Plaid Cymru facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Plaid Cymru – the Party of Wales
Leader	Rhun ap Iorwerth
Deputy Leader	Delyth Jewell
Westminster Leader	Liz Saville Roberts
Chair	Marc Jones
Honorary President	The Lord Wigley
Founded	5 August 1925; 100 years ago (1925-08-05)
Headquarters	Tŷ Gwynfor Marine Chambers Anson Court Atlantic Wharf Cardiff CF10 4AL
Youth wing	Plaid Ifanc
LGBT wing	Plaid Pride
Disability wing	Plaid Anabledd
Membership (2022)	c.10,000
Ideology	Welsh nationalism Welsh independence Social democracy
Political position	Centre-left to left-wing
European affiliation	European Free Alliance
Colours	Green (primary)      Yellow (secondary)      Red (secondary)
House of Commons	4 / 32 (Welsh seats)
House of Lords	1 / 777
Senedd	43 / 96
Councillors in Wales	202 / 1,234
Councils led In Wales	4 / 22
Police and crime commissioners in Wales	1 / 4
Website
(Welsh) (English)
Politics of the United Kingdom Political parties Politics of Wales

Plaid Cymru (pronounced plyde KUM-ree), officially known as Plaid Cymru – the Party of Wales, is a political party in Wales. It supports the idea of Welsh independence from the United Kingdom. The party believes in social democracy, which means they want a fair society where everyone has equal opportunities. They also support civic nationalism, focusing on shared values and culture in Wales.

Plaid Cymru is a member of the European Free Alliance (EFA) and supports the European Union. The party currently holds 4 out of 32 Welsh seats in the UK House of Commons. They also have 43 out of 96 seats in the Senedd (the Welsh Parliament). Additionally, 202 of the 1,234 local councillors in Wales are from Plaid Cymru.

The party was formed in 1925, originally called Plaid Genedlaethol Cymru (which means 'the national party of Wales'). In 1966, Gwynfor Evans made history by winning the first seat for the party in the UK Parliament.

In 1999, during the first election for the Welsh Assembly (now called the Senedd), Plaid Cymru gained many new supporters. They aimed to win more seats in areas that traditionally supported the Labour Party. The party has often been in opposition in the Senedd. However, from 2007 to 2011, under the leadership of Ieuan Wyn Jones, Plaid Cymru worked with Welsh Labour in a coalition government. Wyn Jones became the Deputy First Minister.

After the 2011 Assembly elections, the party lost some seats and became the third-largest party. Ieuan Wyn Jones then stepped down, and Leanne Wood became the new leader. In the 2016 Assembly elections, Leanne Wood won her local seat in Rhondda. This helped the party gain one seat and become the official opposition again for a short time. In 2018, Adam Price became the new leader after a leadership contest.

After the 2021 Senedd election, Plaid Cymru made a special agreement to work with the Welsh Labour government. In May 2023, Adam Price resigned as leader after a report highlighted problems within the party. In June 2023, Rhun ap Iorwerth was elected as the new leader without opposition. The party won two important seats in the 2024 general election, becoming the second-largest party from Wales in the House of Commons.

In the 2026 Senedd election, Plaid Cymru achieved its best result, winning 43 out of 96 seats. They formed the Welsh government, and Rhun ap Iorwerth became the first Plaid Cymru First Minister.

What Plaid Cymru Believes

Plaid Cymru is a party that focuses strongly on Wales. It is seen as a centre-left to left-wing party. They are Welsh nationalists and support Welsh independence. This means they want Wales to be an independent country.

The party's economic ideas have changed over time. They adopted a goal of "decentralized socialism" in 1981. This means they believe in a fairer economy where power and wealth are shared more widely. They are often described as social democratic, aiming for a society that supports everyone.

Plaid Cymru also cares a lot about the environment. They are against building new nuclear power plants. They also oppose nuclear weapons, including the UK's Trident programme. However, they do support the nuclear power plants that already exist in Wylfa and Trawsfynydd.

In May 2025, the party leader, Rhun ap Iorwerth, said there were no plans for an independence referendum during their first term in government after the 2026 Senedd election. He mentioned that discussions about a referendum would not happen before 2030. Despite this, the party still officially supports Welsh independence. At their conference in October 2025, members agreed to create a group to develop a plan for Welsh independence. Rhun ap Iorwerth explained that this plan would not be for their current term in government. He said the party aims to "start the national debate on independence" and "call the referendum when the time is right."

Plaid Cymru's Journey: A Look at History

How it All Started

A plaque in Pwllheli marking the founding of Plaid Cymru.

In the early 1900s, other parties talked about giving Wales more control over its own affairs. But there was no party specifically created to form a Welsh government. So, on August 5, 1925, a new party called Plaid Genedlaethol Cymru (the National Party of Wales) was formed.

