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Plaid Cymru – The Party of Wales
Leader
ChairmanAlun Ffred Jones
Chief ExecutiveRhuanedd Richards
Honorary PresidentDafydd Wigley
Founded5 August 1925[1]
Headquarters18 Park Grove,
Cardiff,CF10 3BN
Wales
IdeologyWelsh independence
Social democracy
Political positionCentre-left
European affiliationEuropean Free Alliance
European Parliament groupGreens-EFA
International affiliationnone
ColoursGreen andyellow
Website
www.plaid.cymru

Plaid Cymru(Welshfor 'The Party of Wales';Welsh pronunciation:[ˈplaɪdˈkəmri];often shortened toPlaid) originated in 1925 after a meeting held at that year'sNational EisteddfodinPwllheli,Caernarfonshire(nowGwynedd).[2]Representatives from twoWelsh nationalistgroups founded the previous year,Byddin Ymreolwyr Cymru( "Army of Welsh Home Rulers" ) andY Mudiad Cymreig( "The Welsh Movement" ), agreed to meet and discuss the need for a "Welsh party".[3]The party was founded asPlaid Genedlaethol Cymru,the National Party of Wales, and attracted members from theleft,rightandcentreof the political spectrum, including bothmonarchistsandrepublicans.Its principal aims include the promotion of theWelsh languageand thepolitical independenceof theWelsh nation.

AlthoughSaunders Lewisis regarded as the founder of Plaid Cymru, the historianJohn Daviesargues that the ideas of the left-wing activistD. J. Davies,which were adopted by the party's presidentGwynfor Evansafter the Second World War, were more influential in shaping its ideology in the long term.[4]According to the historian John Davies, D. J. Davies was an "equally significant figure" as was Lewis in the history of Welsh nationalism, but it was Lewis's "brilliance and charismatic appeal" which was firmly associated withPlaidin the 1930s.[4][5][6]

After initial success as an educational pressure group, the events surroundingTân yn Llŷn(Fire in Llŷn) in the 1930s[7]led to the party adopting apacifist political doctrine.Protests against theflooding of Capel Celynin the 1950s further helped define its politics. These early events were followed byEvans's electiontoParliamentas the party's firstMember of Parliament(MP) in 1966, the successful campaigning for theWelsh Language Act of 1967andEvans going on hunger strikefor a dedicatedWelsh-language television channelin 1981.

Plaid Cymruis the third largest political party in Wales, with 11 of 60 seats in theSenedd.From 2007 to 2011, it was the junior partner in theOne Walescoalition government, withWelsh Labour.Plaid held one of the four Welsh seats in theEuropean Parliament,holds four of the 40 Welsh seats in the UK Parliament, and it has 203 of 1,253principal local authoritycouncillors.[8]According to accounts filed with theElectoral Commissionfor the year 2018, the party had an income of around£690,000 and an expenditure of about£730,000.[9]

Foundation 1925

[edit]

There had been discussions about the need for a "Welsh party" since the 19th century.[10]With the generation or so before 1922 there "had been a marked growth in the constitutional recognition of the Welsh nation", wrote historianDr John Davies.[11]A Welshnational consciousnessre-emerged during the 19th century; leading to the establishment of theNational Eisteddfodin 1861, theUniversity of Wales(Prifysgol Cymru) in 1893, and theNational Library of Wales(Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru) in 1911, and by 1915 theWelsh Guards(Gwarchodlu Cymreig) was formed to include Wales in the UK national components of theFoot Guards.By 1924 there were people in Wales "eager to make their nationality the focus of Welsh politics".[3]

Support forhome rulefor Wales and Scotland amongst most political parties was strongest in 1918 following the independence of other European countries after the First World War, and theEaster Risingin Ireland, wrote Dr Davies.[12]However, in the UK General Elections of 1922, 1923, and 1924; "Wales as a political issue was increasingly eliminated from the [national agenda]".[3]By August 1925 unemployment in Wales had risen to 28.5%, in contrast to the economic boom in the early 1920s.[3]For Wales, the long depression began in 1925.[3]

This plaque, inaugurated to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the party, is fixed to the building where the founding meeting took place.

It was in this climate that the Welsh Home Rulers group and the Welsh Movement met. Both organisations sent a delegation of three to the meeting, withH. R. Jonesheading theWelsh Home Rulersgroup andSaunders LewisheadingThe Welsh Movement.They were joined byLewis Valentine,D.J. Williams,andAmbrose Bebb,among others. The principal aim of the party was to foster a Welsh-speaking Wales.[13]To this end it was agreed that party business be conducted in Welsh, and that members sever all links with other British parties.[13]Lewis insisted on these principles before he would agree to the Pwllheli conference.

According to the 1911 census, out of a total population of Wales of just under 2.5 million, 43.5% spoke Welsh as a primary language.[14]This was a decrease from the 1891 census with 54.4% speaking Welsh out of a population of 1.5 million.[15]

In these circumstances Lewis condemned "'Welsh nationalism' as it had hitherto existed, a nationalism characterised by inter-party conferences, an obsession withWestminsterand a willingness to accept a subservient position for the Welsh language ", wrote Dr Davies.[13]It may be because of these strict positions that the party failed to attract politicians of experience in its early years.[13]However, the party's members believed its founding was an achievement in itself; "merely by existing, the party was a declaration of the distinctiveness of Wales", wrote Dr Davies.[13]

In these early yearsPlaid Genedlaethol Cymrupublished a monthly paper calledY Ddraig Goch(the Red Dragon, the national symbol of Wales) and held an annual summer school.

H. R. Jones, the party's full-time secretary, established a few party branches, while Valentine served as party president between 1925 and 1926. In the UK General Election of 1929, Valentine stood for Caernarfon and polled 609 votes. Later they became known as 'the Gallant Six Hundred' whenDafydd Iwanimmortalised them in song.[13][16]

By 1932 the aims ofself governmentand Welsh representation at theLeague of Nationshad been added to that of preserving Welsh language and culture. However, this move, and the party's early attempts to develop an economic critique, did not lead to the broadening of its appeal beyond that of an intellectual and socially conservative Welsh-language pressure group.[17]

The Lewis Doctrine 1926–1939

[edit]

During the inter-war years,Plaid Genedlaethol Cymruwas most successful as a social and educationalpressure grouprather than as a political party.[18]For Saunders Lewis, party president 1926–1939, "the chief aim of the party [is] to 'take away from the Welsh their sense of inferiority... to remove from our beloved country the mark and shame of conquest.'" Lewis sought to castWelshnessinto a new context, wrote Dr Davies.[18]

Lewis wished to demonstrate how Welsh heritage was linked as one of the "founders ofEuropean civilisation".[18]Lewis, a self-described "strong monarchist",wrote," Civilisation is more than an abstraction. It must have a local habitation and name. Here its name is Wales. "[18][19]Additionally, Lewis strove for the stability and well-being of Welsh-speaking communities, decried both capitalism and socialism and promoted what he calledperchentyaeth:a policy of "distributing property among the masses".[18]

Broadcasting campaigns and 1931 Census

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Plaid Cymru's logo before 2006

With the advent ofbroadcasting in Wales,Plaid Genedlaethol Cymruprotested the lack of Welsh-language programmes in Wales and launched a campaign to withhold licence fees. Pressure was successful, and by the mid-1930s more Welsh-language programming was broadcast, with the formal establishment of a Welsh regional broadcasting channel by 1937.[20]

According to the1931 census,out of a population of just over 2.5 million, the percentage of Welsh speakers in Wales had dropped to 36.8%, withYnys Mônrecording the highest concentration of speakers at 87.4%, followed by Ceredigion (Cardiganshire) at 87.1%,Merionethshire(Sir Meirionnydd) at 86.1%, andCarmarthenat 82.3%. Caernarfonshire listed 79.2%.[21]RadnorshireandMonmouthshireranked lowest with a concentration of Welsh speakers of less than 6% of the population.[21]

Tân yn Llŷn1936

[edit]

See alsoPenyberth.

