A Long Night

So the results are through and Labour's gamble on running a Westminster campaign in Wales paid off, both for Labour and the Tories. Plaid paid the price for the coalition but a price that I believe the party has gladly paid, to deliver a Parliament for Wales. I spent most of the night doing media interviews and debates and losing Helen, Dai, Nerys and Chris from the Assembly was a huge blow, not only to Plaid but to Wales. However, I am extremely proud of all the hard work that our candidates, staff and activists have put in. Their efforts have delivered a Parliament for Wales and given the next Welsh Government more political tools at its disposal.
Over the coming days, the party will take the opportunity to talk about the campaign and from a benefit of hindsight, what could have been done differently but from my perspective, the result was never going to be an easy one for us as the smaller coalition partner. Many have argued that we should have copied Labour's Westminster election campaign of constant Tory bashing and talked down new policy initiatives, but what message would it send out if the Welsh Nationalist Party ducked a debate on Welsh issues, in a Welsh election? To mimic Labour could have made things worse for us, as Labour would have just turned around and said ; why vote for them when you can have a real Labour party'? With a couple o hundred additional votes, we would have held Llanelli and Dai Lloyd's seat and although still only being on 12 AM' s, the perception would have been different.

With this disappointing election, it is important to remember how much Plaid has achieved in recent years. Our party has delivered on its main coalition policies and taken Wales forward. Let's hope that the new Welsh Government can continue the good work of Plaid Cymru, for the sake of Wales.