Plaid Cymru

Plaid Cymru (English: plyde KUM-ree; Welsh: [plaid ˈkəmrɨ̞]; lit. 'Party of Wales', officially Plaid Cymru – the Party of Wales, and often referred to simply as Plaid) is a centre-left to left-wing Welsh nationalist political party in Wales, that supports Welsh independence from the United Kingdom. It campaigns on a platform of social democracy and civic nationalism. The party is a supporter of the European Union and is a member of the European Free Alliance (EFA). The party holds 4 of 32 Welsh seats in the UK House of Commons, 43 of 96 seats in the Senedd, and 200 of 1,234 principal local authority councillors. Plaid was formed in 1925 under the name Plaid Genedlaethol Cymru ('the national party of Wales') and Gwynfor Evans won the first Westminster seat for the party at the 1966 Carmarthen by-election. The party secured its first government in the 2026 Senedd election under the leadership of Rhun ap Iorwerth. In 1999 (in the first devolved Welsh Assembly election), Plaid Cymru gained considerable ground in traditionally Labour heartlands. These breakthroughs were part of the intentional aim to win more seats in the Welsh valleys and North East Wales. The party have mostly been in opposition in the Senedd. Although under the leadership of Ieuan Wyn Jones, the party was part of a coalition as a junior partner with Welsh Labour between 2007 and 2011. Wyn Jones became the deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport, alongside other Plaid MSs who also joined the cabinet. In addition, under the leadership of Rhun ap Iorwerth, Plaid Cymru became the largest party in Wales following the 2026 Senedd election, with Plaid Cymru forming their first-ever government in May 2026. After losses in the 2011 Assembly elections and dropping down to being the third largest party, Wyn Jones stepped down. He was succeeded by Leanne Wood. In the 2016 Assembly elections Wood managed to win her constituency seat of Rhondda meaning the party gained one seat, and became the official opposition once again, although only for a brief period. In 2018 following internal pressure and a leadership contest, Adam Price defeated Wood and was elected the new leader. Following the 2021 Senedd election Plaid formed a co-operation agreement with the Welsh Labour government. In May 2023 Price resigned as leader following the publication of a report which detailed failings by the party to prevent sexual harassment and bullying. In June 2023 Rhun ap Iorwerth was elected unopposed as leader. The party won both its target seats in the 2024 general election, therefore becoming the second largest party representing Wales in the House of Commons.

Plaid Cymru won a plurality in the 2026 Senedd election with 43 out of 96 seats, and have formed the current Welsh government, with Rhun ap Iorwerth becoming the first Plaid Cymru First Minister.