Plaid Cymru leader plans minority Welsh government built on cooperation

The leader of Plaid Cymru , Rhun ap Iorwerth, has vowed to form a stable minority government in the Senedd and said he would seek out mature cooperation from all opposition parties. Ap Iorwerth said his administration would press the UK government for extra powers over policy areas such as policing and justice and focus on results rather than engaging in political rows with Westminster. Asked if Plaid’s win meant the country had taken a step closer to independence – a key Plaid aspiration – ap Iorwerth replied that a “more confident” Wales felt closer. “The people of Wales didn’t begrudgingly decide to give us a go,” he said. “They said: ‘We believe in your belief in Wales.’ If there’s one thing we absolutely have to bring out of this, it is a more confident nation. And I believe we’re on the way to that.” Plaid fell short of winning a majority in the Welsh parliament , taking 43 of the 96 seats but comfortably held off the challenge of Reform UK (34 seats) and soundly beat Labour (nine), who had dominated politics in Wales for a century. On Sunday the Green party leader in Wales, Anthony Slaughter, said his party would back ap Iorwerth’s bid to become first minister, and the sole Liberal Democrat, Jane Dodds, said she would abstain from the vote. If, as expected, the Labour members also abstain, the path will be clear for ap Iorwerth to become first minister. …