the One Wales programme of government), and in UK elections. During the late 70's Plaid made, as the historian John Davies puts it “such skillful use of the Labour party's eagerness to ensure their support that the Queens speech in November 1978 was studded with concessions to them”. These concessions included the promise to pay compensation to quarrymen suffering from silicosis, and shows that Plaid could play an important role if given the people's support.
Elections are or at least should be a battle of ideas, and the party with the best ideas should win that battle. It is our job to take those ideas to the people and hopefully we can win their trust.
Daniel Lawrence
South Wales East Representative
Plaid Cymru has today launched its manifesto which has at its heart a commitment to protecting the most vulnerable in society during these difficult economic times. Pensioners and children are those who will suffer the most as a result of future spending cuts, and as a result it will be important that we fight this general election with them in mind.
As we campaign we should bear in mind that Plaid has a massive opportunity to make a real difference in setting the agenda after the election as we may (with the help of our allies the SNP) hold the balance of power in a hung parliament. It is important that as many young people get involved and help out in their local areas as possible. I'm helping out Chris Williams' campaign in Cardiff Central, and there are numerous other young energetic Cymru X members all across Wales helping out in their local constituencies.
This election is looking like it will be the most closely fought since 1992, and the electorate faces a real choice. The state of the economy will shape the arguments, but through it all we need to remember why a strong economy is so important, it is for the common health and wealth of the people of these nations, and it is not something Plaid will forget.
There hasn't been a hung parliament in the UK since 1974, and it would be a major shock for many people around the UK to wake up on May 7th to such a scenario. But we in Wales are a bit more used to the idea of a more balanced parliament. With proportional representation in the National Assembly, coalition government and the deals needed to achieve this are, and will inevitably be a common feature for the foreseeable future. Plaid Cymru have proved themselves skillful deal breakers, both within the Welsh Assembly (with the One Wales programme of government), and in UK elections. During the late 70's Plaid made, as the historian John Davies puts it “such skillful use of the Labour party's eagerness to ensure their support that the Queens speech in November 1978 was studded with concessions to them”. These concessions included the promise to pay compensation to quarrymen suffering from silicosis, and shows that Plaid could play an important role if given the people's support.
Elections are or at least should be a battle of ideas, and the party with the best ideas should win that battle. It is our job to take those ideas to the people and hopefully we can win their trust.
Daniel Lawrence
South Wales East Representative
Wednesday, 7 April 2010
Senedd Grog......... a Seidr Rhad - Hung Parliament....... and Cheap Cider
Gan Owain Rhys James
** Scroll down for English version **
Gyda etholiad cyffreinol ar y gorwel mae’r prif bleidiau wrthi’n gwerthu eu hunain i’r wlad, ond mae teimlad gwahanol i ymgyrchoedd eleni. Gyda’r polau piniwn diweddara yn dangos senedd grog fel canlyniad tebygol mae pwer yn San Steffan yn symud o’r ddau brif blaid at y pleidiau ‘lleiafrifol’. Am y tro cynta mewn blynyddoedd all Plaid Cymru, a’n brodyr yn yr SNP, siarad am gael pwer yn Llundain; a gyda datgeliad y cytundeb ‘4 dros Gymru, 4 dros yr Alban’ gellir gweld gwir fwriad a pwrpas y bloc Celtaidd I gael dylanwad.
Dros y tymor byr bydd effaith senedd grog yn cael ei deimlo’n gryf yng Nghymru. Fel y mae pethau yn sefyll mae cyllid Cymru ar fin cael ei dorri yn frawychus wrth I’rllywodraeth geisio rheoli’i dyled, polisi a fydd yn niweidio adfywiad yr economi, ein cymunedau a’n gwasanaethau cyhoeddus yn ofnadwy. Gyda Plaid yn amddifyn diddordebau Cymru yn San Steffan bydd modd i ni osgoi y fath broblemau a dylanwadu ar y polisiau sy’n effeithio arnym ni.
Yn ogystal a hyn credaf bydd effeithiau hir dymor senedd grog eleni yn ei teimlo am ddegawdau. Bydd tirwedd gwleidyddol Prydain yn newid o’r system ddwy-bleidiol draddodiadol i un aml-bleidiol gan alluogi Plaid I fanteisio ar ein llwyddiant yn y Cynulliad a datblygu yn San Steffan. Mae pleidlais dros y Blaid wedi cael ei weld fel gwastraff mewn etholiad cyffredinol, ond ni fydd hyn yn wir yn y dyfodol. Bydd gan Plaid Cymru y gallu a’r chwant I amddifyn diddordebau Cymru ac I hybu polisiau Cymreig, gan fod yn atebol I etholwyr Cymru. Gyda llywodraeth glym-blaid yn edrych yn ansicr bydd pleidleisiau’r Ty Cyffredin yn troi’n frwydrau gwleidyddol (neu yn fargen greftus wedi’I daro yn yr ystafelloedd cefn) sy’n sicr o arwain at fanteision I’r pleidiau Celtaidd. Gyda pleidlais pob AS yn dyngedfenol mae dyddiau’r llywodraeth yn llywodraethu fel y mynnai dros Gymru wedi dod I ben.