Its founders included Moses Gruffydd, H. R. Jones, Lewis Valentine, Fred Jones, Saunders Lewis, and D. Edmund Williams. At first, their main goal was to keep Wales a Welsh-speaking country. They wanted Welsh to be the only official language in public life and education.

The party also wanted Wales to be a "self-governing nation." This meant having a Welsh parliament to control Welsh affairs. They also wanted Wales to have its own voice in international groups like the League of Nations.

In the 1929 general election, the party ran for the first time in a parliamentary seat. They received 609 votes. In its early years, the party didn't take part in many elections. This was partly because they weren't sure about how much to focus on politics in Westminster (the UK Parliament).

The 1930s: Growing Awareness

By 1932, the party's goals included self-government for Wales and having Wales represented internationally. However, their ideas didn't immediately attract a lot of people.

In 1936, Saunders Lewis, David John Williams, and Lewis Valentine protested against a new RAF air base being built in a Welsh-speaking area. They set fire to the base. Their trial and imprisonment brought a lot of attention to their cause. This event, known as "The Three," significantly raised the party's profile. By 1939, their membership had nearly doubled to 2,000 people.

The 1940s: War and Elections

A Plaid Cymru rally in Machynlleth in 1949.

During the Second World War, Plaid Cymru remained neutral. They encouraged people to object to war service if they felt it was wrong.

In 1943, Saunders Lewis ran in a by-election for a university seat and received 22% of the votes. By the 1945 general election, the party had about 2,500 members. They ran in seven seats, including some in south Wales for the first time. At this point, Gwynfor Evans became the party president.

The 1950s: A Stronger Voice

Gwynfor Evans speaking at Bryncrug during the 1959 election.

BBC debate between Iorwerth Thomas (Labour MP) and Gwynfor Evans, Plaid Cymru's first MP.

Under Gwynfor Evans's leadership, Plaid Cymru became a more established political party. Their share of the vote grew from 0.7% in 1951 to 5.2% in 1959. In the 1959 election, they ran in most Welsh seats for the first time.

A big issue that helped Plaid Cymru grow was the plan to flood the village of Capel Celyn in 1957. This was to supply water to Liverpool. The fact that this plan went ahead without the support of Welsh MPs showed that Welsh voices in Westminster were not always enough.

The 1960s: Breakthrough Moment

In 1962, Saunders Lewis gave a famous radio talk called Tynged yr Iaith (the fate of the language). He warned that the Welsh language could disappear if no action was taken. This led to the creation of the Welsh Language Society (Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg) that same year.

In 1966, Gwynfor Evans won the Carmarthen seat in a by-election, taking it from the Labour Party. This was a huge moment for Plaid Cymru. They also saw big increases in votes in other by-elections in Rhondda West (1967) and Caerphilly (1968). These results showed growing support for the party.

The 1970s: More Seats and Referendum

In the 1970 general election, Plaid Cymru ran in every seat in Wales for the first time. Their vote share jumped from 4.5% to 11.5%. Gwynfor Evans lost Carmarthen but won it back in October 1974. By then, the party had gained two more MPs, representing Caernarfon and Merionethshire.

The rise of Plaid Cymru and the Scottish National Party led the government to look into creating a Welsh Assembly. However, in a 1979 referendum, the idea of a Welsh Assembly was strongly rejected by voters. This made many in the party question their future direction.

In the 1979 general election, the party's vote share went down, and they lost the Carmarthen seat again.

The 1980s: New Leaders and S4C

Dafydd Wigley became president in 1981. The party adopted a policy of "community socialism." Gwynfor Evans successfully campaigned, even threatening a hunger strike, to ensure the government kept its promise to create S4C, a Welsh-language television channel.

In 1984, Dafydd Elis-Thomas became president, leading the party to adopt more left-wing policies. In 1987, Ieuan Wyn Jones won the Ynys Môn seat from the Conservatives. Dafydd Wigley became president again in 1989.

The 1990s: Devolution and Policy Changes

In the 1992 general election, the party gained a fourth MP, Cynog Dafis, in Ceredigion and Pembroke North. Their vote share recovered to 9.9% in the 1997 general election.

In 1997, a referendum on creating a National Assembly for Wales was narrowly won. Plaid Cymru became the main opposition party in the new Assembly, winning 17 seats. They gained seats in areas that traditionally supported Labour, showing their growing appeal.

Before the 1999 Assembly election, Plaid Cymru changed its policy on Welsh independence. They decided to support continued membership in the European Union instead. They also adopted social democracy for their economic policy. These changes helped them win more votes in Labour's traditional strongholds.