Welsh nationalism was ignited in 1936 when the UK government settled on establishing a bombing school atPenyberthon theLlŷn peninsula,now inGwynedd.The events surrounding the protest, known asTân yn Llŷn( "Fire in Llŷn" ), helped definePlaid Genedlaethol Cymru.[7]The UK government settled on Llŷn as the site for its new bombing school after proposals for similar locations inNorthumberlandandDorsetwere met with protests.[22]

However, UK Prime MinisterStanley Baldwinrefused to hear the case against the bombing school in Wales, despite a deputation representing half a million Welsh protesters.[22]Protest against the bombing school was summed up by Lewis when he wrote that the UK government was intent upon turning one of the "essential homes ofWelsh culture,idiom,andliterature"into a place for promoting a barbaric method of warfare.[22]Construction of the bombing school building began exactly 400 years after the first of theLaws in Walesannexing Wales into England.[22]

On 8 September 1936 the bombing school building was set on fire and in the investigations which followed Saunders Lewis, Lewis Valentine, and D. J. Williams claimed responsibility.[22]The trial at Caernarfon failed to agree on a verdict and the case was sent to theOld Baileyin London. The "Three" were sentenced to nine months' imprisonment inWormwood Scrubs,and on their release they were greeted as heroes by fifteen thousand Welsh at a pavilion inCaernarfon.[22]

Many Welsh were angered by the judge's scornful treatment of the Welsh language, by the decision to move the trial to London, and by the decision of University College, Swansea, to dismiss Lewis from his post before he had been found guilty.[7]Scholarand historianDafydd Glyn Joneswrote of the fire that it was "the first time in five centuries that Wales struck back at England with a measure of violence... To the Welsh people, who had long ceased to believe that they had it in them, it was a profound shock."[7]

However, despite the acclaim the events ofTân yn Llŷngenerated, by 1938 Lewis' concept ofperchentyaethwas firmly rejected asnota fundamental tenet of the party. In 1939 Lewis resigned asPlaid Genedleathol Cymrupresident, citing that Wales was not ready to accept the leadership of a Roman Catholic.[7]Academic and theologianJ. E. Daniel,the party's former vice-president between 1931 and 1935, was elected as president ofPlaid Cenedlaethol Cymruin 1939, serving until 1943.[23]

Criticism

[edit]

Saunders Lewis' perceived "elitist views", and a "condescending attitude towards some aspects ofnonconformist,radicalandpacifisttraditions of Wales "drew criticism from fellow nationalists such asDavid James (D. J.) Davies,aleftistPlaid Cymruparty member and founder.[18]Davies argued in favour of engaging English-speaking Welsh communities, and stressed the territorial integrity of Wales. Davies pointed towardsScandinavian countriesas a model to emulate, and was active in the economic implications of Welsh self-government.[24]

Notwithstanding his intellect Lewis may have been ill-equipped to lead the party, or even to convince his immediate colleagues of his theories. Historian Geraint H. Jenkins writes: "... Lewis was a cold fish. His reedy voice, bow tie, cerebral style and aristocratic contempt for the proletariat were hardly endearing qualities in a political leader, and his conversion to Catholicism lost him the sympathy of fervent Nonconformists. Heavily influenced by the discourse of right-wing French theorists, this profoundly authoritarian figure developed a grand strategy, such as it was, based on the deindustrialization of Wales. Such a scheme was both impractical and unpopular. It caused grave embarrassment to his socialist colleague D. J. Davies, a progressive economist who, writing with force and passion, showed a much better grasp of the economic realities of the time and greater sensitivity towards the plight of working people."[25]

Speaking at theNorth American Association for the Study of Welsh Culture and HistoryinGallia County,Ohio,in 2001, Professor John Davies said

The other strand of Welsh twentieth-century radicalism, that of Plaid Cymru, also had American associations. While Saunders Lewis looked to France and Rome, that equally significant figure D. J. Davies looked to the Nordic countries and to America, in whosearmed forceshe served in the First World War, as a protest against the class-bound attitudes of the officers of theBritish Army.His inspiration came above all from theNew Deal,and year in year out the model he offered for the regeneration of depression-ridden Wales was the work of theTennessee Valley Authority.[26]

It was Davies' ideal of Welsh nationalism which was adopted byPlaid Cymruafter the Second World War, wrote Dr Davies. But it was Lewis' "brilliance and charismatic appeal" which was firmly associated withPlaid Genedlaethol Cymruin the 1930s.[22]

The appeal ofPlaid Genedlaethol Cymrumay have been further complicated by the apparent "fascist-style corporatism shown by [Lewis] and other Roman Catholic leaders of the party", according to historianLord Morgan.[27]AuthorG. A. Williamscharacterised the party of the 1930s as a "right wing force", and "Its journal refused to resistHitlerorMussolini,ignored or tolerated anti-Semitism and, in effect, came out in support ofFranco."[27][28][29][30]

However, in the context of the 1930s, other UK politicians of other parties offered endorsements for fascist leaders. In 1933Winston Churchillcharacterised Mussolini as "the greatest lawgiver among men",[31]and later wrote in his 1937 bookGreat Contemporaries,"If our country were defeated, I hope we should find a champion as admirable (as Hitler) to restore our courage and lead us back to our place among the nations." In the same work, Churchill expressed a hope that despite Hitler's apparent dictatorial tendencies, he would use his power to rebuild Germany into a worthy member of the world community. And in August 1936,Liberal partymemberDavid Lloyd Georgemet Hitler atBerchtesgadenand offered some public comments that were surprisingly favourable to the German dictator, expressing warm enthusiasm both for Hitler personally and for Germany's public works schemes (upon returning, he wrote of Hitler in theDaily Expressas "the greatest living German", "the George Washington of Germany" ).

Bards under the bed1939–1945

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During the Second World War the UK government felt it prudent to "avoid action which might foster the growth of an extreme Welsh nationalist movement".[32]Clement Attlee,UKSecretary of State for Dominion Affairs1942–43, voiced concern over Welsh nationalists after a deputation of Welsh Labour UK parliamentarians met with him about ignoring Welsh issues during the conflict.

Attlee characterised Welsh nationalists as "mischievous [who] tend to be against thewar effort".[32]To root-out Welsh nationalist sympathies within army units, the UKMinistry of Labour and National Servicereported that Welsh-speaking men were posted to predominantlyWelsh-speaking unitsto report on anti-war sympathies.[32]

Additional plans were developed to counter growingPlaid Cymruinfluence and included "rolling out" a member of theU.K. Royal Familyto "smooth things over", according to then constitutional expertEdward Iwi.[19]In a report he gave toHome SecretaryHerbert Morrison,Iwi proposed to make the thenPrincess ElizabethConstableofCaernarfon Castle(a post held by David Lloyd George until his death in January 1945), and patroness ofUrdd Gobaith Cymru,and for her to tour Wales asUrdd'spatroness.[19]

Appointing the princess as constable of Caernarfon Castle was rejected by the Home Secretary, as potentially creating conflict between north and south Wales, and KingGeorge VIrefused to let the teenage princess tour Wales, to avoid undue pressure on her;[19]the plan to make the princess patroness ofUrdd Gobaith Cymruwas dropped, it being thought unsuitable to link the princess, enlisted in theATS,to an organisation two of whose leading members wereconscientious objectors.[19]

So. Wales BorderersCap Badge. Plaid members served in the armed forces during the war

Bards under the bedwas one term coined by UK officials referring to Welsh nationalists and nationalism during the war years.[32]

If ignoring the largely pacifist traditions of Welsh nationalism, some articles in the Welsh-language press could be seen to give credence to Attlee's fears that Welsh nationalists would be used to spearhead an insurgency.[33]However, this characterisation misrepresented Welsh nationalist sentiments, as "[Welsh nationalists] did far more to bring victory than hasten defeat".[33]

Ambrose Bebb,a founding member of the party, was one of the most outspoken party members in support of the war. Bebb consideredNazi Germany's total defeat in the war as essential.[34]Additionally, many members ofPlaid Genedlaethol Cymruserved in Britain's armed forces.[34]Lewis maintained a strict neutrality in his writings through his columnCwrs y BydinY Faner.It was his attempt at an unbiased interpretation of the causes and events of the war.[34]

Welsh Guards(Gwarchodlu Cymreig) nearCagny,France, 19 July 1944.
Plaid Cymru members served in the armed forces during the war

Irrespective of the party's initial position on the war, party members were free to choose their own level of support for thewar effort.Plaid Genedlaethol Cymruwas officially neutral regarding involvement the Second World War, which party leaders considered a continuation of the First World War. Central to the neutrality policy was the idea that Wales, as a nation, had the right to decide independently on its attitude towards war,[35]and the denial of any right of another nation to force Welshmen to serve in its armed forces.[35]With this challenging and revolutionary policy Lewis hoped a significant number of Welshmen would refuse enlistment in theBritish Army.[34]

Lewis, who served in theSouth Wales Borderersduring the First World War, was not anti-military. Rather, Lewis and other party members were attempting to strengthen loyalty to the Welshnation"over the loyalty to the BritishState".[35]Lewis argued, "The only proof that the Welsh nation exists is that there are some who act as if it did exist".[34]

However, most party members who claimedconscientious objectorstatus did so in the context of their moral and religious beliefs, rather than based on political conviction.[34]Of these, almost all were exempted from military service. About 24 party members made politics their sole ground for exemption, of whom twelve received prison sentences (for refusing to attend a medical examination, as an essential preliminary to call-up, after their claim of conscientious had been refused).[34]For Lewis, those who objected proved that the assimilation of Wales was "being withstood, even under the most extreme pressures".[34]

University of Wales by-election, 1943

[edit]

Until 1950, universities elected their own representatives to the UK parliament. In 1943 Lewis contested theUniversity of Walesparliamentary seat at a by-election, his opponent being formerPlaid Genedlaethol Cymrudeputy vice-president DrWilliam John Gruffydd.Gruffydd had voiced doubts about Lewis' ideas since 1933,[36]and by 1943 he had joined theLiberal party.The "brilliant but wayward" Gruffydd was a favourite with Welsh-speaking intellectuals and drew 52.3 per cent of the vote, to Lewis' 22 per cent, or 1,330 votes.[36]

The election effectively split the Welsh-speaking intelligentsia, and left Lewis embittered with politics.[37]However, the experience proved invaluable forPlaid Cymru,as they began to refer to themselves, as "for the first time they were taken seriously as a political force".[37] The by-election campaign led directly to "considerable growth" in the party's membership.[37]

The Evans Legacy 1945–1981

[edit]
A Plaid Cymru rally inMachynllethin 1949 where theParliament for Wales in 5 yearscampaign was started

With Lewis retreating from direct political involvement, and with the party drawing a modest increase in membership, DrGwynfor Evanswas elected party president in 1945. Evans, born inBarryinGlamorganbut spending most his life inLlangadoginCarmarthenshire,only learned to speak Welsh as an adult. Evans was educated at theUniversity of Wales, Aberystwyth,and atSt John's College, Oxford,where he founded a branch ofPlaid Cymruwhile he was a student.[38]As a devout Christianpacifist,Evans was unconditionally exempted from conscription during the Second World War on grounds of conscientious objection.

