CNN’s Becky Anderson was forced to seek shelter live on air after bomb warning alarms went off in Abu Dhabi following Iran’s retaliatory missile strikes across the Middle East in response to US and Israel attacks
Labour MP Josh Simons has resigned as a Cabinet Minister(Image: Sky News)
Labour MP Josh Simons has stepped down as a Cabinet Office minister following an inquiry into claims that a think tank he headed before joining Government commissioned surveillance of journalists.
Labour Together, regarded as one of the most influential bodies within Labour circles, was accused of paying Apco Worldwide £36,000 to investigate reporters who had written articles about its work.
An inquiry by Sir Keir Starmer’s ethics adviser concluded that Mr Simons had not violated the Ministerial Code, but the Makerfield MP said he had “become a distraction from this Government’s important work”.
Mr Simons had faced mounting pressure to quit and had maintained that Apco had been engaged to look into an unlawful hack. In a letter to the Prime Minister, ethics adviser Sir Laurie Magnus said Mr Simons now accepted that the terms he had agreed with Apco were “wider than he had understood” and that he had acted “too hastily in confirming their appointment”.
Sir Laurie said Mr Simons had acted “in good faith” and noted that the MP acknowledged the “perceived gap between his public statements and what he now accepts appears to be a more extensive scope has been damaging”, reports the Express.
He added: “I see no basis for advising you of any breach of the Ministerial Code by Mr Simons but you will wish to consider, in the light of this distraction and potential reputational damage, whether he continues to hold your confidence as a member of your Government.”
The Prime Minister said he accepted “with sadness” the resignation of Josh Simons from his position as a Cabinet Office minister.
“I want to express my thanks for the commitment, focus, and energy you have brought to ministerial office,” he said in his response to Mr Simons’ resignation letter.
Sir Keir added: “In accepting your resignation, I also want to place on record that the Independent Adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus, found no breach of the Ministerial Code. I am grateful for your full and proactive cooperation throughout his work. I understand that, to avoid any ongoing distraction from delivering the Government’s mission, you have taken the difficult decision to step aside. I respect that decision, and I look forward to continuing to work with you in driving forward the Government’s priorities.”
In his resignation letter, Josh Simons stated: “I welcome that Sir Laurie Magnus has cleared me of breaching the Ministerial Code. It was important to me to complete this process to prove that I behaved with integrity and that my public statements have been truthful and honest.
“Nonetheless, it is clear that my remaining in office has now become a distraction from this Government’s important work. For that reason, and with sadness and regret, I offer my resignation. It has been an honour to serve this great country.
“The work of reporters like Gabriel Pogrund, Harry Yorke, and Henry Dyer sustains our democracy. With rigour and objectivity, they hold those in positions of power to account. In an age when trust in politics is low, anything perceived to be an attack on their integrity and independence deserves thorough investigation. As I have said many times, I never sought to smear these newspaper reporters.”
Apco was commissioned to investigate the “sourcing, funding and origins” of coverage in 2023 regarding Labour Together’s failure to declare more than £700,000 in donations. The think tank was fined £14,250 in September 2021 for delayed reporting of donations between 2017 and 2020, after a self-referral to the Electoral Commission.
Shadow Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart said Sir Keir Starmer ought to have dismissed Mr Simons sooner. In a post on X, he wrote: “Labour waited to refer the case to the Independent Adviser to delay judgement until after the by-election (fat lot of good that did). Need full investigation into Labour Together now.”
Close allies of Mr Simons maintain he has done the “responsible thing” to bring an end to the “distraction”, and that he never sought to smear or investigate journalists. They insist he “won’t be quiet on the backbenchers” but will argue passionately for change that benefits the country.
A further ally added: “In stepping aside despite being cleared, Josh has shown he’s the type of person to take responsibility and put the long term direction of the Government first. He’ll not give up his energy in driving the party and this country forward.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer issues a statement at 10 Downing Street (Image: © 2026 PA Media, All Rights Reserved)
Keir Starmer says that British planes “are in the sky today” in the Middle East after Iran struck targets across the Middle East in retaliation for US-Israeli military action against Tehran.
American and Israeli forces launched an assault on Iran on Saturday morning in what both nations characterised as a “pre-emptive” operation against a Tehran administration allegedly pursuing nuclear weapons development.
The offensive triggered a response from Iran, with missiles reportedly fired at Israel and nations throughout the Middle East.
Britain did not participate in the Iranian strikes, and the Government has instructed UK citizens in certain areas of the Middle East to “shelter in place”.
