The new leadership Wales needs - Llyr Gruffydd MS

Llyr Gruffydd MS

The New Year presents new opportunities for Wales, with the political winds of change gaining traction.

The century-long domination of the Welsh political scene by Labour appears to be coming to an end with a succession of polls over the past six months showing them lagging far behind in third place with Plaid Cymru consistently ahead, albeit facing a strong challenge from Reform. That situation was confirmed in the Caerffili by-election in October, when a Reform challenge was convincingly defeated by Plaid with Labour on just 11%.

That really points to the Senedd election in May being a pivotal moment for Wales - with Plaid Cymru in poll position to lead the Welsh Government for the first time ever.

And, according to the latest polls, it also opens up the opportunity for the first time to see Plaid being able to form a government with support from the Greens and Liberal Democrats. 

Labour has lost the trust of the people in Wales - as witnessed by their crashing defeat in a former stronghold such as Caerffili. 

In part it's due to the Keir Starmer government, which has attacked working-class people and then u-turned to try to regain popularity - which only adds to the sense of drift and lack of purpose. Its stance on international issues such as Gaza has also shown a lack of a moral compass.

In part it's also down to the complete failure of the Labour Government in Wales to articulate a distinct vision for a better Wales.  This is what makes May 7^th such an important election - there is the real chance to provide new leadership and a new direction after 26 years of Labour domination.

That new direction has to mean improvements to our NHS, which faces unparalleled demand but is hindered by a lack of political leadership and direction; helping families struggling with the cost of living and ensuring access to affordable housing in our communities.

Turning such matters around is not a simple or quick task - some issues, such as creating a preventative health service rather than a reactive health service, will take a decade to properly address - but the sooner we start, the sooner we will start to see positive outcomes.

Labour's legacy is one of drift and decline. Plaid's vision is one of ambition and opportunity for a better Wales in 2026.