Labour government send £73m of housing revenue to UK treasury
The new Labour government has been slammed by Plaid Cymru for sitting back and letting housing standards slip while handing £73m, which could otherwise be spent on housing, over to the UK treasury.
Responding to a statement by the Minister for housing, Leanne Wood – who speaks for Plaid Cymru on housing, said:
“In his statement, the Minister appears to simply accept that only 39% of local authorities are expected to meet Welsh Housing Quality Standards (WHQS). The WHQS were put in place in order to ensure that people living in social housing could expect a basic standard and it is unacceptable that so much housing will not meet the basic standards as set out by government. Local authorities are under severe financial pressure due to the huge cuts from the Tories and Lib Dems at Westminster which begs the question: why is the Minister is handing over £73m to the UK treasury which could otherwise be spent on improving housing stock?”
Plaid Cymru AM for the mid and west region, Simon Thomas, added:
“The Welsh housing Minister’s statement is frankly astounding. In one statement he accepts widespread failure to achieve housing standards and tells the Assembly that he will be handing over £73m to the UK treasury via the Housing Revenue Subsidy Account without putting up a fight. This is the party that claims to stand up for Wales, but the reality is that the new Labour government sits back and accepts whatever the ConDems throw at it.”
Tuesday, 5 July 2011
Thursday, 23 June 2011
Westminster statement exposes Conservative spin on wind energy
Plaid Cymru’s Assembly Member for the Mid and West region criticised the hypocrisy of Conservative AMs and MPs over their stance on wind energy. Simon Thomas AM was speaking after the UK Department for Energy and Climate Change released a statement outlining that irrespective of any Welsh planning guidance, it would be Westminster that determined the future of large scale wind farms in the region.
Simon Thomas AM said that while Conservatives have sought to portray the Assembly as being the body responsible for this development, and specifically its TAN 8 policy, it is now clear that all responsibility for this matter is reserved for Westminster.
Mr Thomas said the statement left no doubt that while Welsh Government policy will be considered it will not be a reason for approving or rejecting any application. The determining factor will be entirely down to the wishes of the Conservative and Lib Dems in Westminster. Simon Thomas AM said:
“What this statement from the Department of Energy and Climate Change makes clear is that it is the Westminster government, the Tories and Lib Dems, which is responsible for large scale wind farm developments in mid Wales. The UK government has, through this announcement; left no doubt that Welsh policy will have no bearing on the approval or rejection of wind farm developments.
“The UK government has totally exposed the hypocrisy of Conservative AMs and MPs who will now have to explain to their constituents why they have deliberately misled campaigners on this issue.
“Having been contacted by large numbers of people in the region I am very aware of the strength of feeling surrounding this issue. I am equally aware of the strength of disappointment that will felt that the local Conservative AM and MP have tried to dupe campaigners.
“The right course of action now would be for the Conservatives to accept their responsibility and engage with the community. If they do not wish to do that they should devolve the powers to Wales where we can take decisions over our own energy needs with community views at the heart of the process.”
END
The appropriate section is on page 7-8 of the attached statement and states:
“Policy set out in existing planning guidance in England, and where a proposal is located in Wales in planning policy and advice issued by the Welsh Assembly Government relevant to renewables, will provide important information to applicants of nationally significant energy infrastructure projects (energy NSIPs). The IPC should have regard to these policies and expect applicants to have taken them into account when working up their proposals.
Applicants should explain in their applications to the IPC how their proposals fit with the guidance and support its targets or, alternatively, why they depart from them. Whether an application conforms to the guidance or the targets will not, in itself, be a reason for approving or rejecting the application.”
Simon Thomas AM said that while Conservatives have sought to portray the Assembly as being the body responsible for this development, and specifically its TAN 8 policy, it is now clear that all responsibility for this matter is reserved for Westminster.
Mr Thomas said the statement left no doubt that while Welsh Government policy will be considered it will not be a reason for approving or rejecting any application. The determining factor will be entirely down to the wishes of the Conservative and Lib Dems in Westminster. Simon Thomas AM said:
“What this statement from the Department of Energy and Climate Change makes clear is that it is the Westminster government, the Tories and Lib Dems, which is responsible for large scale wind farm developments in mid Wales. The UK government has, through this announcement; left no doubt that Welsh policy will have no bearing on the approval or rejection of wind farm developments.