Addressing the media on Saturday afternoon, Sir Keir stated that British aircraft in the region were “in the sky” as part of “co-ordinated regional defensive operations to protect our people, our interests and our allies”.
In a collective statement with the French and German leaders, Sir Keir condemned Iran’s response “in the strongest terms”.
The three leaders stated: “Iran must refrain from indiscriminate military strikes. We urge the Iranian leadership to seek a negotiated solution. Ultimately, the Iranian people must be allowed to determine their future.”
Sir Keir’s remarks follow his chairing of the Government’s emergency Cobra committee meeting before holding discussions with allies including France’s President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The joint statement added that the three nations were “in close contact” with international partners including the US and Israel.
In his own statement from Downing Street, Sir Keir said he had also spoken to Middle Eastern leaders as he urged Iran to return to the negotiating table.
He said: “It is vital that we prevent further escalation and return to a diplomatic process.
“We want to see peace and security and the protection of civilian life.
“Iran can end this now. They should refrain from further strikes, give up their weapons programme and cease the appalling violence and repression against the Iranian people.”
Saturday’s assault follows rising tensions across the region, with the US deploying a fleet of warships and aircraft to pressure Tehran.
Discussions between the US and Iran concerning Tehran’s nuclear programme concluded on Thursday without reaching an agreement.
On Saturday, Israeli authorities stated the strikes – designated Operation Roaring Lion by Israel and Operation Epic Fury by the US – were designed to “thoroughly degrade the Iranian terrorist regime and to remove existential threats to Israel”.
In a video uploaded to his Truth Social platform, US President Donald Trump described the attacks as “a noble mission”.
He said Iran had “attempted to rebuild their nuclear programme and to continue developing long-range missiles that can now threaten our very good friends and allies in Europe, our troops stationed overseas and could soon reach the American homeland”. Dame Emily Thornberry, chair of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, stated it was “absolutely right” that the UK had not participated in the strikes.
She further commented that there was “no legal basis for this attack”, and told the Press Association that the UK should “prepare for shipping, oil facilities and military bases with Western troops, including British, to be attacked”.
Sir Keir revealed that security measures at British bases had been heightened to “their highest level”, whilst the Government was “reaching out to UK nationals in the region” to provide support.
It has been reported that the UK previously declined US requests to utilise the Diego Garcia base in the Indian Ocean for launching strikes on Iran.
Richard Tice of Reform UK questioned whether such a request had been denied again, suggesting that a refusal could have “seriously damaged the special relationship”. He commended the US and Israel for acting to “protect us all in the West by destroying the dangerous Iranian regime”.
His leader, Nigel Farage, urged the Prime Minister to “change his mind on the use of our military bases and back the Americans in this vital fight against Iran”.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch expressed her support for the strikes on Iran, labelling the Tehran government as a “vile regime” that “carries out attacks on the UK and on our citizens”, seeks to develop nuclear weapons and “brutally repressed pro-democracy protests only months ago and murdered thousands of its own people”.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called on the Prime Minister to exclude the possibility of British bases being utilised for “future unilateral US strikes”.
He said: “The Iranian people deserve to live free from a brutal regime. Donald Trump’s unilateral and illegal military action won’t deliver freedom, peace and security. It will only unleash more bloodshed.”
Fire breaks out in Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah district after another missile attack.(Image: X/ @LunaETHWhale)
A hotel on The Palm in Dubai is reportedly ablaze following an alleged missile strike this afternoon.
Photographs purportedly from the scene depict The Fairmont Hotel in Dubai engulfed in flames.
The fire occured just hours after Donald Trump announced that the US had initiated ‘major combat operations’ in Iran overnight.
It has not been verified that the fire was called by an Iranian strike. But Iranian state media has been reporting that an attack has been launched on Dubai.
The government of Dubai’s Media Office said “an incident occurred in a building in the Palm Jumeirah area”. Emergency response teams attended and the fire is now “under control”, according to the Dubai government. Four people were injured and have been taken to hospital.
Other Iranian attacks have been launched on US bases and civilian sites. Kuwait’s Public Authority for Civil Aviation says a drone targeted Kuwait International Airport, causing minor injuries and limited material damage to one of the terminals.
it follows what Israel’s defence minister said was a ‘preventative attack’ against Iran. Israel Katz stated the strikes were being conducted “to remove threats”, whilst observers in Tehran reported hearing explosions.
Simultaneously, the US is also participating in Israel’s strikes against Iran, according to the Associated Press, with “dozens” of strikes across Iran. In response, Iran has launched attacks on Israeli and US military targets throughout the Middle East, reports the Mirror.
