Contact/Cyswllt: Sian Cliff
02920 898342 / sian.cliff@wales.gov.uk

Montgomeryshire AM Mick Bates has attacked Ieuan Wyn Jones' first 100 days as Deputy First Minister as a missed opportunity to change the course of Wales' future.

Mr Bates said: "The first few months often set the tone for what is to come and it can be difficult to shake off those first impressions. Plaid are playing fast and loose with their principles and with the Welsh public.

"As far as the government is concerned it's been business as usual. The Deputy First Minister and his Plaid Cymru colleagues have been swept along - sucked in to the established way of doing things.

“On the crucial issue of the future for energy generation in Wales they chose the nuclear option – selling-out on a long held principle and supporting an unsafe and toxic legacy for the generations ahead.

“There have been similar U-turns on other policies, with Plaid abandoning long-held beliefs like scrapping council tax, in order to keep Labour sweet.

"Rather than kicking Labour in to touch, as they promised at the election, Plaid's record over the first 100 days has been one of propping up the status quo. They have wasted an opportunity to change the course of the nation."

Five key failings

1. Business as usual

In May of this year Plaid bemoaned "the same old tired faces" of Rhodri's cabinet now they have merged into it and voted with this same labour cabinet on issues from schools to micro generation to mental health. Plaid have repeatedly supported the government's amendments praising current standards. Plaid Cymru have u-turned on issues including reform to the Council Tax system when they voted with Labour against an inquiry into Local Income Tax.

2. Flip-flop on GVA

Having been one of the staunchest critics of the Labour government's handling of the Welsh Economy, Ieuan Wyn Jones labelled Labour "an absolute" and "resounding" failure in March of this year citing Welsh GVA figures as having fallen to 78% compared to 81% in England. However in a debate this week Plaid made a complete u-turn claiming that "GVA figures are not the be-all and end-all".

3. Evading scrutiny

Two Plaid Ministers this week failed to turn up for scrutiny by the Assembly's Enterprise and Learning Committee. Ministers are accountable to the people they represent through a democratic process of scrutiny and failure to be held accountable in this way shows disregard for the people of Wales.

4. Announcing a transport plan

The much talked up statement on Transport Priorities lacked detail with the oft-repeated phrase "details will be announced", leaving us none the wiser as to the Minister's plans for Wales. It failed to convincingly show a real shift in the Government's policy towards a more sustainable and accessible transport system in Wales, as previously promoted by Plaid.

5. Blocking popular campaign to re-open Carno Station

Before hearing evidence taken by the Enterprise Committee the Deputy First Minister took the decision to retain the Talerddig loop, which is in the open countryside and has no passenger benefit, rather than relocate it to Carno, whose community is campaigning for the social, environmental and economic benefits that would result from the re-opening of the railway station. In pre-empting the committee and shifting favour away from reopening the station, he undermined the very purpose of the committee to scrutinise proposals and gather evidence.

During their first 100 days in government Plaid have opposed Welsh Liberal Democrat proposals to:

o Replace council tax with LIT
o Invest in School buildings
o Reduce class sizes
o Oppose new nuclear power stations in Wales
o Bring forward proposals to offer incentives for people to green their homes


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