Plaid Cymru in the Senedd Era

First National Assembly (1999–2003)

The Plaid Cymru Group office in the Senedd building.

In the 1999 election, Plaid Cymru won seats in areas like Rhondda and Llanelli, achieving its highest share of the vote in a Wales-wide election. Many believed their success was partly due to problems within the Labour Party at the time. Labour's candidate for First Secretary, Ron Davies, had to step down due to personal issues.

Later, Plaid Cymru faced its own challenges. Dafydd Wigley resigned as leader, and his successor, Ieuan Wyn Jones, worked to strengthen the party. In the 2001 general election, Plaid Cymru achieved its highest-ever vote share in a general election (14.3%).

Second National Assembly (2003–2007)

In the May 2003 Assembly elections, the party's representation dropped from 17 to 12 seats. Plaid Cymru remained the second-largest party, just ahead of the Conservatives.

In September 2003, folk singer Dafydd Iwan was elected as Plaid Cymru's president. Ieuan Wyn Jones was re-elected as the Assembly group leader. Under Iwan's presidency, the party officially adopted a policy of independence for Wales within Europe.

Old Plaid Cymru logo (above) and the new logo (below).

In 2006, the party made big changes to its image. They decided to use "Plaid" as their main name, though "Plaid Cymru — the Party of Wales" remained the official title. They also changed their logo from the green 'triban' (three peaks) to the yellow Welsh poppy.

Third National Assembly (2007–2011)

In the May 2007 National Assembly election, Plaid Cymru increased its seats from 12 to 15. They regained Llanelli and won the new Aberconwy constituency. Their share of the vote increased to 22.4%.

After weeks of talks, Plaid Cymru and Labour agreed to form a coalition government. This agreement, called "One Wales," included a promise to campaign for a referendum on giving the Assembly full law-making powers. Ieuan Wyn Jones became Deputy First Minister of Wales.

In the 2010 general election, Plaid Cymru returned three MPs to Westminster. They also campaigned for a "Yes" vote in the March 2011 referendum, which gave the Assembly more law-making powers.

Fourth National Assembly (2011–2016)

In the 2011 National Assembly election, Plaid Cymru dropped to third place, behind the Welsh Conservatives. The party held an investigation into the election results, which led to changes in its leadership structure.

In May 2011, Ieuan Wyn Jones announced he would step down as leader. A leadership election was held, and on March 15, 2012, Leanne Wood was elected as the new leader. She was the party's first female leader. She also decided not to take the extra pay that other party leaders in the Assembly received.

In June 2013, former leader Ieuan Wyn Jones stepped down from the Assembly. Rhun ap Iorwerth was elected as the new Assembly Member for Ynys Môn, winning with a large majority.

Fifth National Assembly/Senedd (2016–2021)

In the 2016 Welsh Assembly elections, Plaid Cymru gained one seat in Rhondda from Labour. This made them the Assembly's second-largest party and briefly the official opposition.

Despite campaigning to leave the European Economic Community in 1975, Plaid Cymru campaigned for the UK to remain in the EU in the 2016 referendum. However, Wales voted to leave the EU. Plaid Cymru later changed its policy to support a "People's Vote" on the final Brexit deal.

In the 2017 UK general election, Plaid Cymru's popular vote fell, but they gained Ceredigion.

A campaign board for a Plaid Cymru election candidate in Carmarthen in 2019.

In September 2018, Adam Price won the party's leadership election, defeating Leanne Wood. In the 2019 Brecon and Radnorshire by-election, Plaid Cymru chose not to run a candidate. Instead, they supported the Liberal Democrat candidate to increase the chances of an anti-Brexit candidate winning.

In the 2019 UK general election, Plaid Cymru kept its four seats but saw a decrease in its popular vote. Before the election, Adam Price announced a commission to study Welsh independence. This commission published its report in September 2020. It suggested that an independent Wales should join the EU and explore closer ties with England and Scotland. In December 2020, Price promised that a Plaid government would hold an independence referendum in its first term if they won a majority in the 2021 Senedd election.

Sixth Senedd (2021–2026)

Before the 2021 Senedd election, polls suggested that Welsh Labour would win the most seats but not an overall majority. Many thought another Labour–Plaid Cymru coalition was likely. Adam Price said his party would not be Labour's "junior partner" and would not work with the Conservatives. He stated that Plaid would only join forces with Labour if they were the largest party or if it was an equal partnership. Price also said that Welsh independence was "a practical necessity."

In the election, Plaid Cymru increased its total seats to thirteen, up one from 2016. However, they lost some target constituencies, including Rhondda, where former leader Leanne Wood lost her seat to Labour. Price said he would not resign, believing he had laid the foundations for future growth.