Building on a higher profile the party fielded more candidates in elections; and in by-elections in 1945, the party won 25 per cent of the vote in Caernarfon and 16 per cent in Neath.[37]By 1945Plaid Cymruwas in a "better position then it had been in 1939", wrote Dr Davies.[7]

Responding to Welsh nationalism, and despite opposition by Labour politicians such asAneurin Bevan,Morgan Phillipsand Attlee, theU.K. governmentfelt it prudent to establish theCouncil of Walesin 1948, an unelected assembly of 27 with the brief of advising the UK government on matters of Welsh interest.[39]The Council of Wales held no authority on its own, to the frustration of many of the councillors.[40]

Following the warPlaid Cymruchallenged the UK government's continued military conscription in peacetime, and protested theWar Office's use of Welsh lands for training exercises: first in thePreseli Hillsin 1946, then inTregaronin 1947, and thenTrawsfynyddin 1951.

Throughout the 1950s, Evans reached out to other political parties in Westminster to establish a parliament for Wales.[38]Though failing to establish a Welsh assembly, there was movement on devolution. WithPlaid Cymruexpanding its influence further into the industrial south-east constituencies, the UK government gave in on small concessions towards devolution.[41]First they established aMinister of Welsh Affairsin 1951, then aDigest of Welsh Statisticsbegan publication in 1954, and in 1955Cardiff(Caerdydd) was recognised as the Welsh capital city.

On Evans' initiative in response to a lack of Welsh-medium education at the college level, the University of Wales set up a committee for the creation of a Welsh-medium college in 1950.[42]By 1955 the university announced its expansion of a Welsh-medium curriculum, and its continued expansion in relation to the demand for classes in Welsh.[43]Additionally,Plaid Cymruwas attracting members from other parties, such as one-timePlaid CymrucriticHuw T. Edwards,who resigned from the Council of Wales and left Labour in 1958 over what he described as "Whitehallism".

A Welsh constitutional monarchy

[edit]

See alsoWelsh peers and baronets.

The arms of the royal house of Gwynedd were traditionally first used by Llywelyn's father, Iorwerth Drwyndwn[44]

At a party conference in 1949, fifty members leftPlaid Cymruover Evans' strict observance of apacifist political doctrineand over the party's continued emphasis on the Welsh language, but also because the party firmly rejected adopting arepublicanmanifesto.[45]

The disaffected founded theWelsh Republican Movementwhich provided a home for radical ideas whilePlaid Cymrumatured as a political party, wrote historian John Davies.[45]

Breaking up the following decade, some of its aspects were later absorbed intoPlaid Cymru,such as the use of English and the engagement in English-speaking Welsh communities, echoing calls from Dr D. J. Davies. This was "key... to the party's increasing acceptability" to voters, wrote Davies.[45]

TheCross of Neithatop theTalaithofLlywelyn the Great.

LeadingPlaid Cymrumembers advocated that an independent Wales would be better served by a Welshconstitutional monarchy,one which would engender the affection and allegiance of the Welsh people and legitimise Welshsovereignty.[46]An hereditary constitutional monarch would, they argued, embody and personify Welsh national identity above party politics, while political parties formed governments in aparliamentary systemsimilar to those ofDenmark,Norway,theNetherlands,andSpain.[46]

Economist D. J. Davies, originally a republican, wrote an article inY Fanerin 1953, and later published in English in the 1958 bookTowards Welsh Freedom,in which he advocated the elevation of aWelsh gentry familyas theRoyal Familyof Wales.[5][47]Among the criteria for consideration, argued Davies, was that the family had to have a history of contributing toWelsh lifeand reside in Wales.[5][46]

Davies wrote in 1953 of the Rhys/Rice family of Dinefwr in Carmarthen, suggesting their elevation to a restored Welsh kingship.[47]AuthorSiôn T. Jobbinssuggested the election of a member of the Windsor dynasty for an independent Wales.[5]

The flooding of Capel Celyn

[edit]
Tryweryn memorial chapel atLlyn Celyn

See alsoCapel Celyn,Llyn Celyn.

In 1956, aprivate billsponsored byLiverpool City Councilwas brought before the UKparliamentto develop a water reservoir in theTryweryn Valley,inMeirionnyddin Gwynedd. The development would include the flooding ofCapel Celyn(Holly Chapel), a Welsh-speaking community of historic significance. Despite universal andbipartisanobjections by Welsh politicians (thirty five out of thirty six WelshMPsopposed the bill, and one abstained) the bill was passed in 1957.

Evans joined Dr Tudor Jones and Capel Celyn farmer David Roberts, aged 65, at the Liverpool Town Hall to protest, and had to be forcibly ejected by police.[48]

The building of the reservoir was instrumental in an increase in support forPlaid Cymruduring the late 1950s.[48]Almost unanimous Welsh political opposition had failed to stop approval of the scheme, a fact that seemed to underlinePlaid Cymru'sargument that the Welsh national community was powerless.[49]At the subsequentGeneral Electionthe party's support increased from 3.1% to 5.2%.

Of perhaps greater significance, however, was the impetus the episode gave to Welsh devolution. The Council of Wales recommended the creation of aWelsh Office(Swyddfa Gymreig) and aSecretary of State for Walesearly in 1957, a time when the governance of Wales on a national level was so demonstrably lacking in many people's eyes.[50]

The flooding of Capel Celyn also sharpened debate withinPlaid Cymruabout the use ofdirect action.While the party emphasised its constitutional approach to stopping the development, it also sympathised with the actions of two party members who (of their own accord) attempted to sabotage the power supply at the site of the Tryweryn dam in 1962.[50]


In October 1965 theLlyn Celynreservoir opened to a sizeablePlaid Cymruorganised demonstration. During the opening ceremonies, "posters reading 'Hands Off Wales' were displayed and pieces of rock were thrown at Liverpool's Lord Mayor and Chief Constable."[48]

In 2005, the Liverpool City Council formally apologised for the flooding.[48]

Tynged yr Iaithand the 1961 census

[edit]

See alsoTynged yr iaith.

In 1962 Saunders Lewis gave a radio speech entitledTynged yr iaith(The Fate of the Language) in which he predicted the extinction of the Welsh language unless action was taken. Lewis' intent was to motivatePlaid Cymruinto more direct action promoting the language; however it led to the formation ofCymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg(the "Welsh Language Society" ) later that year at aPlaid Cymrusummer school held inPontardaweinGlamorgan.[51]The foundation ofCymdeithas yr Iaith GymraegallowedPlaid Cymruto focus on electoral politics, while theCymdeithasfocused on promoting the language.

Lewis gave his radio speech responding to the 1961 census, which showed a decrease in the number of Welsh speakers from 36% in 1931 to 26%, out of a population of about 2.5 million.[52]In the census; Merionnydd, Ynys Môn, Carmarthen, and Caernarfonshire averaged 75% concentration of Welsh speakers, with the most significant decrease in the counties ofGlamorgan,Flint,andPembroke.[21][52]

Responding to the calls for Welsh devolution, in 1964 theLabour Governmentgave effect to these proposals establishing the unelectedWelsh Office(Welsh:Swyddfa Gymreig) and aSecretary of State for Wales.

Evans' election 1966

[edit]

IfPlaid Cymruhad been disappointed at theUK general election, 1966,then theCarmarthen by-electionof 14 July 1966 was reason for celebration. The contest was significant in that it resulted in the election of Gwynfor Evans, the first everPlaid CymruM.P. The contest was caused by the death ofLady Megan Lloyd George,Labour (and formerLiberal) MP and daughter ofDavid,1stEarl Lloyd George of Dwyfor.

This was followed by two further by-elections inRhondda Westin 1967 andCaerphillyin 1968, in which the party achieved massive swings of 30% and 40% respectively, coming within a whisker of victory as both also won a higher proportion of the vote then it had won in Carmarthen.

The results were caused partly by an anti-Labour backlash. However, in Carmarthen particularly,Plaid Cymrualso successfully depicted Labour's policies as a threat to the viability of small Welsh communities.[53]Expectations in coal mining communities that theWilsongovernment would halt the long-term decline in their industry had been dashed by a significant downward revision of coal production estimates.[54]

Welsh Language Act 1967

[edit]

WithPlaid Cymru'selectoral successes the issue of devolution was back on the national political agenda, wrote Dr Davies.[55]APlaid Cymruunder Evans and a Labour party influenced byGwilym Prys Davies(Gwilym Prys Davies had published a Labour pamphlet calling for a National Assembly of Wales in 1963[56]) andJames Griffiths,the argument "in favour of a political system in Wales more answerable to the electorate" was plausible.[56]

But by 1967 Labour retreated from endorsing home rule mainly because of the open hostility expressed by other Welsh Labour MPs to anything "which could be interpreted as a concession to nationalism",[56]and because of opposition by theSecretary of State for Scotland,who was responding to a growth of Scottish nationalism.

