Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iowerth’s victory speech in full

He says he plans to ‘reach out to others’ to form a government, and he will put his name forward as First Minister

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth has told supporters his party will “take the necessary steps to form the next Government of Wales”. He says he plans to “reach out to others” who support his plans, and confirmed he will put his name forward to be nominated as the next First Minister.

The Plaid Cymru leader was elected to represent his party in the Bangor Conwy Mon constituency. He made his speech in Llandudno at 6.30pm on Friday, May 8.

His party took 43 seats, with Reform UK in second with 34 seats. Labour came in third with nine seats, a result that led to First Minister Eluned Morgan resigning as Welsh Labour leader. She retains the title of First Minister until a date is set for a vote to replace her. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here.

If he tried to find enough votes from other parties to form a formal coalition, the Green Party and Lib Dem members isn’t enough,. so he would need the support of Labour or the Conservatives as well.

Rhun ap Iorwerth’s speech in full

“Wrth i ganlyniadau ddod i law ledled Cymru dros yr oriau dwetha, mi ddaeth yn amlwg pa ddewis sydd wedi cael ei wned gyfer dyfodol ein cenedl.

“Dwi am ddiolch i bawb sydd wedi cymryd rhan yn yr etholiad yma heddiw.

“Ac ar sail y bleidlais honno, mae Plaid Cymru rwan yn barod i fwrw mlaen i ffurfio llywodraeth nesaf Cymru.

“The people of Wales have today decided on the next steps in Wales’s journey.

“I am grateful to everyone that took part in this election, and yes, different voices are represented in that overall result.

“But based on that vote, and a clear outcome, Plaid Cymru now stands ready to take the necessary steps to form the next Government of Wales.

“This is a moment one hundred years in the making.

“A moment in which we hold the promise and ambition of a nation in our hands.

“The promise of fairness, of opportunity, of prosperity – of a nation determined in its ambition and uncompromising in its compassion.

“This victory comes not only because of those campaigners whose hard work and passion propelled us forward in recent weeks and months, but to those who went before us, whose patience and persistence never waned, even when the disappointments hurt.

“But of course we have won not for ourselves as individuals or as a party but for the people of Wales, in order that we can serve the people of Wales. And of course that means ALL of the people, regardless of how they voted in this election.

“We have won because we represent hope over division, credibility over chaos, and progress over stagnation.

“Mae pobl Cymru wedi dewis gobaith.

“Mae nhw wedi dewis hyder.

“Ac mae nhw wedi dewis arweinyddiaeth newydd am y tro cyntaf yn hanes ein democratiaeth ifanc.

“Ond wrth i’r stori newydd yma gael ei sgwennu, nid heddiw sy’n bwysig ond fory, a’r diwrnod ar ol hynny.

“Dechrau nid diwedd y daith ydi hyn.

‘”Daw dydd y bydd mawr y rhai bychain’, meddai Waldo.

“Wel, mi ddaeth y dydd hwnnw – y dydd o blanu hedyn y deffroad cenedlaethol fydd yn blaguro’n Gymru falch, hyderus ac uchelgeisiol.

“Mae Cymru wedi rhoi ei ffydd ynom ni ac rwan mi fyddwn ni’n dangos ein ffydd yng Nghymru – i dyfu’n genedl decach, mwy cyfiawn a mwy llewyrchus a sy’n barod i sefyll i fyny i San Steffan.

“In the build up to this election, and in the result, Wales demanded change.

“We could all sense it. Wales demanded a new beginning and now, a new dawn beckons.

“But we have not yet reached the destination – far from it – we are just setting out on our journey.

“And we set off with new leadership, with new energy and new ideas.

“Free to hope, free to aspire, free to dare to demand what Wales rightly deserves.

“We now need a government which represents the change the people of Wales have voted for, governing with fairness, responsibility, compassion and humility. And with unbounded ambition.

“That is what we will now strive to build and we intend to repay that trust placed in Plaid Cymru as quickly as we can.

“Our missions today are the same as they were last week, last month, last year. Power will not shake our principles, or our pledges.

“Cutting waiting lists and building a sustainable health service.

“Creating jobs.

“Raising standards in our schools.

“Helping families with the cost of living.

“Tackling child poverty.

“And standing up for Wales – always.

“I now intend to reach out to others who can support these missions with the pace and seriousness they demand, and to find common ground where we can, for the common good.

“Plaid Cymru will press ahead with those conversations with urgency and put forward my name to be nominated as the next First Minister.

“Our nation deserves a government that will work with relentless determination to deliver on the things that matter most to you.

“We now focus on that task. And we do this… for Wales.

“Dros Gymru. Diolch yn fawr.”