Bydd senedd grog hefyd yn achosi traferthion I’r prif bleidiau a’r perthynas a’I canghennau Cymreig, gan sicrhau bod pleidlais dros Plaid Cymru yn golygu pleidlais er lles Cymru. Dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf gwelwyd pleidleisiau’r ASau o Gymru a’r Alban yn allweddol I allugoi’r llywodraeth I lywodraethu fel y mynnai, a hynny pan yr oedd ganddynt fwyafrif iachus. Gyda llywodraeth leiafrifol bydd sicrhau bod pob aelod yn pledileisio’n unfordd yn hanfodol; ac felly bydd cael AS sy’n barod I gynrychioli ein diddordebau ni, ein barn a’n ofnau yn fwy pwysig nag erioed. Aelodau sy’n atebol I’w etholwyr, ac nid I bwyllgor canolog y blaid, yw’r unig fordd I hybu materion Cymreig; ac dim ond Plaid Cymru all gynnig hyn.
Y pwynt olaf I drafod yw effaith y canlyniad ar system bleidleisio San Steffan. Mae adnewyddu’r ‘Cyntaf Heibio’r Postyn’ wedi cael ei drafod ers blynyddoedd, a nawr bod y Toriaid a Llafur wedi colli ei monopoli o bwer mae’n debygol y bydd y newid yn digwydd. O fewn degawd, sy’n debyg o weld dwy senedd grog arall, mae’n sicr y bydd yr etholwyr a’r gwleidyddion yn sylweddoli bod newid I system PR yn fantais I’r system ddemocrataidd. Canlyniad hyn I Gymru; ariannu cyfiawn, llywodraethu tecach a llais cryf I faterion Cymrieg… a Plaid Cymru yn arwain y gad.
Owain Rhys James
Swyddog Polisi ac Ymgyrchoedd – Cymru X
I orffen; newyddion da I gefnogwyr seidr a hawliau sifil yr wythnos yma wrth I’r llywodraeth gyhoeddi na fydd y cynnydd treth na’r Mesur Economi Digidol yn estyn y llyfrau statudol cyn diwedd y tymor seneddol.
Magners a’r rhyngrwyd heb ‘cyber-police’ I bawb yr haf yma felly!!
**********************************
With the General Election date set the main parties’ campaigning has begun, but there is a distinctively different attitude this year. With the prospect of a hung parliament hanging over each leaders head this year has opened the door for the minority parties. This will give Plaid, and our brothers in the SNP, an opportunity to yield real power at Westminster, and the revelation of the ‘4 for Wales, 4 for Scotland’ agreement is a strong signal of the Celtic block working together to ensure that the Nations get a fair deal.
The short term the effect of a hung Parliament will be beneficial for Wales. Currently the Welsh budget is pencilled in as being slashed as the Government attempts to tackle the colossal debt it faces. With Plaid protecting Welsh interests in London this extremely damaging step to Welsh communities, to our public services and to the economy as a whole can be avoided. The need to gain our support on crucial issues will give us greater leverage in securing fairer policies across the board and more importantly will ease the process of devolving powers until the referendum on Part IV powers is held.
In addition to these benefits I believe that the long term effects of a hung parliament in 2010 will be profound. The British political landscape will move from the current two-party to a multi-party system, ensuring that Plaid’s increasing success in Assembly elections can be transferred to results at the General Election. Voting for Plaid has long been seen as a wasted vote in Westminster, but this is no longer true. Plaid will be able to protect Welsh interests, further Welsh policies and, most importantly, will answer to only one master; the electorate of Wales. As a coalition government is looking unlikely each vote in the Commons will be a hard fought battle (or preferably a well negotiated agreement) which is certain to lead to beneficial concessions for the Celtic-block. With every MPs vote pivotal the days of forcing through legislation contrary to Welsh interests are gone and a new era of political bargaining awaits us.