By 1967 theWelsh Language Actwas passed, giving some legal protection for the use of Welsh in official government business. The Act was based on theHughes Parry report,published in 1965, which advocated equal validity for Welsh in speech and in written documents, both in the courts and in public administration in Wales. However the Act did not include all the Hughes Parry report's recommendations. Prior to the Act, only the English language could be spoken at government and court proceedings.

'79Yes Campaign;Hunger Strike for S4C

[edit]

See also1979 Welsh devolution referendum,S4C,Hunger strike

In the1970 General ElectionPlaid Cymrucontested every seat in Wales for the first time and its vote share surged from 4.5% in 1966 to 11.5%. Also in that year, founding member Saunders Lewis was nominated for theNobel Prizefor Literature. Evans, however, lost Carmarthen to Labour, lost again by three votes inFebruary 1974,but regained the seat inOctober 1974,by which time the party had gained a further two MPs, representing the constituencies ofCaernarfonandMerionethshire.Alarmed at the decrease in the number of Welsh speakers, Evans began a campaign for the establishment of a Welsh-language television channel.[38]

At the1979 General Electionthe party's vote share declined from 10.8% to 8.1% and Carmarthen was again lost to Labour.

Plaid Cymruled theYes Campaignin favor of devolution, though some party members were somewhat ambivalent toward home rule (as opposed to outright independence).[57]Thereferendumwas held onSt David's Day(1 March) 1979, but the people of Wales voted against proposals to establish aWelsh Assembly.

Only 12% of the Welsh electorate voted to set up a directly elected forum which would have been based inCardiff's Coal Exchange. The Assembly would have had the powers and budget of theSecretary of State for Wales.The plans were defeated by a majority of 4:1 (956,330 against, 243,048 for). TheWales Actcontained a requirement that at least 40% of all voters backed the plan. After the referendum results many in the party questioned its direction.[57]

Following theYes Campaign'sdefeat, and believing Welsh nationalism was "in a paralysis of helplessness," the UKConservativegovernment Home Secretary announced in September 1979 that the government wouldnothonour its pledge in the previous May's election campaign to establish a Welsh-language television channel,[58]much to widespread anger and resentment in Wales, wrote Dr Davies.[58]

In early 1980 over two thousand members ofPlaid Cymrupledged to go to prison rather than pay the television licence fees, and by that spring Evans announced his intention tofast to deathif a Welsh-language channel were not established. In early September 1980, Evans addressed thousands at a gathering in which "passions ran high," according to Dr Davies.[56]The government yielded by 17 September, and the Welsh Fourth Channel (S4C) was launched on 2 November 1982.

The Wigley & Elis presidencies 1981–2000

[edit]
Dafydd Wigley,
two-term president

Caernarfon MP,Dafydd Wigleysucceeded Gwynfor Evans as president in 1981, inheriting a party whose morale was at an all-time low after the defeat of theYes Campaign.In 1981 the party adopted "community socialism," or a "decentralisedsocialist state, "as a constitutional aim. This was in part as a consequence ofThatcherism's effect in Wales. While the party embarked on a wide-ranging review of its priorities and goals, Evans continued his successful campaign to oblige theConservativeUK government to fulfil its promise to establish S4C.[38]

Wigley's election was seen as instrumental in deciding the future direction ofPlaid Cymru.Though Wigley described his own politics as 'right-wing', at the time he represented a moderate, pragmaticsocial democracypolicy, in sharp contrast with rival candidateDafydd Elis Thomas' far-left socialism. Wigley's triumph was also somewhat apyrrhic victory– he won the presidency, but Thomas would have a greater influence over the party's ideology throughout the 1980s.

In 1984 Wigley resigned from the presidency because of his children's health. In the 1984 party leadership elections Dafydd Elis-Thomas was elected president, defeatingDafydd Iwan,a move that saw the party shift to the political left. Wigley returned to the job in 1991 after the resignation of Elis-Thomas.

Ieuan Wyn JonescapturedYnys Monfrom the Conservatives in1987.

The 1991 census revealed that the decline in the number of Welsh speakers was arrested, and remained at the 1981 levels of 18.7% in a Welsh population of over 2.8 million. Gwynedd retained the highest concentration of Welsh speakers with 61%, followed by Powys, Clwyd, and Dyfed averaging in the mid-twenty percentile.[59]

The Yes for Wales campaign

[edit]
Main article:Yes for Wales

After the1997 general election,the new Labour Government argued that an Assembly would be more democratically accountable than theWelsh Office,echoing calls forself-governmentsince 1918.

For eleven years prior to 1997 Wales had been represented in theUK Cabinetby aSecretary of Statewho did not represent a Welsh constituency atWestminster.[60]Plaid Cymrujoined a bi-partisanYes for Walescampaign, alongside the Labour and Liberal Democrat parties.

During the campaign for a Welsh Assembly,Diana, Princess of Waleswas killed in a car accident in France. The campaign had been temporarily suspended and it was wondered what effect the death of the Princess of Wales would have on the election.[61]Commentators pondered what effect the death of the princess and focus on the UK Royal Family would have on the devolution debate and turn out.[61]

A second referendum was held on 18 September 1997 in which voters approved the creation of the National Assembly for Wales by a majority of just 6,712 votes.[62]

The following year theGovernment of Wales Actwas passed by UK parliament, establishing theNational Assembly for Wales(Welsh:Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru).

First Welsh Assembly, 1999–2003

[edit]
Lord Elis-Thomas
Three-termpresiding officerof theWelsh Assembly

In the1999 electionPlaid Cymrugained seats in traditionally Labour areas such as in theRhondda,IslwynandLlanelliand achieving by far their highest share of the vote in any Wales-wide election.Ieuan Wyn Joneswas the campaign director duringPlaid Cymru'sfirst elections to the Welsh Assembly in 1999.[63]WhilePlaid Cymrupresented themselves as the natural beneficiary of devolution, others attributed their performance in large part to the travails of the Labour Party, whose nomination forAssembly First Secretary,Ron Davies,was forced to stand down in an allegedsex scandal.The ensuing leadership battle did much to damage Labour, and thus aidPlaid Cymruwhose leader, by contrast, was the more popular and higher profileDafydd Wigley.TheUK Labournational leadership was seen to interfere in the contest and deny the popularRhodri Morganvictory. Less than two months later, with a further slump in Labour support,Plaid Cymrucame within 2.5percentage pointsof gaining the largest vote share in Wales. Under the new system of elections, the party also gained two MEPs.

Lord Elis-Thomas was electedPresiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales.

Jones' presidency; 2000–2003

[edit]

In a speech at the2000 National EisteddfodatLlanelli,Cynog Dafis(pronouncedDavis),Plaid CymruAM forMid and West Wales,called for a new Welsh-language movement with greater powers to lobby for the Welsh language at the Assembly, UK, and EU levels.[64]Dafis felt the needs of the language were ignored during the first year of the Assembly, and that in order to ensure a dynamic growth of the Welsh language a properly resourced strategy was needed[64]In his speech Dafis encouraged other Welsh-language advocacy groups to work closer together creating a more favorable climate in which using Welsh was "attractive, exciting, a source of pride and a sign of strength".[64]Additionally, Dafis pointed towards efforts in areas such asCataloniaand theBasque countryas successful examples to emulate.[64]

Lord Elis-Thomas disagreed with Dafis assessment, however. At theUrddEisteddfod Lord Elis-Thomas said that there was no need for another Welsh language act, citing that there was "enough goodwill to safeguard the language's future".[65]His controversial comments promptedCymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraegto join a chorus calling for his resignation as the Assembly's presiding officer.[65]

Lord Elis-Thomas was also under fire from Welsh Labour'sAlun Michaelfor his endorsement of Ieuan Wyn Jones as Plaid Cymru's president, however Elis-Thomas said he volunteered his preference as a matter of public interest and as a party member, not in his position as Assembly presiding officer.[65]

Dafydd Wigley resigned late 2000, citing health problems but amid rumours of a plot against him.[66][67][68]Ieuan Wyn Jones was elected President ofPlaid Cymruwith 77% of the vote overHelen Mary Jonesand Jill Evans[69]a few months later. Jones reshuffled the party leadership withJocelyn Daviesas Business Manager; Elin Jonesas Chief Whip and Agriculture & Rural Development Officer;Phil Williamsas Economic Development; andHelen Mary Jonesas Environment, Transport and Planning, plus Equal Opportunities.[70]

The party's move toward the political centre during this period may have been made easier by the formation of Welsh-language pressure groupCymuned(Community) and theCymru Annibynnol(The Independent Wales party), which provided another home for "radicals".[71]

Plaid Cymruand theScottish National Party,having cooperated since the 1980s, formalised their relationship by establishing theCeltic Alliancevoting block in 2001.[72]The Celtic Alliance created the third largest oppositional voting block in the UK parliament.

