Former Welsh Secretary and current Caerphilly councillor Ron Davies received a standing ovation on Saturday at Plaid Cymru’s annual conference.
Mr Davies, who famously quit Tony Blair’s Cabinet in 1998 after a “moment of madness”, proudly showed off his Plaid Cymru membership card and attacked Labour for letting down the Valleys.
The Caerphilly County Borough councillor is standing for Plaid Cymru in next year’s Welsh Assembly elections.
He told the conference: “The sad thing is that areas like the Valleys are no better off now than they were 10 years ago under Labour or 20 years ago under the Conservatives.
“In Caerphilly, nearly 30% of the adult population are economically inactive, with a very heavy dependency on welfare benefits.
“The cuts in public spending that are on their way will make matters worse because such a high proportion of our economy depends on the public sector.”
Mr Davies also explained how he had come to join the party.
He said: “Since the Assembly was set up, and especially since Plaid came into government in 2007, the party has been a lot more engaged with the practical business of improving people’s lives.
“I’ve gone on a journey that symbolises the way many people in the Valleys have changed their minds towards Plaid, which is no longer seen as a party just for Welsh speakers.
“For me, sovereignty is a much better term than independence.
“It means giving the people of Wales the opportunity to draw down more powers so they can make decisions specific to their needs rather than the usual model for doing things that is only relevant to the south east of England.
“With the other parties, the unionist imperative always asserts itself.
“Plaid always focuses on what is best for Wales.”
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