A hung Parliament is also likely to strain the relations between the Parliamentary parties and their Assembly counterparts, meaning that a vote for Plaid really will be a vote for the best interests of Wales. Even with Labours’ majority over the last 12 years the Scottish and Welsh MP’s were constantly drafted in to ensure government success; with a hung parliament this will be of even greater importance. Therefore having MP’s who represent our interests, our opinions and our concerns will have a greater effect than ever. Making sure that the Welsh MPs are there to represent us, and not to boost whatever majority the Government will have, can only be ensured by voting for Plaid.
The final effect of a hung parliament will be on our electoral system. There has been much debate about the out-dated and unfair system of ‘First Past the Post’ currently used, and the use of PR in the devolved administrations has further fuelled the debate. With Labour and the Tories having lost their monopoly of power, now must be the time that this electoral revolution takes place. It’s likely that within a decade, which is likely to see two more hung parliaments, the people and the politicians will realise that a move to PR is the correct decision in the interest of democracy. Its result for Wales; fairer funding, enhanced governance and a greater voice for Welsh interests with Plaid leading the charge.
Owain Rhys James
Cymru X Polisi and Campaigns Officer
Finally; some good news for Cider-lovers and civil liberties campaigners alike this week as the government announced rise in duty for Cider and the Orwellian Digital Economy Bill had fallen by the wayside.
Magners [other brands are available] and web browsing free from the cyber-police for all this summer.
** Scroll down for English version **
Gyda etholiad cyffreinol ar y gorwel mae’r prif bleidiau wrthi’n gwerthu eu hunain i’r wlad, ond mae teimlad gwahanol i ymgyrchoedd eleni. Gyda’r polau piniwn diweddara yn dangos senedd grog fel canlyniad tebygol mae pwer yn San Steffan yn symud o’r ddau brif blaid at y pleidiau ‘lleiafrifol’. Am y tro cynta mewn blynyddoedd all Plaid Cymru, a’n brodyr yn yr SNP, siarad am gael pwer yn Llundain; a gyda datgeliad y cytundeb ‘4 dros Gymru, 4 dros yr Alban’ gellir gweld gwir fwriad a pwrpas y bloc Celtaidd I gael dylanwad.
Dros y tymor byr bydd effaith senedd grog yn cael ei deimlo’n gryf yng Nghymru. Fel y mae pethau yn sefyll mae cyllid Cymru ar fin cael ei dorri yn frawychus wrth I’rllywodraeth geisio rheoli’i dyled, polisi a fydd yn niweidio adfywiad yr economi, ein cymunedau a’n gwasanaethau cyhoeddus yn ofnadwy. Gyda Plaid yn amddifyn diddordebau Cymru yn San Steffan bydd modd i ni osgoi y fath broblemau a dylanwadu ar y polisiau sy’n effeithio arnym ni.
Yn ogystal a hyn credaf bydd effeithiau hir dymor senedd grog eleni yn ei teimlo am ddegawdau. Bydd tirwedd gwleidyddol Prydain yn newid o’r system ddwy-bleidiol draddodiadol i un aml-bleidiol gan alluogi Plaid I fanteisio ar ein llwyddiant yn y Cynulliad a datblygu yn San Steffan. Mae pleidlais dros y Blaid wedi cael ei weld fel gwastraff mewn etholiad cyffredinol, ond ni fydd hyn yn wir yn y dyfodol. Bydd gan Plaid Cymru y gallu a’r chwant I amddifyn diddordebau Cymru ac I hybu polisiau Cymreig, gan fod yn atebol I etholwyr Cymru. Gyda llywodraeth glym-blaid yn edrych yn ansicr bydd pleidleisiau’r Ty Cyffredin yn troi’n frwydrau gwleidyddol (neu yn fargen greftus wedi’I daro yn yr ystafelloedd cefn) sy’n sicr o arwain at fanteision I’r pleidiau Celtaidd. Gyda pleidlais pob AS yn dyngedfenol mae dyddiau’r llywodraeth yn llywodraethu fel y mynnai dros Gymru wedi dod I ben.
Bydd senedd grog hefyd yn achosi traferthion I’r prif bleidiau a’r perthynas a’I canghennau Cymreig, gan sicrhau bod pleidlais dros Plaid Cymru yn golygu pleidlais er lles Cymru. Dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf gwelwyd pleidleisiau’r ASau o Gymru a’r Alban yn allweddol I allugoi’r llywodraeth I lywodraethu fel y mynnai, a hynny pan yr oedd ganddynt fwyafrif iachus. Gyda llywodraeth leiafrifol bydd sicrhau bod pob aelod yn pledileisio’n unfordd yn hanfodol; ac felly bydd cael AS sy’n barod I gynrychioli ein diddordebau ni, ein barn a’n ofnau yn fwy pwysig nag erioed. Aelodau sy’n atebol I’w etholwyr, ac nid I bwyllgor canolog y blaid, yw’r unig fordd I hybu materion Cymreig; ac dim ond Plaid Cymru all gynnig hyn.