On November 22, 2021, Plaid Cymru and Welsh Labour announced a co-operation agreement. This agreement included nearly 50 different policies. These policies aimed to provide free school meals for all primary school children and establish a national care system. It also planned to build a railway between North and South Wales. Price called the agreement "a down-payment on independence." He believed it would lead Wales towards becoming an independent nation.

Plaid's conference approved the co-operation agreement with 94% of votes in favour. Price highlighted the benefits for Wales, such as free school meals and childcare. He also mentioned plans for family farms, renewable energy, and a reformed Senedd. He said this was a "nation-building Programme for Government" that would improve lives across the country.

In May 2023, Adam Price resigned as leader after a report highlighted problems within the party. He acknowledged that he "no longer had the united support of [his] colleagues." On May 11, Llyr Gruffydd became interim party leader. On June 16, 2023, Rhun ap Iorwerth was announced as the new permanent leader after being elected unopposed.

At the party conference in Aberystwyth in October 2023, Rhun ap Iorwerth said the party was "not just for Welsh speakers." He promoted achievements like free school meals from the co-operation agreement with the Welsh Labour government.

In the 2024 UK general election, Plaid Cymru achieved its best percentage of the vote share in Wales for a General Election. They won two of their target seats in Caerfyrddin and Ynys Môn. On October 23, 2025, Plaid Cymru won the Caerphilly by-election. This led some to suggest that Welsh politics was changing, and Labour might lose its strong position in Wales.

Opinion polls before the 2026 Senedd election suggested Plaid Cymru would win the most seats. In December 2025, Rhun ap Iorwerth suggested that Plaid was a strong alternative to Welsh Labour.

Seventh Senedd (2026–)

Plaid Cymru had its best result in the 2026 Senedd election. They won 43 of the 96 seats and 35.4% of the vote. They went on to form the next Welsh Government, with Rhun ap Iorwerth as the first Plaid Cymru First Minister.

Party Leadership

Name and portrait	Party office	Constituency (if any)	Notes
Rhun ap Iorwerth	Leader of the Senedd Group and Party Leader	MS for Bangor Conwy Môn
Liz Saville Roberts	Westminster Group Leader	MP for Dwyfor Meirionydd
Dafydd Wigley	Honorary Party President from 2001	N/A	Former Party President Member of the House of Lords

Party Leaders Through Time

The party leader was called the president until March 2000, when a separate role of Leader was created.

Deputy Leaders

Elected Representatives

In the UK Parliament (House of Commons)

Plaid Cymru has four Members of Parliament (MPs) in the UK House of Commons:

In the Senedd (Welsh Parliament)

Plaid Cymru has 13 Members of the Senedd (MSs):

• Llyr Huws Gruffydd, MS for North Wales electoral region
• Siân Gwenllian, MS for Arfon
• Rhun ap Iorwerth, MS for Ynys Môn
• Luke Fletcher, MS for South Wales West electoral region
• Cefin Campbell, MS for Mid and West Wales electoral region
• Elin Jones, MS for Ceredigion
• Delyth Jewell, MS for South Wales East electoral region
• Sioned Williams, MS for South Wales West electoral region
• Adam Price, MS for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr
• Mabon ap Gwynfor, MS for Dwyfor Meirionnydd
• Peredur Owen Griffiths, MS for South Wales East
• Heledd Fychan, MS for South Wales Central
• Lindsay Whittle, MS for Caerphilly

Local Councillors

Plaid Cymru has 202 councillors in local government across Wales. They work together in the Plaid Cymru Councillors Association.

In the House of Lords

Plaid Cymru has members in the House of Lords, which is part of the UK Parliament:

European Free Alliance

Plaid Cymru works closely with the Scottish National Party (SNP). Their MPs often cooperate in the UK Parliament. Both parties are part of the European Free Alliance (EFA). The EFA is a group of political parties across Europe that support regional self-government or independence.

The EFA also works with the European Green Party to form a political group in the European Parliament.

Plaid Cymru Sections and Groups

Plaid Cymru has several official groups that represent different parts of society. These groups help make sure everyone's voice is heard within the party:

• Plaid Anabledd: This section is for members with disabilities and those who are neurodivergent.
• Plaid BME: This group supports Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic members of the party.
• Councillors' Association: This section is for elected councillors and encourages members to become councillors.
• Plaid Ifanc: This is the youth and student section of the party.
• Merched Plaid: This group is for women members of the party.
• Plaid Pride: This section is for LGBTQIA+ members and their allies.
• Undeb: This is Plaid Cymru's network for trade union activists.

See also

In Spanish: Plaid Cymru para niños

• List of Plaid Cymru MSs
• List of Plaid Cymru MPs
• Credit unions in the United Kingdom
• Culture of Wales
• Politics of Wales