“The UK government has totally exposed the hypocrisy of Conservative AMs and MPs who will now have to explain to their constituents why they have deliberately misled campaigners on this issue.
“Having been contacted by large numbers of people in the region I am very aware of the strength of feeling surrounding this issue. I am equally aware of the strength of disappointment that will felt that the local Conservative AM and MP have tried to dupe campaigners.
“The right course of action now would be for the Conservatives to accept their responsibility and engage with the community. If they do not wish to do that they should devolve the powers to Wales where we can take decisions over our own energy needs with community views at the heart of the process.”
END
The appropriate section is on page 7-8 of the attached statement and states:
“Policy set out in existing planning guidance in England, and where a proposal is located in Wales in planning policy and advice issued by the Welsh Assembly Government relevant to renewables, will provide important information to applicants of nationally significant energy infrastructure projects (energy NSIPs). The IPC should have regard to these policies and expect applicants to have taken them into account when working up their proposals.
Applicants should explain in their applications to the IPC how their proposals fit with the guidance and support its targets or, alternatively, why they depart from them. Whether an application conforms to the guidance or the targets will not, in itself, be a reason for approving or rejecting the application.”
Tuesday, 21 June 2011
Plaid supports plans for part-time student help
Plaid Cymru has supported Welsh government plans to reform the way part-time higher education is funded.
Plaid Education spokesperson Simon Thomas urged the government to ensure that part-time students are treated in an equal way to their full-time counterparts.
Speaking after the Senedd debate, Simon Thomas AM said:
“Part-time students often face different challenges to their full-time counterparts – but we must recognise their right to pursue higher education and should be encouraged to do so. For that reason, Plaid Cymru believes that part-time students and full-time students should be treated the same by government.
“Plaid Cymru is determined to maintain a situation in Wales where people of all backgrounds get the same educational opportunities and that the Welsh government prioritises supporting their ambitions. We are happy to support plans that meet that aim and we will further the interests of Wales’ students at every opportunity.
“I’m please that the government has accepted Plaid’s amendment to ensure part and full-time students are treated as equals.”
Plaid Education spokesperson Simon Thomas urged the government to ensure that part-time students are treated in an equal way to their full-time counterparts.
Speaking after the Senedd debate, Simon Thomas AM said:
“Part-time students often face different challenges to their full-time counterparts – but we must recognise their right to pursue higher education and should be encouraged to do so. For that reason, Plaid Cymru believes that part-time students and full-time students should be treated the same by government.
“Plaid Cymru is determined to maintain a situation in Wales where people of all backgrounds get the same educational opportunities and that the Welsh government prioritises supporting their ambitions. We are happy to support plans that meet that aim and we will further the interests of Wales’ students at every opportunity.
“I’m please that the government has accepted Plaid’s amendment to ensure part and full-time students are treated as equals.”
Wednesday, 8 June 2011
Carwyn Jones inaction consigning Wales to an afterthought of UK politics
Plaid Cymru has called on the Welsh government to implement a more radical program of government or risk consigning Wales to the side-lines of the UK political debate. Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM, a former Welsh Heritage Minister, said that whilst Scotland and Northern Ireland were putting pressure on the Westminster government, Welsh action has been depressingly absent.
Speaking ahead of the Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) taking place tomorrow (Wednesday June 7th) Mr Thomas said as an alternative to the current approach a Plaid Cymru government would seek, amongst other things, the devolution of policing, corporation tax, natural resources, broadcasting and criminal justice.
Plaid Cymru’s Mid and West AM, Simon Thomas, challenged Carwyn Jones to live up to his promise to protect Wales by not allowing decisions about cuts to broadcasting and policing to remain in the hands of the Tories in Westminster. The Labour leader has been urged to join the First Minister’s of Scotland and Northern Ireland, who will be calling for key concessions from the UK government, instead of remaining silent.
Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM said:
“Since the election the Westminster government has been coming under increasing pressure from Scotland and Northern Ireland but unfortunately the message that Labour promised to send on behalf of Wales must have got lost along the way.
“What Labour has so far achieved is to make Wales seem insignificant to the UK debate. Plaid Cymru want to offer an alternative to that approach. Instead of allowing Wales to be marginalised we should be making it clear to the Conservative and Lib Dem coalition in Westminster, that we are not simply prepared to accept the cuts that they are offering.”
“We saw a stark contrast at the recent devolved government press conference in Edinburgh between the dynamic approach of leaders in Scotland and Northern Ireland, and that of Carwyn Jones. It is an approach that sadly risks leaving Wales irrelevant and lagging behind.”
Simon Thomas AM added:
“The current message that Carwyn Jones and Labour is sending Westminster doesn’t make much sense. They want a meeting to discuss broadcasting but don’t want the powers to determine what to do about it in future. They are opposed to police cuts but don’t want to take the responsibility for criminal justice here, rather they would prefer to see the Tories in Westminster have that control. They want to have devolution of energy projects but not for the biggest or most controversial proposals.
“In the face of Westminster cuts mixed messages and half way house solutions are not good enough. The alternative to Labour’s approach is to be bold, be ambitious and be committed to ensuring Wales doesn’t lag behind but instead sets the agenda.”
ENDS / DIWEDD
Speaking ahead of the Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) taking place tomorrow (Wednesday June 7th) Mr Thomas said as an alternative to the current approach a Plaid Cymru government would seek, amongst other things, the devolution of policing, corporation tax, natural resources, broadcasting and criminal justice.
Plaid Cymru’s Mid and West AM, Simon Thomas, challenged Carwyn Jones to live up to his promise to protect Wales by not allowing decisions about cuts to broadcasting and policing to remain in the hands of the Tories in Westminster. The Labour leader has been urged to join the First Minister’s of Scotland and Northern Ireland, who will be calling for key concessions from the UK government, instead of remaining silent.
Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM said:
“Since the election the Westminster government has been coming under increasing pressure from Scotland and Northern Ireland but unfortunately the message that Labour promised to send on behalf of Wales must have got lost along the way.
“What Labour has so far achieved is to make Wales seem insignificant to the UK debate. Plaid Cymru want to offer an alternative to that approach. Instead of allowing Wales to be marginalised we should be making it clear to the Conservative and Lib Dem coalition in Westminster, that we are not simply prepared to accept the cuts that they are offering.”
“We saw a stark contrast at the recent devolved government press conference in Edinburgh between the dynamic approach of leaders in Scotland and Northern Ireland, and that of Carwyn Jones. It is an approach that sadly risks leaving Wales irrelevant and lagging behind.”
Simon Thomas AM added:
“The current message that Carwyn Jones and Labour is sending Westminster doesn’t make much sense. They want a meeting to discuss broadcasting but don’t want the powers to determine what to do about it in future. They are opposed to police cuts but don’t want to take the responsibility for criminal justice here, rather they would prefer to see the Tories in Westminster have that control. They want to have devolution of energy projects but not for the biggest or most controversial proposals.
“In the face of Westminster cuts mixed messages and half way house solutions are not good enough. The alternative to Labour’s approach is to be bold, be ambitious and be committed to ensuring Wales doesn’t lag behind but instead sets the agenda.”
ENDS / DIWEDD
Tuesday, 24 May 2011
Down with this sort of thing
Today I saw one of the biggest protests I have ever seen at the Senedd. At least 1,000 residents of mid Wales descended on Cardiff Bay to voice their opposition to, well, to several things. Firstly to the proposed siting of pylons and sub-stations in Montgomeryshire and secondly, perhaps, to the very idea of windfarms at all in mid Wales. Behind it all, however, was a real sense of being ignored by a Welsh metropolitan elite.
There’s no doubt that the grid proposals have stirred up a hornets’ nest in the area and some politicians have seen the opportunity to jump on board with their own agendas. I listened during the election campaign to two Tory candidates swear blind that they were opposed to ALL onshore windfarms in Wales. Whilst at the same time their government in Westminster, which actually approves all energy developments over 50MW in Wales, hands out grants and incentivises the market to encourage such developments.