Llandudno Party Conference

At theLlandudnoPlaid Cymruparty conference of 2002, Jones called for greater Assembly authority "[on parity] with Scotland's parliament", and "opposed any military conflict in Iraq, saying it would destabilise the Middle East".[73]Jones also criticised health and public services policies and would end the "endless revamping of structures and administration".[73]

Language and Housing Controversy

[edit]
Main articles:Commuter townandgentrification

Controversy erupted in mid-winter 2001 whenSeimon Glyn,Gwynedd County Council'shousing committee chairman andPlaid Cymrumember, voiced frustration over "English immigrants" moving into traditionally Welsh-speaking communities.[74]Glyn was commenting on a report underscoring the dilemma of rocketing house prices outstripping what locals could pay, with the report warning that "...traditional Welsh communities could die out..." as a consequence.[75]

Much of the rural Welsh real-estate market was driven by a cycle of growingdormitory towns,which was exacerbated bysecond homebuyers and growingretirement communities.Many buyers were drawn to Wales from England because of relatively inexpensive house prices in Wales as compared to house prices in England.[76][77]The rise in home prices outpaced the average earnings income in Wales, and meant that many local people could not afford to purchase their first home or compete against commuter or second-home buyers.[77]

In 2001 nearly a third of all properties in Gwynedd were bought by buyers from out of the county, and with some communities reporting as many as a third of local homes used as holiday homes.[78][79]Holiday home owners spend less than six months of the year in the local community. Additional concern was expressed byCymuned,which included disillusionedPlaid Cymrumembers, when it was pointed out that real-estate inNorth Waleswas specifically marketed to affluent buyers in England rather than marketed to locals. These growing dormitory towns along theNorth Wales Expresswayserve more as commuter communities forChesterand other cross-border cities, effectively driving-out Welsh-speaking communities, activists pointed out.[80][81]

In housing markets where commuters are wealthier and small town housing markets weaker than city housing markets or suburbs, the development of a bedroom community may raise local housing prices and attract upscale service businesses in a process calledgentrification.Long-time residents may be displaced by new commuter residents due to rising house prices. This can also be influenced by zoning restrictions in urbanised areas that prevent the construction of suitably cheap housing closer to places of employment.

The issue of locals being priced out of the local housing market is common to many rural communities throughout Britain, but in Wales the added dimension of language further complicated the issue, as many new residents did not learn the Welsh language.[78][82][83][84]

Concern for the Welsh language under these pressures prompted Glyn to say "Once you have more than 50% of anybody living in a community that speaks a foreign language, then you lose your indigenous tongue almost immediately".[85]

Plaid Cymruhad long advocated controls on second homes, and a 2001 taskforce headed by Dafydd Wigley recommended land should be allocated for affordable local housing, and called for grants for locals to buy houses, and recommended council tax on holiday homes should double, following similar measures in theScottish Highlands.[79][82][85]

However theWelsh Labour-Liberal DemocratAssembly coalitionrebuffed these proposals, with Assembly housing spokesmanPeter Blackstating that "we [can not] frame our planning laws around the Welsh language", adding "Nor can we take punitive measures against second home owners in the way that they propose as these will have an impact on the value of the homes of local people".[85]

In contrast, by fall 2001 theExmoor National Parkauthority in England began limiting home ownership there which was also driving up local housing prices by as much as 31%.[83]Elfyn Llwyd,Plaid Cymru'sparliamentary group leader, said that the issues in Exmoor National Park were the same as in Wales, however in Wales there is the added dimension of language and culture.[83]

Reflecting on the controversy Glyn's comments caused earlier in the year, Llwyd observed "What is interesting is of course it is fine for Exmoor to defend their community but in Wales when you try to say these things it is called racist..."[83]

Llwyd called on other parties to join in a debate to bring the Exmoor experience to Wales when he said "... I really do ask them and I plead with them to come around the table and talk about the Exmoor suggestion and see if we can now bring it into Wales".[83]

By spring 2002 both theSnowdonia National Park(Welsh:Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri) andPembrokeshire Coast National Park(Welsh:Parc Cenedlaethol Arfordir Penfro) authorities began limiting second home ownership within the parks, following the example set by Exmoor.[86]According to planners in Snowdonia and Pembroke applicants for new homes must demonstrate a proven local need or the applicant had strong links with the area.

In the2001 General Election,Plaid Cymrulost Jones' old seat ofYnys Mônto Labour'sAlbert Owen.An internal report commissioned byPlaid Cymrufollowing the 2001 General Election attributed the loss of significant votes directly to Glyn's controversial comments.[75]Despite this,Plaid Cymrurecorded their highest ever vote share in a General Election of 14.3%, gainingCarmarthen East and Dinefwrand electingAdam Price.

2001 Census and tickbox controversy

[edit]
Main articles:Demographics of WalesandWelsh people
Percentage of Welsh speakers byprincipal area

According to the 2001 census the number of Welsh speakers in Wales increased for the first time in 100 years, with 20.5% in a population of over 2.9 million claiming fluency in Welsh, or one in five.[87]Additionally, 28% of the population of Wales claimed to understand Welsh.[87]The census revealed that the increase was most significant in urban areas; such as Cardiff (Caerdydd) with an increase from 6.6% in 1991 to 10.9% in 2001, andRhondda Cynon Taffwith an increase from 9% in 1991 to 12.3% in 2001.[87]However, the percentage of Welsh speakers declined inGwyneddfrom 72.1% in 1991 to 68.7%, and inCeredigionfrom 59.1% in 1991 to 51.8%.[87]Ceredigion in particular experienced the greatest fluctuation with a 19.5% influx of new residents since 1991, partially attributable to the inclusion of transient college students at local universities.[87]

The census also revealed that one-third of the population of Wales described themselves as ofBritish nationality,with respondents having to write in whether or not they were Welsh.[87]Controversy surrounding the method of determining nationality began as early as 2000, when it was revealed that respondents in Scotland and Northern Ireland would be able to tick a box describing themselves as Scottish or Irish, an option not available for Welsh respondents.[88][89]

Prior to the Census,Plaid Cymrubacked a petition calling for the inclusion of a Welsh tickbox and for the National Assembly to have primary law-making powers and its ownNational Statistics Office.[88]

With an absence of a Welsh tickbox, the only other tickbox available was 'white-British,' 'Irish', or 'other'.[87][88]Critics expected a higher proportion of respondents describing themselves as of Welsh nationality had a Welsh tickbox been available. Additional criticism targeted the timing of the census, which was taken in the middle of theFoot and Mouthcrisis of 2001, a fact organisers said did not impact the results.[87]However, the Foot and Mouth crisis did delayUK General Elections,the first time since the Second World War any event postponed an election.

The Mittal Affair

[edit]

Controversy ensued in 2002 as Adam Price exposed the link between UK prime ministerTony Blairand steel magnateLakshmi Mittalin theMittal Affair,also known as 'Garbagegate' orCash for Influence.[90][91][92]Mittal'sLNMsteel company, registered in theDutch Antillesand maintaining less than 1% of its 100,000 plus workforce in the UK, sought Blair's aid in its bid to purchaseRomania's state steel industry.[92]The letter from Blair to the Romanian government, a copy of which Price was able to obtain, hinted that the privatisation of the firm and sale to Mittal might help smooth the way for Romania's entry into the European Union.[90]

The letter had a passage in it removed just prior to Blair's signing of it, describing Mittal as "a friend".[92]

In exchange for Blair's support Mittal, already a Labour contributor, donated £125,000 more to Labour party funds a week after the 2001 UK General Elections, while as many as six thousand Welsh steelworkers werelaid offthat same year, Price and others pointed out.[90]Mittal's company, then the fourth largest in the world, was a "major global competitor of Britain's own struggling steel industry,Corus,formerlyBritish Steel plc".[92]Corus andValkia Limitedwere two of the primary employers in South Wales, particularly inEbbw Vale,Llanwern,andPort Talbot.[93]

Iwan's presidency, 2003 – 2012

[edit]

Second Welsh Assembly, 2003–2007

[edit]

In the MayAssembly election of 2003Plaid Cymrulost five seats, with critics pointing towards a less organised electoral organisation which often found difficulty articulating the party's message in the media.[94]This was in sharp contrast to the electoral organisation and performance of 1999.

Within a week of the Assembly elections, there were accusations of a plot headed byAMHelen Mary Jones and four otherPlaid CymruAssembly Members manoeuvering for Jones' removal.[95][96]But Helen Mary Jones denied involvement.[97]However, Ieuan Wyn Jones resigned as bothparty presidentand leader of theassembly group.[63]

By summer 2003 the party underwent a constitutional reorganisation dividing itsCardiff BayandWestminsterresponsibilities. The organisational change prompted new party elections, with Ieuan Wyn Jones standing again for Assembly group leadership, having received both grassroots support from "all over Wales" and senior party members.[97]

With the move towards digital programming,Plaid Cymruurged the "UK government to make Wales one of the first areas to completely switch over to digital television from the current analogue service".[98]

Impeachment of Blair Campaign, 2004–2007

[edit]

See alsoImpeach Blair campaign

In August 2004, Adam Price began a campaign toimpeachthenUK Prime MinisterTony Blairover the alleged misleading of the UK Parliament and for allegedly making a secret agreement with then US PresidentGeorge W. Bushto overthrowSaddam Hussein,amongst other charges.[99]Plaid'sParliament group leaderElfyn Llwydand thenScottish National Party(SNP) group leaderAlex Salmondco-drafted the motion.

