Plaid Cymru
Welsh nationalist party; leads Wales's first non-Labour government since devolution in 1999.
Plaid Cymru's minority Welsh Government, in office since 12 May with 43 of 96 Senedd seats, put its Programme for Government 2026-2030 to the Senedd on 22 September without naming a partner party.
Last refreshed: 7 October 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
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Plaid Cymru (Party of Wales) is a Welsh nationalist and social-Democratic Party founded in 1925. Led since 2023 by Rhun ap Iorwerth, it campaigns for Welsh independence and greater autonomy from Westminster, alongside Welsh-language promotion and public services. It won four Westminster seats at the 2024 general election.
Since 12 May 2026 it has led the Welsh Government, the first non-Labour administration since devolution began in 1999. Its manifesto, launched in Newport on 28 February 2026, ruled out an independence referendum in a first term and proposed a national Commission with a £500,000 budget to examine constitutional options.
In government, Plaid has pressed for powers rather than a referendum. On 19 May 2026, ap Iorwerth set out six constitutional demands, covering justice and policing, the Crown Estate, rail, water, Social Security and a fair funding formula, and secured a youth justice funding transfer the same week.
Plaid governs Wales without a majority
On 7 May, Plaid won 43 of the Senedd's 96 seats, the largest group but six short of a majority. Rhun ap Iorwerth became First Minister on 12 May with the votes of two Wales Green MSs, given without any written confidence-and-supply deal.
Plaid's programme, presented on 22 September, lists six aims, from NHS waiting lists to child poverty, and commits to at least 20,000 social homes by 2030. It carries no numeric target for waiting times or child poverty, and promises only to work across the Senedd where there is common ground, so each vote must be won separately.