Plaid Cymru ends co-operation agreement with Welsh Government
The announcement comes after the First Minister sacked one of his ministers
Last updated 17th May 2024
Plaid Cymru has announced it is ending its co-operation agreement with the Labour government in Wales.
Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun Ap Iorwerth cited the First Minister Vaughan Gething's controversial campaign donation and the sacking of Hannah Blythyn as Minister of Social Partnership as reasons for the agreement ending.
In a statement, the Plaid Leader said “I am proud of the way in which the Agreement demonstrated a new way of doing politics which focused on areas of policy which impact people’s everyday lives.
"Since becoming Leader, I've been determined to hold the Labour Welsh Government firmly to account. I remain deeply concerned that the First Minister has failed to pay back the £200,000 donation to his leadership campaign from a company convicted of environmental offences, and believe it demonstrates a significant lack of judgement.
"Money left over has now been passed on to Keir Starmer's Labour Party. I am worried by the circumstances around the decision to sack a member of the Government this week relating to matters that should be in the public domain already"
Rhun Ap Iorwerth said he was proud of his party's work within the co-operation agreement for rolling out free school meals for all primary school children, expanding free childcare and safeguarding the Welsh Language.
However, he also said he was concerned by the Welsh Government's approach to some aspects of the agreement, including "the decision to delay action in supporting the poorest families in our communities, as evidenced most recently by the decision to delay Council Tax Reform".
In response to the ending of the co-operation agreement, the First Minister Vaughan Gething said:
"The Co-operation Agreement was about mature politics, working together on areas where we agree. While it was always a time-limited agreement, we are disappointed Plaid Cymru has decided to walk away from their opportunity to deliver for the people of Wales.
"I would like to thank Sian Gwenllian and Cefin Campbell for their work through the agreement. By working together we have achieved a great deal, including free school meals for all pupils in primary schools, providing more free childcare, introducing a radical package of measures to create thriving local communities, helping people to live locally and addressing high numbers of second homes in many areas of Wales.
"We will now look closely at how we can progress the outstanding Co-operation Agreement commitments, including the Welsh Language Education Bill and the White Paper on Right to Adequate Housing and Fair Rents."
Andrew RT Davies MS, Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, said:
“The end of Labour and Plaid Cymru’s coalition is simply an attempt to save face.
“Together, Labour and Plaid have worked together to divert resources away from the people’s priorities and towards vanity projects like putting more Senedd Members in Cardiff Bay, and have been hand in glove on policies like the destructive sustainable farming scheme and 20mph.
“This move from Plaid means nothing and the Welsh public won’t be fooled.”