Impeachment had not been used in the UK for one hundred and fifty years. If successful, it could have seen Blair tried before theHouse of Lords;however, as expected, the measure failed.[99]

On 17 March 2005 Price was ejected from the Commons chamber after accusing the Prime Minister of having "misled" Parliament and then refusing to withdraw his comment, in violation of the rules of the House.[100]

In November 2005, the campaign announced a new motion (this time with the support of the Liberal Democrats) asking for a Commons committee to examine the conduct of ministers before and after the war. The campaign tabled anEarly Day Motion:

"Conduct of Government Policy in relation to the war against Iraq"
"That this House believes that there should be a select committee of 7 Members, being members of Her Majesty's Privy Council, to review the way in which the responsibilities of Government were discharged in relation to Iraq and all matters relevant thereto, in the period leading up to military action in that country in March 2003 and in its aftermath".

The motion collected 151 signatures, including some Labour back-benchers.

By October 2006, Price opened a three-hour debate on an inquiry into theIraq War,the first such debate in over two years. The SNP and Plaid Cymru motion proposing a committee of seven senior MPs to review "the way in which the responsibilities of government were discharged in relation to Iraq", was defeated by 298 votes to 273, a Government majority of 25, but was supported by a significant number of opposition MPs, and twelve "rebel" Labour MPs, includingGlenda Jackson.

Despite the lack of debate on the original impeachment motion, Price pledged to continue his campaign. However, with the resignation of Blair on 27 June 2007, the entire issue of impeachment may now be moot.

80th anniversary and Evans celebrated 2005

[edit]

In 2005Plaid Cymrucelebrated both the life oficonicfigure Gwynfor Evans, who had died in April, and of the 80th anniversary of the party's founding. At Evans' funeral inAberystwyth,attended by thousands,Plaid Cymrupresident Dafydd Iwan said "ForPlaid Cymrumembers and supporters, young and old, Gwynfor Evans has beenPlaid Cymru'sspiritual leader and will continue to be so. It is impossible to underestimate Gwynfor's unique contribution to buildingPlaid Cymruinto the party it is today ".[101]

Evans was "Wales' most remarkable politician," according toPlaid Cymruparliamentary group leader Elfyn Llwyd, adding that Evans will be remembered for his "fearless dedication to the cause of peace and international understanding".[102]Evans was voted third Top Welsh millennium hero in 2000, and fourth Welsh hero in 2004, according toBBC Walesonline polls.[103][104]

Cymru X – Plaid Cymru Youth/Ifanc

[edit]

Cymru Xwas founded in 2005 to mergePlaid Cymru'stwo existing movements in to one new youth movement. The student federation, 'the ffed', and the youth movement were merged to create a brand new youth organisation available to anyone under the age of 30.

While working as President of theAberystwyth Guild of Students,Bethan JenkinssawPlaid Cymrudefeated in Ceredigion. After leaving Aberystwyth University, Jenkins worked in the office ofLeanne Wood AMand used her contacts there to set up the organisationCymru X.Cymru X launched the first ever interactive text referendum on a Parliament for Wales, as well as campaigns againstnuclear arms.Glyn WisefromBig Brotherfame also took part in a campaign alongside Cymru X to encourage young people to vote prior to the National Assembly election in 2007.

There are some links withFederation of Student Nationalistsand Young Scots for Independence, the student and youth wings of theScottish National Party,as well asKernow X,the youth group ofMebyon Kernow.

In 2012 CymruX was re-branded as Plaid Cymru Youth/Plaid Cymru Ifanc. Plaid Cymru Youth has campaigned against university top-up fees, theIraq War,and the development of new nuclear arms, for the re-introduction of grants for university students, for affordable housing for young people and for a Yes vote in the2011 Welsh devolution referendum.In 2012 they launched a campaign to help tackle youth unemployment called 'Gwaith i Gymru – Work for Wales' which aims to put pressure on the Welsh Government to help young people into work or training in Wales, and includes a petition to the Welsh Assembly.

Plaid Cymru Youth is run by its National Executive Committee, with an election and AGM at Plaid Cymru's Spring Conference every year. Every member of Plaid Cymru Youth is entitled to vote or stand as an officer.

Crossroads, leadership, and rebranding

[edit]

In 2005, the party reached a kind of crossroads, as historic tensions within the party resurfaced betweenPlaid Cymruas a social pressure group andPlaid Cymruas an electoral political party.[94]ProfessorLaura McAllister,aPlaid Cymruhistory expert and former party candidate, said that unless the party shed its "pressure group past" it could not expect more than to form a coalition government with other parties.[94]

Helen Mary Jones, however, disagreed with McAllister's assessment and in 2005 said that "Plaid Cymruspeaks to and for all the people of Wales. "[94]FormerRhondda Cynon TaffPlaid CymrucouncillorSyd Morganagreed with Helen Mary Jones and said that the issue was not with the party's message, but because of a lack of a "modern corporate image" that the "party as a whole does not resonate with the people of Wales."[94]

Old logo (above) and new logo (below)

In February 2006Plaid Cymruundertook changes to its party structure, including designating the Welsh Assembly group leader as the overall party leader. This move placed Ieuan Wyn Jones again at the head of the party, with Dafydd Iwan remaining party president and popular Dafydd Wigley remaining Honorary President.

Responding to calls from within the party to reinvigorate its image, at a party conference the unveiling of a radical change of image prompted some controversy from within the party. Changes included officially using "Plaid"as the party's name, although" Plaid Cymru – The Party of Wales "remained the official title. The adoption ofPlaid,which had long been used in less formal speech as referring tothe party,was a recognition of its use for all party business. Additionally, the party's colours were changed from the traditional green and red to yellow, while the party logo was changed from the 'triban' (three peaks) used since 1933 to a yellowWelsh poppy(Meconopsis cambrica).

The Government of Wales Act 2006

[edit]
Main article:Government of Wales Act 2006

TheGovernment of Wales Act 2006was heavily criticised byPlaidfor not delivering a fully-fledged parliament. Additionally,Plaidcriticised theWelsh Labour Party's allegedly partisan attempt to alter the electoral system. By preventing regional Assembly Members from standing in constituency seats Welsh Labour was accused of "changing the rules" to protect constituency representatives. Labour had 29 members in the Assembly at the time, all of whom held constituency seats.

Third Welsh Assembly, 2007–2011

[edit]

In theWelsh Assembly electionof 3 May 2007,Plaidincreased its number of seats from 12 to 15, regainingLlanelli,gaining one additional list seat and winning the newly created constituency ofAberconwyThe 2007 election also sawPlaid'sMohammad Asgharbecome the first ethnic minority candidate elected to the Welsh Assembly.[105]The Party's share of the vote increased to 22.4%. After a tight race,Helen Mary Joneswon back the important Llanelli constituency forPlaid,with a majority of 3,884 votes.

Bethan Jenkins
at 26, the youngestAMelected

PlaidAM DrDai Lloydhailed the 2007 Assembly election campaign as the "most professional" campaign thatPlaidhad run, and made special note that it was funded from exclusively Welsh sources.[106]In the 2007 Assembly electionPlaidspent just under £261,286 on the campaign, about three times that of the 2003 Assembly elections.[106][107]

On 19 October 2007,PlaidAM Asghar escaped death as a terrorist explosion inKarachi,Pakistan,killed 130 others.[108]He had been within 35 metres of the blast.[108]Asghar had accompaniedBenazir Bhutto,former Prime Minister of Pakistan and intended target, on her return there from exile.[108]

Following the Assembly elections, a UK parliamentary standards and privileges committee foundPlaidMPs Elfyn Llwyd, Adam Price andHywel Williamsguilty of improperly advertising during the elections.[109]Though the committee admitted the three did not break any clear rules of the UK House of Commons, the committee believed the timing of the adverts was planned to coincide with the Assembly elections.[109]

Parliamentary funds are available for MPs to communicate with constituents regularly. However the committee found that the three used this communication allowance improperly as part ofPlaid'scampaigning during the elections as the adverts were placed in publications with a circulation outside of their respective constituencies.[109]

PlaidMP group leader Elfyn Llwyd said that they had "...acted in good faith throughout, and fully in line with the advice that was offered to us by the DFA (Department of Finance and Administration) at the time of the publication of the reports", but that they would comply with the findings.[109]The three had to repay the money, about five thousand pounds each, and report the costs as part ofPlaid'selection spending.[109]

The "One Wales" Agreement

[edit]

See alsoOne Wales

Plaidentered into negotiations with Welsh Labour to form a stable government only afterPlaid's initial attempts to form a three-party coalition with the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties failed.[110]The "One Wales"agreement hammered out promised aid to" first-time house-buyers, pensioners and students and a review ofNHSreconfiguration ",[111]and with a "commitment by Welsh Labour to campaign favourably for full parliamentary powers, similar to theScottish Parliament,in a referendum held before 2011 ".[111]The historic[112]One Walesagreement was approved by both political parties by 7 July.[112][113][114]Only a coalition betweenPlaidand Welsh Labour would provide the necessary two-thirds majority in the Assembly to trigger the referendum.[115]

TheOne Walesagreement did receive criticism from fellowPlaidmembers.Plaid'shonorary president Wigley summarised disagreement when he warned that the pact was reached too quickly and not enough planning had gone into it. Wigley believed that the agreement's failings might jeopardise the Assembly receiving full parliamentary powers by a 2011 referendum, and that other provisions of the agreement would not be fully funded.[116]Indeed, with the budget outlined after the coalition was formedPlaidwas obliged to defend spending cuts it may have otherwise criticised.[115]

QueenElizabeth IIconfirmed Ieuan Wyn Jones asDeputy First Minister of Walesand minister for Economy and Transport on 11 July 2007.[117]Plaid'sdeputy presidentRhodri Glyn Thomas,who argued in favour of the Welsh-language channel S4C becoming bilingual after digital switchover despite the circumstances of S4C's founding, was appointed Heritage Minister.[118]Ceredigion AMElin Joneswas appointed to the Rural Affairs brief in the new ten member Cabinet. As if in an effort to underscorePlaid'sidentity within the coalition, Plaid ministers sit with the Plaid assembly group rather than with Labour cabinet members.[115]

Rhodri Glyn Thomas
Plaid'sDeputy President

OfPlaid'sentering into government for the first time Jones said "The party's role so far has been one of the opposition party, which put pressure on the other parties to move things forward for the benefit of Wales".[63]Speaking about moderation and consensus at theBritish-Irish CouncilatStormonton 16 July 2007, Jones said that Wales has seen "a coming together of parties with different traditions, on the basis of a shared programme for government, and a shared commitment to improve the lives of all our people in all parts of Wales".[119]

Jones joined the Queen representing Wales in Belgium at the 90th anniversary ceremony of theThird Battle of Ypresat Passchendaele (World War I). During the battle celebrated Welsh poetHedd Wynhad died, along with thousands of otherWelshmen.

