Plaid Cymru Leader Leanne Wood told an audience in Bedwas that it was time for political change if Wales is to reach its full potential.
Speaking at the St John’s Ambulance Hall on Thursday July 9, the Rhondda-born Ms Wood said her shadow cabinet wanted the chance to form the next Welsh Government to deliver much-needed improvements to public services.
The speech was part of the Party of Wales leader’s ‘What Next for Wales’ tour of the country where she explains what a government led by her would focus on.
After praising Beci Newton – Plaid Cymru’s Caerphilly candidate for the recent Westminster elections, Ms Wood said: “I want to make a commitment to you this evening. If Plaid Cymru wins the Welsh general election next year, we will prioritise health, education and the economy above all other matters and we will improve all three, regardless of the constitutional settlement we inherit.
“I want the next Welsh General Election to be one where the focus is on Labour’s poor record of delivery and Plaid’s proposals for real change.
“People want to see things improve in their lives, in their GP surgery, their school, their hospital and in their workplace.
“The Party of Wales’ programme for government will be about delivering those improvements.”
Citing the example that in some parts of Wales, average wages were ten times lower than in parts of England, Ms Wood posed the question “is this as good as it gets?”
She added: “In my view the next Assembly needs to focus on delivery, objectives and real outcomes that will improve the lives of people.
“Wales will only have the confidence to stand on its own two feet when people are ready to champion our democracy as a beacon of success.
“This will never happen under this tired Labour administration which has starved itself of ambition, progress and hope.
“Our unwavering priorities will be centred on securing and improving the NHS, raising standards and prospect in schools and creating the economic conditions for thriving businesses and well-paid job opportunities.
“I ask people to trust Plaid Cymru, to give us the chance to show what we can do in government.”
Before taking questions from the audience, Ms Wood concluded by saying: “And I will be asking people in all of our communities: consider not what has gone before us, but what could be ahead of us if we choose to change course and embrace the new opportunity that presents itself to us.
“A new start for Wales, with Plaid Cymru. As Wales’ general election approaches, it is, I believe, time to move Wales forward.”