Plaid Llangollen

Since its foundation in 1925, Plaid Cymru The Party of Wales has campaigned to develop national democracy for Wales. Plaid Cymru is a democratic political party that seeks constitutional change through the ballot box. It welcomes support and new members, from all people living in Wales - irrespective of language, colour or creed. It also welcomes support from all those around the globe who have an interest in Wales. It is the only significant political party that is wholly based in Wales and exits to serve Wales. Its influence is growing, as is its membership. Plaid Cymru is now the second strongest political party in Wales, behind Labour but ahead of the Conservatives, the Liberals and the other smaller parties. If you are interested in the campaign to build a modern, confident, outward-looking Wales for the 21st century, read on………..

Plaid Cymru's objectives

Plaid Cymru The Party of Wales seeks to improve life in Wales, for the benefit of all the people of Wales, by:

Creating the will among the people of Wales to take greater responsibility for our communities, at local and national level;
Ensuring the early success of the elected National Assembly for Wales;
Securing, in the medium term, a democratically elected Parliament with primary legislative power and revenue varying powers, similar to those enjoyed by the Scottish Parliament;
Campaigning, in the longer term, for a full voice for Wales in the European Union and the United Nations;
Campaigning to improve the economic well being of Wales, to broaden social justice, safeguard the environment, nurture the cultural life of Wales and develop an understanding and appreciation of our heritage.

The Way Plaid Cymru works

Plaid Cymru The Party of Wales works towards these objectives through democratic, peaceful, and constitutional political work. This involves electoral campaigns, to win influence through the ballot box on our local authorities, in the National Assembly, at Westminster and in the European Parliament. The party also encourages its members to play an active role in their local community - whether within civic groups where they live, or in their place of work. The party also leads specific campaigns - to safeguard our environment, for fairer water rates, against the transfer of jobs away from Wales, and in support of specific interest groups including young people, pensioners, the Welsh schools movement, rights for people with disabilities, and equal opportunities. The party also campaigns for securing better facilities in Wales - including public transport, cultural facilities, better schools, community hospitals, or sports facilities. The party's concerns reflect the concerns of the people of Wales in their day-to-day lives.

The political spectrum

The Party of Wales, reflecting as it does the essential traditions and values of Wales, is committed to social justice for all the people of Wales. Plaid Cymru believes in the diversity of our communities, and the right of people, as individuals, families and local communities, to take as many decisions as possible for themselves. The party's philosophy accepts greater responsibility for running our day-to-day lives, rather than expecting London or Brussels to do everything for us. Plaid Cymru, while recognising the need for a vibrant and efficient public sector to deliver essential services, also recognises the vital role of individual, as well as collective, enterprise. The party is dedicated to peace and to eradicating the threat of nuclear war. The party believes that Wales should have a direct voice in international organisations in order to promote these ideals. Plaid Cymru also recognises Wales' responsibility towards those in need in all parts of the globe, and to play our part in building a better world order. Above all, Plaid Cymru believes that decisions should be taken as close as possible to the people affected, recognising that legitimacy and sovereignty arise from the people themselves, within their local communities, not from the trappings and institutions of State.

Plaid Cymru recognises the need to ensure a fairer gender balance and to maximise the opportunity for both self-fulfilment and contributions to their community for men and women alike. Plaid Cymru also recognises the vital need for environmental sustainability, the thoughtful use of resources, and the tight control of pollution

During the 1997 devolution referendum campaign Plaid Cymru recognised the importance of co-operation with other parties to improve the governance of Wales. The Party of Wales is about making things happen for the good of all the people of Wales; it is not about dogma or exclusiveness. This blend of aspiration and practicality may not fit comfortable into the stereotypes of two-party politics. That is one feature which makes Plaid Cymru refreshingly different and much more relevant for twenty-first century Wales.

How Plaid Cymru The Party of Wales is Run

Plaid Cymru has some 10,000 members and 200 branches throughout Wales. It also has branches in England, North America on the European mainland and even in Australia. Membership is open to everyone aged 14 and over, and for those under 28 years old there is a youth organisation. The party is organised in most of the colleges and universities in Wales. Branches come together to form constituency organisations corresponding to parliamentary constituencies. The ultimate decision-taking body in the party is the Annual Conference, to which every branch sends delegates and which decides on party policy. Between Conferences, policy decisions are taken by a National Council, which represents branches, constituencies and districts, and which meets three times a year. An Executive Committee elected at Annual Conference manages the party. The senior elected posts within the party are Party President and Party National Chairperson; together with a Vice-President, ten Regional Co-ordinators and ten functional Directors. The party headquarters is located at 18 Park Grove in Cardiff's city centre, with paid staff led by a Chief Executive. The party has several organisers employed in different parts of Wales, and has offices in towns across the nation. Specific interest groups within the party include a Women's Section, Youth Section, Students Federation and Trade Unionists network.

Language

Plaid Cymru recognises that Wales is a bilingual country. Both Welsh and English are acknowledged as being equally valid languages of communication within the Party and within Wales. Membership of The Party of Wales is open to people who speak only English as well as those who are bilingual in both Welsh and English. The party also recognises the role of minority languages within Wales.

Branch Activity

The local link for most Plaid Cymru members is their local branch. It is through their branch that members participate in the party's work in their own community and ensure that their wishes and feelings are made known within the Party's decision-taking bodies. The minimum number of members required to form a branch is ten, while some branches have as many as 50 members. Branches are organised by a locally chosen committee of office bearers, and meet on a monthly basis. Plaid Cymru branches are a vehicle for raising matters of local community concern, as well as expressing views on national and general issues. Branches also raise finance to support the Party's general work, and are particularly active at election times - local, National Assembly, Westminster and European.

