Rhun ap Iorwerth visits Llanelli as part of leader’s tour

Rhun ap Iorwerth, leader of Plaid Cymru, visited Llanelli yesterday (Thursday, 5 February) as part of his tour of Wales ahead of the Senedd election in May.

Mari Arthur, Cefin Campbell and Nerys Evans, Plaid Cymru candidates in the Sir Gaerfyrddin constituency for the election, joined him for this leg of the journey, as well as the public meeting at the Diplomat in the evening.

The latest opinion polls all suggest a two horse race between Plaid Cymru and Reform UK in May this year, with support for the Labour Party having collapsed, and the support for the Green Party and the Liberal Democrats likely to be too weak to win a seat in Sir Gaerfyrddin.

Rhun ap Iorwerth said following the public meeting:

“It was great to have the opportunity to speak to the people of Llanelli today about what is important to them, with the regeneration of town centres and the local economy being one obvious theme. The growing warmth towards Plaid Cymru was very encouraging, too, with so many voters turning away from Labour and frightened by the idea of ​​a Reform government.

“There is no doubt now, with less than a hundred days to go until the election to the Senedd, that it will be a two-horse race between Plaid Cymru and Reform. The message to everyone who wants to give new leadership to Wales and keep Reform out of government is clear – come with us.”

During the tour, Mr ap Iorwerth emphasized the need to regenerate Carmarthenshire’s town centres, including the town of Llanelli itself. In order to achieve that, his party proposes creating a new system for setting business rates where independent, local companies in town centres pay less and larger, international companies on the outskirts pay more.

Mari Arthur, one of Plaid Cymru’s candidates in Sir Gaerfyrddin, added:

“As a business person who lives in Llanelli, I have experienced myself the obstacles that prevent the growth and development of local, independent companies in my area. There is no doubt that unfair business rates add to all the other challenges, from the cost of living crisis to competition from huge online sellers.

“By establishing a new business rates regime, we can ensure fairness, give new life to our town centres, and help create and maintain good jobs locally. All this will strengthen our local economy.”