Broadcast news controversy

[edit]

In August 2007 MP Adam Price highlighted what he perceived as a lack of a Welsh focus onBBCnews broadcasts.[120]Price threatened to withhold futuretelevision licencefees in response to a lack of thorough news coverage of Wales, echoing a BBC Audience Council for Wales July report citing public frustration over how the Welsh Assembly is characterised in national media.[121]AM Bethan Jenkins agreed with Price and called for responsibility for broadcasting to be devolved to the Welsh Assembly, voicing similar calls from Scotland's First MinisterAlex Salmond.[120]Criticism of the BBC's news coverage for Wales and Scotland since devolution prompted debate of possibly providing evening news broadcasts with specific focus for both countries.[120]

Party Conference 2007 and Peerage Call

[edit]

At the Llandudno party conference, 2007,Plaidmembers discussed the new European Union reform treaty, a change in placing women at the top of regional lists in the Welsh assembly elections, and the party's position on nuclear power.[122]

Grass roots party members blame the policy of placing women at the top of regional lists as the cause for Dafydd Wigley's failure to be elected to the Assembly.[122]Plaidbegan the policy of placing women at the top of regional lists to attract more women into the political process, however opponents pointed out that the policy discriminated against men.[123]In the so-calledZip systemwhoever wins the greatest number of party votes will be placed at the top of the regional list, followed by the opposite gender candidate who received the next highest vote share.[123]

Additionally,Plaidparliamentary leaderElfyn Llwydencouraged the party to nominate peers into the UKHouse of Lords,citing thatPlaidpeers would "help ensure planned legislation for Wales was not blocked at Westminster", adding that many in the Lords may want to prevent full law-making powers for Wales.[122][124]With consensus building from within the party to nominate peers, honorary party presidentDafydd Wigleywas nominated for peerage.[124][125]OtherPlaidnominees for life peerage includeEurfyl ap Gwilym,andJanet Davies.[123][125]Currently,Lord Wigleyis the lonePlaidpeer.

In a September 2007 poll, "83% of the people of Wales now support self-government – with a clear majority of the Welsh electorate supporting a full law-making and a tax-varying Parliament for Wales", according toPlaidMP for Caernarfon,Hywel Williams.[126]

Plaid Cymru party leaders

[edit]

Plaid Cymru Leader[n 1]

[edit]
Portrait Entered office Left office Length of Leadership
1 Ieuan Wyn Jones March 2000 March 2012 12 years
2 Leanne Wood March 2012 September 2018 Approximately 6 and a half years
3 Adam Price September 2018 May 2023 Approximately 4 years and 8 months
4 Llŷr Gruffydd
(acting) 		May 2023 June 2023 1 month
5 Rhun ap Iorwerth June 2023 incumbent

Plaid Cymru party presidents 1925–2013

[edit]
Portrait Entered office Left office Length of Leadership
1 Lewis Valentine 1925 1926 12 months
2 Saunders Lewis 1926 1939 19 years
3 J. E. Daniel 1939 1943
4 Abi Williams 1943 1945
5 Gwynfor Evans 1945 1981 36 years
6 Dafydd Wigley 1981 1984 4 years
7 Lord Elis-Thomas 1984 1991 8 years
8 Dafydd Wigley 1991 2001 10 years
9 Ieuan Wyn Jones 2001 2003 2 years
10 Dafydd Iwan 2003 2010 7 years
11 Jill Evans 2010 2013 3 years (position abolished)

Honorary party presidents

[edit]
Portrait Entered office Left office Length of Leadership
1 Gwynfor Evans 1982 2005 23 years
2 Dafydd Wigley 2005 Incumbent In office

Welsh Parliament (Senedd) Group Leaders since 1999

[edit]
Portrait Entered office Left office Length of Leadership
1 Dafydd Wigley 1999 2001 3 years
2 Ieuan Wyn Jones 2001 2012 11 years
3 Leanne Wood 2012 2018 6 years
4 Adam Price 2018 Incumbent In Office

UK Members of Parliament Group Leaders

[edit]
Portrait Entered office Left office Length of Leadership
1 Gwynfor Evans
2 Dafydd Wigley 1981 1984
3 Dafydd Elis-Thomas 1984 1991
(2) Dafydd Wigley 1991 ????
???
4 Elfyn Llwyd June 2010 March 2015 [127]
5 Jonathan Edwards 18 May 2015 10 Sept 2015 [128]
6 Hywel Williams 10 Sept 2015 14 June 2017 [129]
7 Liz Saville Roberts 14 June 2017 Current [130]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^The Party leader was referred to as the president until March 2000 when the separate role of Leader was created

