What's the point of Plaid Cymru ?

A new leader, same old flip flop. Support for Independence, but not yet

The new leader is more adept at flip flopping than his predecessor, his background as a journalist gives him that advantage.

He states in a recent interview that it is important to convince the English coming to Wales, that Wales is a good place.

What's that all about?

His priority should surely be convincing Welsh people living in Wales, that Wales is a good place.

Perhaps the Welsh valleys would be a good place to start.

Within the hierarchy of Plaid Cymru, there seems to be a view that supporting Independence too strongly, is the cause of their very obvious problems.

Closer to the truth is that Plaid Cymru’s wobbling around Independence is the problem. They simply are not committed, not credible.

This unfortunately, is the way with Plaid Cymru.

In the early years of devolution,  Independence was a word not to be used,  a vote loser.

Indeed, Plaid Cymru 2011 manifesto had no mention of Independence and in the 2016 manifesto warranted merely a paragraph.

It was not until the success of rallies led by Yes Cymru and the like and the rise for Independence support in polls that Plaid Cymru took a liking for it.

Not entirely though. Plaid's  infamous Commision on Independence, you know, the one that wants a referendum on a referendum, they carried on the Plaid tradition of ” now don't be hasty”.

Perhaps, they said, we should go for a federal UK system. Not such a big commitment.

After all, it took almost 25 years to discover that devolution isn't working for Wales. If it takes another 25 years to find federalism isn't working.  That would give a bit more time to have a think about Independence.

The problem with that approach is that Plaid Cymru won't be around by then.

Although they don't realise it, Plaid Cymru need Independence.

Where are they without it ?

Generally recognised outside their diminishing heartland as a Welsh speaker dominated elite.

They are not even the second party. That's the Tories without even trying

They are squeezed between the bigger parties Battling with Welsh Labour  without success, for the political middle ground

They are seen as the junior part, in the Cooperation Agreement with Labour, rather than a robust opposition

How far they have fallen by is shown conceding that position to a programmed robot they have named R T Davies.. 

But it would also seem that they would also work with the Tories. That was indicated by Lord Ellis Thomas, you know the political mercenary,  rejoining Plaid Cymru He had been given assurances, he said.

The party’s failure to work with the main parties, including the Tories,  was his reason for leaving.

However this approach may be pleasant enough for Plaid members, but is not enthusing with the Welsh voters.

Their support for the Welsh Labour government is not good politics.

Welsh Labour is using them.

Didn't they learn anything from their time in coalition?

Plaid Cymru is making a great and often quoted play, of its part in the free meals for the primary school children in Wales. It would help the poorest families, they argue.

Instead they should be hanging their  heads in shame at supporting a system that allows such poverty in Wales.

In Finland, a small country, all school children get free meals, not because they are poor but because the country is wealthy.

Now that's something to boast about.

It should also be remembered, that in the Wales financial arrangement, the additional money for that purpose, however laudable, is taken from somewhere else, some other area less in the political spotlight.

The thinking seems to be. The public [ the voters ], would be less likely to object if, for example,  £40 million or so is spent on children's meals, even if it's taken from the innovation and research and development budget. Which is historically the perennial loser.

However it is the innovation, research and development that improves the Welsh economy to allow meals for all children, as in Finland.

But that's Plaid Cymru. If you think small you will achieve small.

They tell the few who are listening that they have big plans.

A plan for 60000 jobs in green industries, for example. And there's more. [ with all political party mantra of ‘ fully costed ‘ ] except that Plaid, in their own words,  will need an additional £6 billion from the UK government.

Well good luck with that.

But that's not a plan. That's just a wish list.

Plaid Cymru needs a clear and considered plan.

It's not Independence that's the problem for Plaid, but their inability or unwillingness to tell the Welsh people how it is able to better their lives and how it is to be achieved.

They want a plan.

An economic plan for an Independent Wales.

The Welsh people are not against change, Brexit and the 2019 General Election, showed that.

The trick is to convince them of which change.

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They would welcome higher wages, better pensions, health and social care, education standards for Welsh children

They just don't know how it's going to happen and Plaid Cymru, the Party of Wales, is doing little to enlighten them.

The new leader, in addition to appeasing the English incomers, also states that the Welsh public needs to be persuaded of the benefits of Independence.

So where have they been until now?

He  has been a Senedd member of his party for over a decade.So what has his and Plaid Cymru's contribution to this persuasion been?

Very little it would seem 

In spite of the drum beating and flag waving, the Welsh public remain unaware of the great potential that Wales can offer, given the opportunity.

A number of recent projections regarding Wales renewable energy resources by Carbon Trust, Marine Energy and Crown Estates present findings of 14 GigaWatts of renewable energy sources off the Welsh coast.

This has a value of £16+billions per year at the present wholesale price.

That's an awful lot of extra money for investment in Wales, for Wales NHS, social care, education, housing and more.

That is if Wales owned those resources as a nation.

Now not a lot of people know that.

Cardiff University. in Wales financial assessment, argued that if Wales wages were at a UK average, it would add £5.4 billion per year to Wales revenue income through income tax and N.I.

This achieved by investment in skills training and technology [ that's from or £16 billion ]

Not a lot of people know that.

A Nat West study found that if Wales productivity level was at the UK average it would add a further £1,7 billion to the Wales economy and Price Waterhouse study argued that if productivity was at the level of the best in the EU it would add £7.3 billion per year to the Wales economy.

This is to be achieved by increased investment in innovation, research and development.

Not a lot of people know that.

The question is why don't the people know that ?

A further £20 to £30 billion per year from these few examples if Wales was free to take advantage of these opportunities,  would surely influence the Welsh public view of Independence.

That is, if only they were aware and the fact they don't know, is a failure of the Party of Wales. The supposed party of Independence.

A recent exchange between the leader of Plaid Cymru and the First Minister in the Senedd sums it up. The one pronounced that Independence was the way forward, the other remaining in the Union. Not one concrete or tangible example of either merit was given. That seems to be the way with exchanges there.

But the path to Independence won't be decided in these ineffectual exchanges, but out with the people, the voters, persuading them.

Perhaps Plaid Cymru could start by recognising that the border is Offas Dyke, not down the centre of Wales. 

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