Y pwynt olaf I drafod yw effaith y canlyniad ar system bleidleisio San Steffan. Mae adnewyddu’r ‘Cyntaf Heibio’r Postyn’ wedi cael ei drafod ers blynyddoedd, a nawr bod y Toriaid a Llafur wedi colli ei monopoli o bwer mae’n debygol y bydd y newid yn digwydd. O fewn degawd, sy’n debyg o weld dwy senedd grog arall, mae’n sicr y bydd yr etholwyr a’r gwleidyddion yn sylweddoli bod newid I system PR yn fantais I’r system ddemocrataidd. Canlyniad hyn I Gymru; ariannu cyfiawn, llywodraethu tecach a llais cryf I faterion Cymrieg… a Plaid Cymru yn arwain y gad.
Owain Rhys James
Swyddog Polisi ac Ymgyrchoedd – Cymru X
I orffen; newyddion da I gefnogwyr seidr a hawliau sifil yr wythnos yma wrth I’r llywodraeth gyhoeddi na fydd y cynnydd treth na’r Mesur Economi Digidol yn estyn y llyfrau statudol cyn diwedd y tymor seneddol.
Magners a’r rhyngrwyd heb ‘cyber-police’ I bawb yr haf yma felly!!
**********************************
With the General Election date set the main parties’ campaigning has begun, but there is a distinctively different attitude this year. With the prospect of a hung parliament hanging over each leaders head this year has opened the door for the minority parties. This will give Plaid, and our brothers in the SNP, an opportunity to yield real power at Westminster, and the revelation of the ‘4 for Wales, 4 for Scotland’ agreement is a strong signal of the Celtic block working together to ensure that the Nations get a fair deal.
The short term the effect of a hung Parliament will be beneficial for Wales. Currently the Welsh budget is pencilled in as being slashed as the Government attempts to tackle the colossal debt it faces. With Plaid protecting Welsh interests in London this extremely damaging step to Welsh communities, to our public services and to the economy as a whole can be avoided. The need to gain our support on crucial issues will give us greater leverage in securing fairer policies across the board and more importantly will ease the process of devolving powers until the referendum on Part IV powers is held.
In addition to these benefits I believe that the long term effects of a hung parliament in 2010 will be profound. The British political landscape will move from the current two-party to a multi-party system, ensuring that Plaid’s increasing success in Assembly elections can be transferred to results at the General Election. Voting for Plaid has long been seen as a wasted vote in Westminster, but this is no longer true. Plaid will be able to protect Welsh interests, further Welsh policies and, most importantly, will answer to only one master; the electorate of Wales. As a coalition government is looking unlikely each vote in the Commons will be a hard fought battle (or preferably a well negotiated agreement) which is certain to lead to beneficial concessions for the Celtic-block. With every MPs vote pivotal the days of forcing through legislation contrary to Welsh interests are gone and a new era of political bargaining awaits us.
A hung Parliament is also likely to strain the relations between the Parliamentary parties and their Assembly counterparts, meaning that a vote for Plaid really will be a vote for the best interests of Wales. Even with Labours’ majority over the last 12 years the Scottish and Welsh MP’s were constantly drafted in to ensure government success; with a hung parliament this will be of even greater importance. Therefore having MP’s who represent our interests, our opinions and our concerns will have a greater effect than ever. Making sure that the Welsh MPs are there to represent us, and not to boost whatever majority the Government will have, can only be ensured by voting for Plaid.
The final effect of a hung parliament will be on our electoral system. There has been much debate about the out-dated and unfair system of ‘First Past the Post’ currently used, and the use of PR in the devolved administrations has further fuelled the debate. With Labour and the Tories having lost their monopoly of power, now must be the time that this electoral revolution takes place. It’s likely that within a decade, which is likely to see two more hung parliaments, the people and the politicians will realise that a move to PR is the correct decision in the interest of democracy. Its result for Wales; fairer funding, enhanced governance and a greater voice for Welsh interests with Plaid leading the charge.
Owain Rhys James
Cymru X Polisi and Campaigns Officer
Finally; some good news for Cider-lovers and civil liberties campaigners alike this week as the government announced rise in duty for Cider and the Orwellian Digital Economy Bill had fallen by the wayside.
Magners [other brands are available] and web browsing free from the cyber-police for all this summer.
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