I am always reluctant to jump on any passing bandwagon. I’d like to think out of a sense of principle, but it’s fair to say out of experience as well. Bandwagons rarely stop where you want to get off.
So today’s event was a difficult gig for a Plaid politician who believes passionately that Wales’ wealth – both environmental and economic – lies in her hills; whether as potential windfarm sites; as water regulating and providing sponges, or for sustainable agriculture.
I felt able to address the crowd however, despite the overwhelming Conservative presence (whipped up to narrow partisanship by one Tory AM), because of three key principles:
Firstly, Plaid Cymru has long acknowledged that TAN 8 – the Welsh Government’s guidance to renewable energy development in Wales – had got things wrong by concentrating onshore wind in particular in relatively narrow corridors, located some distance from the major conurbations where the energy was needed. In this year’s manifesto for the Assembly elections we put planning for energy developments and the centre of our call for a completely refreshed and renewed planning system in Wales.
Secondly, I wanted to listen and represent the views of the numerous protesters as their regional AM. This is one area where being a regional AM perhaps gives an advantage over our constituency colleagues. The event itself had the feeling of being an aftershock from the Lib Dems losing Maldwyn to the Tories - partly on the back of vigorous Tory campaigning on this issue and the usual fence-sitting by the Lib Dem candidate - but at the protest were residents from Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire also.
Thirdly, it was an opportunity to emphasise once again that these planning decisions are taken by others, and mostly outside Wales. The major pylon and windfarm developments are retained by Westminster government and Plaid is committed to getting these powers devolved.
It was sad to see so many placards denigrating “the Assembly”, when the decisions affecting these communities are actually made by the Welsh Government (in setting policy), Westminster government (in approving infrastructure plans – currently farmed out, partially at least, to the IPC) and their own local council (Powys on the location of the electricity sub-stations). I urged the crowd to take their fight and views to these bodies also, and judging by their response, they will!
I believe the protesters achieved something today however. They have almost certainly ensured that those proposing these plans will need to rethink about the location of sub-stations and the balance between carrying power cables by pylons and burying them in some locations. Some were there to stop all windfarm developments in mid Wales. As we both fight climate change and seek to make Wales more sustainable economically, a landscape and seascape that excludes all renewable energy projects is a vision I do not share.
Thursday, 19 May 2011
Anghymwys i fod yn Aelod?
Bu bron i’r Cynulliad bleidleisio ddoe ar dad-anghymwyso (os dyna’r gair) dau Aelod Cynulliad newydd y Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol, John Dixon ac Aled Roberts. O edrych yn ol ar y 24 awr diwetha, da o beth oedd hi fod oedi wedi digwydd cyn ystyried y fath gynnig.
Nid oedd yr un o’r ddau yn gymwys i fod yn ymgeisydd ac felly mae’u ethol yn annilys. Ni allent fod yn Aelodau Cynulliad oni bai i rwybeth newid.
Rhaid pwysleisio nad yw’n ddirgelwch i ymgeiswyr etholiadol – ar bob lefel – bod angen cwrdd a gofynion i fod yn ymgeisydd dilys. Ar hyd a lled Cymru mae nifer o bobl a hoffai fod yn gynghorwyr neu Aelodau Cynulliad neu Seneddol na fedrant oherwydd eu swyddi.
Roedd hyn yn wir amdana’i. Roedd rhaid i mi ymddiswyddo o’m swydd gyda Llywodraeth y Cynulliad, nid pan ddeuthum yn ymgeisydd swyddogol, ond siwrne yr oedd fy enw yn adnabyddus fel ymgeisydd posib. Roedd hynny nol ar ddiwedd Medi 2010 a bum yn ddiwaith ers hynny er mwyn cael bod yn ymgeisydd a dod yn AC. Mae nifer eraill wedi arberthu mewn ffordd debyg i’r achos y maen nhw’n credu ynddo a heb gael y diweddglo boddhaol a gefais i.
