Senedd debates Labour's record as election looms

SENEDD members have challenged the Labour Welsh Government's record over the past four years, with the next election looming in 12 months.

- By CHRIS HAINES ICNN Senedd Reporter [e-mail]

Rhun ap Iorwerth accused Labour of failing to stand up for Wales and live up to promises made at the start of this Senedd term.

The Plaid Cymru leader and Ynys Mon MS told the Senedd: "Every-where you look - whether it's the NHS, our economy, schools or society more broadly - the situation is worse now."

He pointed to long NHS waiting lists, a "stagnant" economy, child poverty rates and "deteriorating" education standards.

But others accused Plaid Cymru of "gesture politics" after "propping up" the Labour Welsh Government for most of the past four years.

Leading the debate on a Plaid Cymru motion, exactly one year before the next election, Mr ap Iorwerth directed his ire at the “disgraceful” legacy left by the Tories.

He said: “It’s no wonder they suffered a slaughter electorally in Wales last summer and the opinion polls for the Senedd election suggest they are increasingly irrelevant.