References

[edit]
  1. ^"Our History".Plaid Cymru. Archived fromthe originalon 4 September 2012.Retrieved4 August2011.
  2. ^John Davies,A History of Wales,Penguin, 1994,ISBN0-14-014581-8,Page 547
  3. ^abcdeDavies,op cit,Page 547
  4. ^abJohn Davies,Wales and America
  5. ^abcdWhy Not a Welsh Royal Family?by Siôn T. Jobbins, January 2008, Cambria magazine
  6. ^John Davies,A History of Wales,Pages 591, 592
  7. ^abcdefDavies,op cit,page 593
  8. ^"Open Council Data UK – compositions councillors parties wards elections".opencouncildata.co.uk.Retrieved13 May2020.
  9. ^"View statement of accounts – The Electoral Commission".search.electoralcommission.org.uk.Retrieved13 May2020.
  10. ^Davies,op cit,pages 415, 454
  11. ^Davies,op cit,Page 544
  12. ^Davies,op cit,Page 523
  13. ^abcdefDavies,op cit,page 548
  14. ^BBCWales History language map 1911 extracted 12-03-07
  15. ^BBCWales History language map 1891 extracted 12-03-07
  16. ^Plaid Cymru: Who We Are
  17. ^McAllister, L,Plaid Cymru: The Emergence of a Political Party,(2001), Seren "The tentative moves towards elaborating and broadening Plaid's policy portfolio did not allow it to shake off its early identity as a language movement or a cultural pressure group." See also Butt-Phillip, A,The Welsh Question,(1975), University of Wales Press. "It is clear that the Welsh Nationalist Party was at the outset essentially intellectual and moral in outlook and socially conservative.
  18. ^abcdefDavies,op cit,page 591
  19. ^abcdeRoyal plans to beat nationalism Tuesday, 8 March 2005 Extracted 10-31-07
  20. ^Davies,op cit,page 590
  21. ^abcBBCWales language map 1931 Extracted 12-03-07
  22. ^abcdefgDavies,op cit,page 592
  23. ^Welsh Biography Online, DANIEL, JOHN EDWARD, extracted 20 April 2008
  24. ^Davies,op cit,pages 591–592
  25. ^"A Concise History of Wales" by Geraint H Jenkins: Cambridge University Press 2007ISBN9780521530712
  26. ^Davies, Dr. John. North American Journal of Welsh Studies Vol. 1,1 (Winter 2001)
  27. ^abMorgan, K O, Welsh Devolution: the Past and the Future in Scotland and Wales: Nations Again? (Ed. Taylor, B and Thomson, K), (1999), University of Wales Press
  28. ^Williams, G AWhen Was Wales?,(1985), Penguin.
  29. ^Davies, D H,The Welsh Nationalist Party 1925–1945,(1983), St. Martin's Press.
  30. ^Morgan, K O,Rebirth of a Nation,(1981), OUP.
  31. ^Canadine op cit p52
  32. ^abcdBards under the beds, South Wales police website
  33. ^abBards under the beds, South Wales police website
  34. ^abcdefghDavies,op cit,page 599
  35. ^abcDavies,op cit,page 598
  36. ^abDavies,op cit,page 610
  37. ^abcdDavies,op cit,page 611
  38. ^abcdPlaid pioneer Gwynfor Evans dies
  39. ^Davies,op cit,page 622
  40. ^Davies,op cit,pages 622–623
  41. ^Davies,op cit,page 662
  42. ^Davies,op cit,page 649
  43. ^Davies,op cit,page 650
  44. ^The flag of the PrincelyHouse of Aberffraw,blazonedQuarterlyorandgules,fourlions passant guardanttwo and twocounterchangedlangued and armedAzure.In layman's terms the arms have four squares alternating in red (representing iron, or Mars the god of war) and gold (representing the royalty of the Aberffraw house); with a walking lion ( "passant" ) of the opposite colour in each square; with the lion's paw upraised and with the lion's face viewing the observer ( "guardant": guarding against trespass); the tongue is stuck-out ( "langued", tauntingly) and blue ( "azure" ); and the outstretched claws ( "armed" ) are also blue (representing sapphires, or the god Jupiter; for primacy in Wales).
  45. ^abcDavies,op cit,page 623
  46. ^abcJobbins, Siôn T.,Why Not a Welsh Royal Family?Published in Cambria Magazine, January, 2008
  47. ^abWales Must Have A Monarchy,published in Welsh in the journalY Faner1953, and in English in the bookTowards Welsh Freedomin 1958
  48. ^abcd Coslett, Paul (19 October 2005)."Flooding Apology".Where I Live – Liverpool.BBC.Retrieved17 August2008.A motion passed by the council on Wednesday 19 October reads, "We realise the hurt of forty years ago when the Tryweryn Valley was transformed into a reservoir to help meet the water needs of Liverpool. For any insensitivity by our predecessor council at that time, we apologise and hope that the historic and sound relationship between Liverpool and Wales can be completely restored."
  49. ^Davies,op cit
  50. ^abButt-Phillip, A,The Welsh Question,(1975), University of Wales Press
  51. ^Morgan, K O,Rebirth of a Nation,(1981), OUP
  52. ^abBBCWales History language map 1961 extracted 12-03-07
  53. ^Tanner, D,Facing the New Challenge: Labour and Politics 1970–2000inThe Labour Party in Wales 1900–2000(Ed. Tanner, D, Williams, C and Hopkin, D), (2000), University of Wales Press
  54. ^Francis, H and Smith, D,The Fed: A History of the South Wales Miners in the Twentieth Century,(1980), University of Wales
  55. ^Davies,op cit,pages 667–670
  56. ^abcdDavies,op cit,page 667
  57. ^abMcAllister, L,Plaid Cymru: The Emergence of a Political Party,(2001), Seren
  58. ^abDavies,op cit,page 680
  59. ^BBC Wales History language map 1991 extracted 12-04-07
  60. ^Evidence to Richards CommissionArchived28 September 2007 at theWayback Machineof Cllr Russell Goodway. 10 July 2003. Retrieved 9 July 2006.
  61. ^ab Horton, Nick (18 September 2007)."That's When I Ran to the Phone..."BBC News.Retrieved17 August2008.
  62. ^ Rozenberg, Joshua (1997)."Devolution".Politics 97.BBC.Retrieved9 July2006.
  63. ^abcA 'remarkable journey' for Jones, BBC Wales, 11 July 2007
  64. ^abcdCall for new language movement Tuesday, 8 August 2000 extracted 27 Jan 2008
  65. ^abcElis-Thomas in language row Sunday, 4 June 2000 extracted 27 Jan 2008
  66. ^Plaid Cymru leader steps down, BBC Wales, 31 May 2000
  67. ^'Wigley downfall' plot denied, BBC Wales, 14 July 2000
  68. ^Ousting rumours 'unfair' says Wigley, BBC Wales, 31 July 2000
  69. ^The Comeback Kid extracted, BBC Wales, 15 September 2003
  70. ^Plaid leader reshuffles cabinet, BBC Wales, 9 August 2000
  71. ^Jones' uphill struggle for votes by Simon Morris, BBC Wales, 20 September 2002
  72. ^Plaid and SNP form Celtic alliance, Thursday, 28 June 2001
  73. ^abPlaid leader aiming to govern, BBC Wales, 20 September 2002
  74. ^Plaid bids to defuse 'racism' row, BBC Wales, 21 February 2001
  75. ^ab'Racist' remarks lost Plaid votes, BBC Wales, 3 September 2001
  76. ^Property prices in England and Wales Wednesday, 8 August 2001, extracted 24 Jan 2008
  77. ^abHouse prices outpacing incomes Monday, 3 December 2001, extracted 24 Jan 2008
  78. ^abApology over 'insults' to English, BBC Wales, 3 September 2001
  79. ^abUK: Wales Plaid calls for second home controls, BBC Wales, 17 November 1999
  80. ^Protest over Welsh home sales Tuesday, 26 November 2002 Extracted 28 Jan 2008
  81. ^Language activist's assembly warning Thursday, 14 February 2002 Extracted 28 Jan 2008
  82. ^abDouble tax for holiday home owners Thursday, 16 December 1999, extracted 24 Jan 2008
  83. ^abcdeControls on second homes reviewed Wednesday, 5 September 2001 extracted 24 Jan 2008
  84. ^Gwynedd considers holiday home curb Tuesday, 9 April 2002, extracted 24 Jan 2008
  85. ^abcPlaid plan 'protects' rural areas, BBC Wales, 19 June 2001
  86. ^Park to ban new holiday homes Wednesday, 6 March 2002 extracted 24 Jan 2008
  87. ^abcdefghCensus shows Welsh language rise Friday, 14 February 2003 extracted 12-04-07
  88. ^abcCensus equality backed by Plaid 23 September 2000 extracted 12-04-07
  89. ^Census results 'defy tickbox row' 30 September 2002 extracted 12-04-07
  90. ^abcPlaid reveals Labour steel cash link Monday, 11 February 2002, extracted 11-01-07
  91. ^Lakshmi Mittal, steel mill millionaire Thursday, 14 February 2002, extracted 11-01-07
  92. ^abcdQ&A: 'Garbagegate' Thursday, 14 February 2002 extracted 11-01-07
  93. ^Steel firm condemns 'Mittal aid' Monday, 18 February 2002, 14:47 GMT extracted 11-01-07
  94. ^abcdeShadow over Plaid's 80th birthday Friday, 5 August 2005 Extracted 29 Oct 2007
  95. ^Jones The Comeback Kid extracted 07-19-07
  96. ^Plaid, the president and the 'plot'
  97. ^abPlaid president's comeback attempt extracted 07-19-07
  98. ^I'm a celebrity, get me Welsh TV Thursday, 22 July 2004 extracted 11-01-07
  99. ^abBlair impeachment campaign starts Friday, 27 August 2004
  100. ^MP thrown out over Blair war jibe MP thrown out over Blair war jibe Thursday, 17 March 2005
  101. ^Tributes to Plaid Cymru statesman Thursday, 21 April 2005 Extracted 29 Oct 07
  102. ^Plaid supports 'Gwynfor' building Thursday, 19 May 2005 extracted 29 Oct 2007
  103. ^Glyndwr is Welsh man of millennium extracted 12-04-07
  104. ^Bevan is ultimate Welsh hero extracted 12-04-07
  105. ^First ethnic minority AM electedBBC News, 4 May 2007. Retrieved 6 May 2007.
  106. ^abParties triple election spendingBBC News, Thursday, 30 August 2007, retrieved 30 August 2007
  107. ^Plaid outspent Labour at election 6 December 2007 extracted 12-08-07
  108. ^abcAM speaks of Bhutto bomb horror BBC Wales, 19 October 2007
  109. ^abcde MPs' adverts broke election rules Monday, 19 November 2007 extracted 22 January 2008
  110. ^Labour calls coalition conference, BBC Wales, Friday, 15 June 2007
  111. ^abDetails of Labour-Plaid agreement, BBC Wales, 27 July 2007
  112. ^abLabour agrees historic coalition, BBC Wales, 6 July 2007
  113. ^Historic Labour-Plaid deal agreed, BBC Wales, 27 June 2007
  114. ^Labour-Plaid coalition is sealed, BBC Wales, 7 July 2007
  115. ^abcWaltzing to political pas de deux Friday, 28 December 2007
  116. ^Wigley's coalition deal criticism, BBC Wales, Tuesday, 7 August 2007
  117. ^"Jones confirmed as deputy leader",BBC Wales,11 July 2007
  118. ^Digital S4C 'could be bilingual'
  119. ^Jones and Brown meet at Stormont, BBC Wales, 16 July 2007
  120. ^abcPlaid MP's BBC licence fee threat Monday, 20 August 2007
  121. ^BBC audiences 'want modern Wales' Monday, 16 July 2007
  122. ^abcPlaid is urged to nominate peers BBC Wales Thursday, 13 September 2007
  123. ^abcFirst Plaid peers to be nominated Saturday, 26 January 2008, Extracted 26 Jan 2008
  124. ^abWigley accepts Plaid peerage call Monday, 14 January 2008 Extracted 16 Jan 2008
  125. ^abWigley is nominated as Plaid peer Saturday, 26 January 2008 extracted 27 Jan 2008
  126. ^Plaid 'aspirations' under attack BBC Wales Saturday, 22 September 2007
  127. ^"Rt Hon Elfyn Llwyd".UK Parliament.Retrieved28 April2018.
  128. ^"Plaid's parliamentary leader named as Jonathan Edwards".BBC Wales. 18 May 2015.Retrieved1 June2020.
  129. ^Tom Davidson (10 September 2015)."Hywel Williams MP named as new leader of Plaid Cymru in Westminster".NorthWalesLive.Retrieved2 October2020.
  130. ^"Liz Saville Roberts is Plaid Cymru's new Westminster leader".WalesOnline.10 September 2017.Retrieved1 June2015.

Bibliography

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