Ac mae pawb sy'n dilyn gwleidyddiaeth yn gwybod am y swyddi sydd yn eich gwneud yn anghymwys i fod yn AS, oherwydd drwy ddal swydd felly, megis "Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds", mae dyn yn ymddiswyddo o Dy'r Cyffredin.
Nid “mater technegol dibwys” felly yw ymddygiad a sefyllfa y ddau Lib Dem hyn, ond sefyllfa gyfarwydd iawn i bob ymgeisydd, er bod y cyrff y buon nhw’n aelodau ohonyn nhw heb ymddangos ar y wyneb fel rhai a oedd yn eich diarddel i fod yn ymgeisydd.
Cyn yr etholiad cyhoeddodd y Cynulliad ganllaw defnyddiol a amlinellai’r sefyllfa yn gwbl glir yma
Yn fwy na hyn, bu’r union ddeddfwriaeth a osododd y gwaharddiadau hyn drwy’r Cynulliad, Ty’r Cyffredin a Thy’r Arglwyddi yn ystod y misoedd diwethaf. Ble oedd yr aelodau Dem Rhydd yn y llefydd hyn dros yr amser hynny? Mae ganddynt Arglwydd wedi’u trosglwyddo’n syth o’r Cynulliad, a fu’n gwneud ei job o archwilio deddfwriaeth? Roedd sylwadau hysterig yr arglwydd Roberts ar Taro Post heddi yn chwerthinllyd o ystyried ei fod yn o’n deddfwriaethwyr ni. Fuodd yn cysgu pan aeth y Gorchymyn drwy Dy’r Arglwyddi?
Roedd gan blaid y Dem Rhydd bob cyfle i wybod am y ddeddfwriaeth hon.
Yn ogystal – ac ar gais uniongyrchol y Comisiynydd Safonau – bu pob plaid yn gosod yn eu maniffesto datganiad yn ymrwymo’u haelodau i ddilyn cod ymddygiad y Cynulliad yn ol y gair a’r ysbryd.
Dywedodd Winston Roderick heddiw fod yr etholiad yn annilys a’r ddau yn anghymwys i fod yn ACau.
Mae’n edrych yn bur debyg imi na fedrant fod yn Aelodau, ac nid wyf yn siwr o’r sefyllfa gyfreithiol pe bai’r Cynulliad yn pasio cynnig yn caniatau iddynt ddod yn aelodau. Rwy’n ofni y byddai hynny’n agored i arolwg barwnol yn y dyfodol.
Felly, rwy wedi galw heddiw am gyngor cyfreithiol llawn i’r Cynulliad cyn i ni ystyried unrhyw fath o gynnig i ganiatau i’r ddau hyn gymryd eu seddi.
Beth bynnag a ddigwydd, ni welaf yr angen am etholiad arall. Pe bai AC rhanbarthol yn marw yn y tresi neu ddod yn anghymwys oherwydd troseddu, yr un nesa o’r un blaid ar y rhestr sy’n cymryd ei lle. Dyna fyddai’r sefylla yn y cyd-destun hwn, rwy’n siwr.
Un peth i gloi, ble mae'r Comisiwn Etholiadol yn hyn i gyd? Tawelwch llethol yw'r unig ymateb ganddo hyd yma. Ar ol etholiad gwael gyda'r ffrwgwd am gyfri yn y gogledd, byddai dyn yn dychmygu fod y Comisiwn a rhywbeth i'w ddweud am fethiant arall yn y sustem etholiadol.
Nid oedd yr un o’r ddau yn gymwys i fod yn ymgeisydd ac felly mae’u ethol yn annilys. Ni allent fod yn Aelodau Cynulliad oni bai i rwybeth newid.
Rhaid pwysleisio nad yw’n ddirgelwch i ymgeiswyr etholiadol – ar bob lefel – bod angen cwrdd a gofynion i fod yn ymgeisydd dilys. Ar hyd a lled Cymru mae nifer o bobl a hoffai fod yn gynghorwyr neu Aelodau Cynulliad neu Seneddol na fedrant oherwydd eu swyddi.
