PLAID Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth has vowed to “strengthen the bond” between his party and the SNP amid “challenging times” for both groups.
Ap Iorwerth delivered a speech to SNP conference for the first time as Plaid Cymru leader after Adam Price stepped down in June following a damning report about bullying and misogyny in the party.
Ap Iorwerth used his platform to illustrate the ongoing collective missions of both Plaid Cymru and the SNP, to see their respective nations become independent.
He said he and First Minister Humza Yousaf had agreed to solidify that “bond of solidarity” going forward.
The Welsh leader added that the SNP was a party Plaid Cymru “looked up to" as he praised policies such as the Scottish Child Payment – something he insisted delegates should be proud of.
Writing on social media, Yousaf said: "@theSNP and @Plaid_Cymru share a long history, bound by a common cause: to forge fairer and more prosperous nations through independence.
"Today at #SNP23, I was proud to renew that shared political project with @RhunapIorwerth"
🏴🏴 @theSNP and @Plaid_Cymru share a long history, bound by a common cause: To forge fairer and more prosperous nations through independence. Today at #SNP23, I was proud to renew that shared political project with @RhunapIorwerth. pic.twitter.com/NIXPDankRr
— Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) October 16, 2023
Ap Iorwerth told conference: “I am so proud, as Plaid Cymru’s new leader, to be renewing our shared political partnership today. Humza Yousaf and I have today committed to strengthening our bond.
“The SNP and Plaid Cymru share a long history, bound by a common cause: to support our communities today, whilst looking to tomorrow and our opportunity to forge fairer and more prosperous nations through independence.
“From the days of Gwynfor Evans and Winnie Ewing, our parties have stood side by side, and have crafted a unique alliance in these islands, one that we will endeavour to strengthen further.
“This is not just a partnership; it's a bond of solidarity. Today, we’re renewing that bond, guided by our shared principles of fairness, equality, and crucially, self-determination.”
The Plaid Cymru leader insisted that both parties stood at “crucial juncture” but did so together, and urged the SNP to fight the next election with “optimism for a better Scotland".
Ap Iorwerth said the SNP had inspired Plaid Cymru by introducing life-changing and ambitious policies such as the Scottish Child Payment.
He added: “We in Plaid Cymru look up to what you have achieved in Scotland. You have shown that real change can be achieved by acting boldly in Government.
“The Scottish Child Payment has been called a ‘lifesaver’. 316,000 children have benefited, with 90,000 lifted out of poverty this year. Now that’s a record to be proud of.”
Ap Iorwerth said he wanted to get across the message that both parties were an alternative to the “cosy Westminster consensus”, with the Tories and Labour showing a “frightening” lack of ambition.
As he referred to the lack of any mention of Wales in Keir Starmer’s speech to Labour conference last week, he said Plaid Cymru was continuing to make sure his party held Labour to account.
“In Wales, it’s only thanks to Plaid Cymru that Labour agreed to introduce universal free school meals. They’d voted against time and time again. We made sure it was delivered,” Ap Iorwerth said.
“And conference – it’s by ensuring that Plaid Cymru and the SNP return a strong group of MPs that we can stand up against the condemning of our children to more austerity of ambition.
“Let’s fight the next election with optimism for a better Scotland, a better Wales, and a better future for all our people.”