How Plaid Cymru The Party of Wales is Financed

The Party of Wales depends almost entirely on its branches and members for finance. The party receives no direct funding from the industrial and commercial sector or levies from trade unions. As such its hands free from undue influence from any large vested interest group. It depends, therefore, on donations and fund-raising activities. The cost of sustaining Plaid Cymru's political machine is between £250,000 and £500,000 a year.

Plaid Cymru's Immediate Objective: Making a success of the National Assembly

The all-Wales tier of government now takes the form of the National Assembly for Wales, which has responsibility for most domestic functions - matters such as health, education, housing, industrial development, tourism, sport and the arts. Until the advent of the National Assembly, all these responsibilities lay in the hands of one politician - the Secretary of State for Wales. For the best part of a decade that post was not even filled by a Welsh constituency MP. Plaid Cymru works to make a success of the democratically elected National Assembly, which has now taken over all the significant responsibilities of the former Welsh Office. In time, and with the support of the people of Wales, The Party of Wales advocates a Parliament for Wales with primary legislative ability and revenue varying powers on a par with the powers of the Scottish Parliament. Plaid Cymru would also support the implementation of full self-government within the European Union should the people of Wales decide, by referendum, that this was what they wanted. The people of Wales would also decide, in a further referendum, whether the Head of State should be provided by the Monarchy or by an elected President.

Wales Paying Its Way

A number of studies have shown that the taxes raised in Wales (Income Tax, VAT etc.) is more than enough to pay for all public expenditure in Wales at present. If the taxation revenue raised in Wales were made available to a Welsh Government, the present patterns of expenditure could be sustained without increased taxation. It would, of course, be a matter for the elected Parliament for Wales to decide on the appropriate priorities in terms of public spending and service provision. However, at present the National Assembly for Wales does not have these powers and expenditure in Wales continues to be dependent on the block grant received from the British Treasury. Plaid Cymru recognises the limitations of this situation but is nevertheless fully committed to making the best possible use of the funds received under this present settlement for the good of all people of Wales.

Wales and Europe

Plaid Cymru The Party of Wales believes that Wales should have a full voice within the European Union. Small countries like Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg and the Netherlands have succeeded in getting a much better deal from the European Union than has Wales. It is ridiculous that Wales has no direct voice within the corridors of power in Brussels and Strasbourg. The net effect is that trade and industry, agriculture and many other aspects of life in Wales, miss out on critical opportunities and the people of Wales pay the price for our current marginalisation in European terms. As an example of this, Ireland has during recent years received £637 per person in European grants while Wales received £39 per person per annum. This is in spite of the fact that Ireland's Gross Domestic Product has now overtaken the GDP of Wales and has now even leapfrogged the British GDP.

Towards a Democratic Wales

Contrary to the myths perpetuated by the enemies of Plaid Cymru, the party does not advocate "separatism". Within the United Europe now developing, there would be a full and free movement of people, goods and capital, just as there is between the countries of Britain at present. That would remain when Wales gets full self-government. The present-day "separatists" are those who want to turn the British clock back to the days of Empire, and cut Britain adrift from the European mainland - a course of action that would be immensely damaging to the hundreds of companies that have been attracted to invest in Wales over the past three decades. The world is too small a place for a "little Englander" mentality. Neither does the taunt "Wales for the Welsh" hold water. Plaid Cymru the Party of Wales recognises everyone living in Wales as citizens of our country, irrespective of language, colour or creed. In a self-governing Wales everyone living in Wales will be a full and equal citizen. Plaid Cymru condemns racism in all its ugly forms. Finally, "you will have to speak Welsh…" is another myth invented by our opponents. Wales has two languages, and both will have full and equal status in a self-governing Wales. We are proud of the Welsh language and its attendant culture. We want the children of Wales to have the opportunity to enjoy that culture to the full. Equally, we recognise the English language, as well as being a vehicle for the promotion of Welsh culture is also an essential part of communication in the world of industry and commerce. We in Wales have the best of both worlds if we have both languages - the keys to our own heritage and the vehicle of international communication. And to the extent that the young people of Wales can use the benefits of bilingualism to add a third and fourth language, all the better: they will open further doors that will enrich their experience of life.

Detailed policies

Plaid Cymru the Party of Wales has a full programme of detailed policies, drawn up to meet the challenges of everyday life in Wales. It is the only party whose political programme is geared specifically to the needs of Wales. The policy objectives include:

Eradication of unemployment.
Re-establishment of a genuine National Health Service in Wales.
A re-structured system of education to meet twenty-first century needs in Wales.
Radical environmental policies based on the polluter-pays principle.
Agricultural policies to safeguard the Welsh family farm, the backbone of rural Wales.
Industrial and taxation policy to encourage enterprise and help small businesses.
Social services and community care policies to meet the needs of elderly and disabled citizens.
Development of a fairer system of water charges.
Creation of an English-language television service for Wales.
Community-based law enforcement policies.

Further details about Plaid Cymru the Party of Wales' full programme of policies can be found in the party's manifesto for the 2005 elections. The party also has a series of policy 'white papers' on a wide range of issues, which are also available from the Plaid Cymru headquarters.

Your Next Step ….?

If you want to know more about Plaid Cymru the Party of Wales, would like more information about the party's policy on a particular issue, or want to join the party, please write to the Secretary, Llangollen and District Branch, Plaid Cymru - The Party of Wales, Henllys, Berwyn, Llangollen, Denbighshire LL20 8AL.

In the immensely exciting challenge of building the new Wales there is room for everyone - and a job for everyone to do!