Roedd hyn yn wir amdana’i. Roedd rhaid i mi ymddiswyddo o’m swydd gyda Llywodraeth y Cynulliad, nid pan ddeuthum yn ymgeisydd swyddogol, ond siwrne yr oedd fy enw yn adnabyddus fel ymgeisydd posib. Roedd hynny nol ar ddiwedd Medi 2010 a bum yn ddiwaith ers hynny er mwyn cael bod yn ymgeisydd a dod yn AC. Mae nifer eraill wedi arberthu mewn ffordd debyg i’r achos y maen nhw’n credu ynddo a heb gael y diweddglo boddhaol a gefais i.
Ac mae pawb sy'n dilyn gwleidyddiaeth yn gwybod am y swyddi sydd yn eich gwneud yn anghymwys i fod yn AS, oherwydd drwy ddal swydd felly, megis "Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds", mae dyn yn ymddiswyddo o Dy'r Cyffredin.
Nid “mater technegol dibwys” felly yw ymddygiad a sefyllfa y ddau Lib Dem hyn, ond sefyllfa gyfarwydd iawn i bob ymgeisydd, er bod y cyrff y buon nhw’n aelodau ohonyn nhw heb ymddangos ar y wyneb fel rhai a oedd yn eich diarddel i fod yn ymgeisydd.
Cyn yr etholiad cyhoeddodd y Cynulliad ganllaw defnyddiol a amlinellai’r sefyllfa yn gwbl glir yma
Yn fwy na hyn, bu’r union ddeddfwriaeth a osododd y gwaharddiadau hyn drwy’r Cynulliad, Ty’r Cyffredin a Thy’r Arglwyddi yn ystod y misoedd diwethaf. Ble oedd yr aelodau Dem Rhydd yn y llefydd hyn dros yr amser hynny? Mae ganddynt Arglwydd wedi’u trosglwyddo’n syth o’r Cynulliad, a fu’n gwneud ei job o archwilio deddfwriaeth? Roedd sylwadau hysterig yr arglwydd Roberts ar Taro Post heddi yn chwerthinllyd o ystyried ei fod yn o’n deddfwriaethwyr ni. Fuodd yn cysgu pan aeth y Gorchymyn drwy Dy’r Arglwyddi?
Roedd gan blaid y Dem Rhydd bob cyfle i wybod am y ddeddfwriaeth hon.
Yn ogystal – ac ar gais uniongyrchol y Comisiynydd Safonau – bu pob plaid yn gosod yn eu maniffesto datganiad yn ymrwymo’u haelodau i ddilyn cod ymddygiad y Cynulliad yn ol y gair a’r ysbryd.
Dywedodd Winston Roderick heddiw fod yr etholiad yn annilys a’r ddau yn anghymwys i fod yn ACau.
Mae’n edrych yn bur debyg imi na fedrant fod yn Aelodau, ac nid wyf yn siwr o’r sefyllfa gyfreithiol pe bai’r Cynulliad yn pasio cynnig yn caniatau iddynt ddod yn aelodau. Rwy’n ofni y byddai hynny’n agored i arolwg barwnol yn y dyfodol.
Felly, rwy wedi galw heddiw am gyngor cyfreithiol llawn i’r Cynulliad cyn i ni ystyried unrhyw fath o gynnig i ganiatau i’r ddau hyn gymryd eu seddi.
Beth bynnag a ddigwydd, ni welaf yr angen am etholiad arall. Pe bai AC rhanbarthol yn marw yn y tresi neu ddod yn anghymwys oherwydd troseddu, yr un nesa o’r un blaid ar y rhestr sy’n cymryd ei lle. Dyna fyddai’r sefylla yn y cyd-destun hwn, rwy’n siwr.
Un peth i gloi, ble mae'r Comisiwn Etholiadol yn hyn i gyd? Tawelwch llethol yw'r unig ymateb ganddo hyd yma. Ar ol etholiad gwael gyda'r ffrwgwd am gyfri yn y gogledd, byddai dyn yn dychmygu fod y Comisiwn a rhywbeth i'w ddweud am fethiant arall yn y sustem etholiadol.
Tuesday, 17 May 2011
Plaid Cymru reiterates commitment to all Wales government
Plaid Cymru today pledged to continue to ensure that all areas of Wales have a clear voice in the National Assembly.
