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The Welsh Parliament, known as the Senedd, witnessed a lively start to the 2026 election campaign as leaders from Welsh Labour, Plaid Cymru, and the Welsh Conservatives clashed in debate on Tuesday. Rhun ap Iorwerth of Plaid Cymru emphasized his party’s message of hope, contrasting it with the anger he attributed to their political rivals. Labour’s First Minister, Eluned Morgan, criticized Plaid Cymru for promoting what she described as unrealistic dreams of independence. At the same time, Conservative leader Darren Millar called for the abolition of stamp duty in Wales, highlighting housing affordability concerns.
With just ten sitting weeks remaining before the Senedd dissolves in April for the upcoming election, political tensions are mounting. Opinion polls indicate that Labour’s long-standing control of Welsh domestic politics could be challenged, marking a significant potential shift in the political landscape since the party has won every domestic parliamentary contest in Wales since 1922.
During a heated session in the Senedd chamber in Cardiff Bay, ap Iorwerth referenced a leaked Labour campaign strategy which reportedly described Reform as the party of anger and Plaid Cymru as the party offering hope. He proudly embraced this characterization, stating, “I’m proud to lead a party offering hope when others seek to stoke anger and sow division.” He went on to accuse Labour of becoming irrelevant by failing to oppose Westminster with sufficient strength.
In response, Eluned Morgan dismissed Plaid Cymru’s agenda as fantasy, asserting, “I’m interested in hope. I’m not interested in fantasy, which is what we get from Plaid Cymru.” Morgan highlighted Labour’s recent announcement of a £2 bus fare cap in Wales as a concrete achievement, and reaffirmed her party’s commitment to “strong devolution within a United Kingdom context.” She challenged Plaid to provide a credible economic plan for independence, describing the nationalist party’s approach as “fantasy economics.”
Ap Iorwerth also criticized Labour for accepting only a “paltry sum” of £445 million for rail investment in the latest comprehensive spending review and accused the UK government of undermining Welsh devolution by attempting to control spending decisions in Wales. Morgan countered by affirming her advocacy for increased rail funding, saying, “Do I want more rail funding from the UK government? Damn right I do. Have I been silent about that? No, I have not.”
Separately, Tory leader Darren Millar pressed the Welsh government to abolish the land transaction tax, Wales’ version of stamp duty, claiming it prevents many young people from owning homes and blamed Labour for insufficient housebuilding. Morgan defended her government’s record, stating they are on track to deliver 20,000 new social homes by the end of the current Senedd term, and accused the Conservatives of economic mismanagement that had harmed Wales.
Meanwhile, Reform Party representation in the Senedd remains minimal, with only Laura Anne Jones as a Member of the Senedd (MS). On Radio Wales Breakfast, Jones described Wales as being in a “dire state,” citing long waiting lists and deteriorating roads. She said Reform’s platform would focus on family, community, and the country, with an emphasis on sustainable farming and shifting policy priorities away from overseas tree planting toward food production. Jones indicated that the party’s candidate for first minister would be announced soon but stopped short of confirming whether she would take the role, promising: “Whatever job I’m given, I’m going to do it 100%.
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