Following Labour's decision not to allocate a Cabinet minister to Rural Affairs, Plaid's former Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones reiterated her party's commitment to represent all areas of Wales. She said that Plaid in opposition would act constructively to ensure that Labour does not get away with ignoring rural areas, particularly in the west and the north.
The party called for early co-operation between the minority Labour government and opposition parties in order to get its programme of government through the Assembly.
Plaid's Mid and West Wales AM Simon Thomas said that talks on finance should begin as soon as possible if opposition support is to be secured.
Simon Thomas AM said:
"Plaid is committed to constructive opposition here in the National Assembly. After Labour failed to gain a majority, they will have to demonstrate their commitment to co-operation in order to get their plans through the Senedd. It would demonstrate a positive intent by the government if they initiated talks, particularly regarding finance as soon as possible."
Elin Jones AM said:
"The early indications from Labour are that they do not view rural areas as a priority while Plaid is as committed as ever to ensuring proper representation for all areas of Wales.
"In opposition, we in Plaid Cymru will work hard to ensure that Labour, without a working majority, cannot carry out plans that do not serve the best interests of the whole of Wales.
“Plaid demonstrated that this was one of our core values in Government – and as a responsible and constructive opposition party here, we will continue to be led by those values."
Plaid Cymru yn ailadrodd eu hymrwymiad i Lywodraeth Cymru
Mae Plaid Cymru heddiw yn ymrwymo i sicrhau bod gan holl ardaloedd Cymru lais clir yn y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol.
Yn dilyn penderfyniad y Blaid Lafur i beidio dyrannu aelod o’r Cabinet i Faterion Gwledig, mae cyn-Weinidog Materion Gwledig Elin Jones wedi ailadrodd ymrwymiad ei phlaid i gynrychioli holl ardaloedd Cymru. Dywedodd bydd Plaid Cymru fel gwrthblaid yn ymddwyn yn adeiladol er mwyn sicrhau na fydd y blaid Lafur yn llwyddo i anwybyddu ardaloedd gwledig, yn benodol y gorllewin a’r gogledd.
Mae Plaid Cymru wedi galw am gydweithrediad buan rhwng Llywodraeth leiafrifol y Blaid Lafur a’r pleidiau gwrthbleidiol er mwyn sicrhau gweithredu eu rhaglen Lywodraethol yn y Cynulliad.
Dywedodd Simon Thomas, Aelod Cynulliad Plaid Cymru dros y Canolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru bydd angen i drafodaethau ynglŷn â chyllid gychwyn cyn gynted â phosib er mwyn sicrhau cefnogaeth gan y gwrthbleidiau.
Dywed Simon Thomas AC:
“Mae Plaid Cymru yn ymrwymedig i wrthbleidio yn adeiladol yma yn y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol. Ar ôl i’r Blaid Lafur fethu sicrhau mwyafrif, bydd angen iddynt arddangos eu hymrwymiad i gydweithio er mwyn sicrhau bydd eu cynlluniau yn llwyddo yn y Senedd. Bydd cynnal trafodaethau buan, yn enwedig ynglŷn â chyllid, yn arddangos bwriad cadarnhaol ar ran y Llywodraeth.”
Dywed Elin Jones AC:
“Mae arwyddion buan gan y Blaid Lafur yn dangos na fydd ardaloedd gwledig yn cael eu trin fel blaenoriaeth tra bod Plaid Cymru yr un mor ymrwymedig ag arfer i sicrhau cynrychiolaeth deg i holl ardaloedd Cymru.
“Fel gwrthblaid, bydd Plaid Cymru yn gweithio yn galed er mwyn sicrhau bydd y Blaid Lafur methu llwyddo gydag unrhyw gynlluniau sydd ddim yn gwasanaethu pennaf les yn holl ardaloedd Cymru.
“Mae Plaid Cymru wedi arddangos mai dyma oedd un o brif werthoedd y Blaid yn y Llywodraeth, felly fel gwrthblaid gyfrifol ac adeiladol yma, byddwn yn parhau i ddilyn yr un gwerthoedd”
Following Labour's decision not to allocate a Cabinet minister to Rural Affairs, Plaid's former Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones reiterated her party's commitment to represent all areas of Wales. She said that Plaid in opposition would act constructively to ensure that Labour does not get away with ignoring rural areas, particularly in the west and the north.
The party called for early co-operation between the minority Labour government and opposition parties in order to get its programme of government through the Assembly.
Plaid's Mid and West Wales AM Simon Thomas said that talks on finance should begin as soon as possible if opposition support is to be secured.
Simon Thomas AM said:
"Plaid is committed to constructive opposition here in the National Assembly. After Labour failed to gain a majority, they will have to demonstrate their commitment to co-operation in order to get their plans through the Senedd. It would demonstrate a positive intent by the government if they initiated talks, particularly regarding finance as soon as possible."
Elin Jones AM said:
"The early indications from Labour are that they do not view rural areas as a priority while Plaid is as committed as ever to ensuring proper representation for all areas of Wales.
"In opposition, we in Plaid Cymru will work hard to ensure that Labour, without a working majority, cannot carry out plans that do not serve the best interests of the whole of Wales.
“Plaid demonstrated that this was one of our core values in Government – and as a responsible and constructive opposition party here, we will continue to be led by those values."
Plaid Cymru yn ailadrodd eu hymrwymiad i Lywodraeth Cymru
Mae Plaid Cymru heddiw yn ymrwymo i sicrhau bod gan holl ardaloedd Cymru lais clir yn y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol.
Yn dilyn penderfyniad y Blaid Lafur i beidio dyrannu aelod o’r Cabinet i Faterion Gwledig, mae cyn-Weinidog Materion Gwledig Elin Jones wedi ailadrodd ymrwymiad ei phlaid i gynrychioli holl ardaloedd Cymru. Dywedodd bydd Plaid Cymru fel gwrthblaid yn ymddwyn yn adeiladol er mwyn sicrhau na fydd y blaid Lafur yn llwyddo i anwybyddu ardaloedd gwledig, yn benodol y gorllewin a’r gogledd.
Mae Plaid Cymru wedi galw am gydweithrediad buan rhwng Llywodraeth leiafrifol y Blaid Lafur a’r pleidiau gwrthbleidiol er mwyn sicrhau gweithredu eu rhaglen Lywodraethol yn y Cynulliad.
Dywedodd Simon Thomas, Aelod Cynulliad Plaid Cymru dros y Canolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru bydd angen i drafodaethau ynglŷn â chyllid gychwyn cyn gynted â phosib er mwyn sicrhau cefnogaeth gan y gwrthbleidiau.
Dywed Simon Thomas AC:
“Mae Plaid Cymru yn ymrwymedig i wrthbleidio yn adeiladol yma yn y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol. Ar ôl i’r Blaid Lafur fethu sicrhau mwyafrif, bydd angen iddynt arddangos eu hymrwymiad i gydweithio er mwyn sicrhau bydd eu cynlluniau yn llwyddo yn y Senedd. Bydd cynnal trafodaethau buan, yn enwedig ynglŷn â chyllid, yn arddangos bwriad cadarnhaol ar ran y Llywodraeth.”
Dywed Elin Jones AC:
“Mae arwyddion buan gan y Blaid Lafur yn dangos na fydd ardaloedd gwledig yn cael eu trin fel blaenoriaeth tra bod Plaid Cymru yr un mor ymrwymedig ag arfer i sicrhau cynrychiolaeth deg i holl ardaloedd Cymru.
“Fel gwrthblaid, bydd Plaid Cymru yn gweithio yn galed er mwyn sicrhau bydd y Blaid Lafur methu llwyddo gydag unrhyw gynlluniau sydd ddim yn gwasanaethu pennaf les yn holl ardaloedd Cymru.
“Mae Plaid Cymru wedi arddangos mai dyma oedd un o brif werthoedd y Blaid yn y Llywodraeth, felly fel gwrthblaid gyfrifol ac adeiladol yma, byddwn yn parhau i ddilyn yr un gwerthoedd”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