Earlier today in Dubai, people sought shelter as a loud explosion was heard near the Marina, whilst in Abu Dhabi, the UAE’s capital, a fatality was reported after debris fell on a residential area.
Updated guidance on the FCDO website advises British nationals in Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait to immediately seek shelter.
“Remain indoors in a secure location, avoid all travel and follow instructions from the local authorities,” the update read.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has issued a statement saying UK jets are in the skies following the US and Israeli assaults but did not take part in the initial military strike. He condemned Iranian retaliation
Green Party candidate and winner Hannah Spencer speaks after the vote count
In the early hours of Friday morning the latest UK by-election results were announced with the Green Party winning in Gorton and Denton, Greater Manchester. It was a historical victory for the Greens and a serious blow for Labour in a seat that has long been seen as a stronghold.
So much so that less than two years ago they won the seat in the 2024 General Election with a 13,413 majority.
Hannah Spencer, a plumber from Manchester, has been elected to Parliament as the Green Party’s first ever Westminster by-election winner.
It is a by-election that has reflected new trends emerging in UK politics with plenty of lessons to be learnt. So what does the Gorton and Denton by-election tell us? For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here.
This by-election has been monumental for the Green Party. As well as being the party’s first parliamentary by-election win, it is its first seat in north England. Taking home the win, Hannah Spencer received a staggering 14,980 votes, a vote share of 40.7%.
Second was Reform with 10,578 votes, Labour came third with 9,364 votes, the Conservatives picked up 706 votes and the Liberal Democrats, 653.
Many underestimated the threat of the Green Party, with the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Labour’s Andy Burnham, who wanted to stand in Gorton and Denton but was blocked by his own party, saying Reform was Labour’s biggest opposition.
In recent by-elections, the Greens have often received less than 5% of votes with the highest in 2023 being 10.2%. Today, the results showed that they almost quadrupled their voter base.
In her victory speech, Ms Spencer said: “I am no different to every single person here in this constituency. I work hard. That is what we do.
“Except things have changed a lot over the last few decades, because working hard used to get you something. It got you a house, a nice life, holidays, it got you somewhere.
“But now, working hard, what does that get you? Because talk to anyone here and they will tell you, the people work hard but can’t put food on the table, can’t get their kids school uniforms, can’t put their heating on, can’t live off the pension they worked hard to save for, can’t even begin to dream about ever having a holiday, ever.
“Because life has changed. Instead of working for a nice life, we’re working to line the pockets of billionaires. We are being bled dry.”
The voting polls opened at 7am on Thursday (February 26) and shut at 10pm in Greater Manchester.
However, most people across the Gorton and Denton area did not show up and cast their vote in the by-election.
On Friday morning, election officials revealed the turnout was 47.62%, with 36,903 votes cast.
In comparison, the turnout in the 2024 General Election was 47.8 per cent, with 36,560 votes cast.
The results for Gorton and Denton have shown that the political parties that once fought it out election after election to run the country are losing popularity. In the 2024 General Election Labour received a 13,413 majority – 50.8% of the vote – but in the by-election their vote share fell by 25%.
The Conservatives only received 706 votes in Gorton and Denton, compared to the 2,888 they received in 2024.
Fury has arisen after election monitoring organisation, Democracy Volunteers, reported witnessing “concerningly high levels of family voting” at the polling stations yesterday.
Family voting is an illegal practice when family members enter a voting booth together and collude or direct the vote.
By-election officials expressed their frustration, stating they had received no such reports during polling day and challenged why the organisation had failed to flag these serious claims earlier.
The organisation stated it had witnessed the “highest levels of family voting at any election in our 10-year history of observing elections in the UK” during Thursday’s ballot.
John Ault, director of Democracy Volunteers, commented: “Today we have seen concerningly high levels of family voting in Gorton and Denton. Based on our assessment of today’s observations, we have seen the highest levels of family voting at any election in our 10-year history of observing elections in the UK.
“We rarely issue a report on the night of an election, but the data we have collected today on family voting, when compared to other recent by-elections, is extremely high.”
Sir Keir Starmer has said the loss at Gorton and Denton was “very disappointing”. This comes after former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said the result “must be a wake up call,” and that “it’s time to really listen – and to reflect.”
She continued: “Voters want the change that we promised – and they voted for. If we want to unrig the system, if we want to make the change we were sent into Government to make, we have to be braver. A labour agenda that puts people first. That’s what all of us across our movement need to rededicate ourselves to this morning.”
Asked by reporters if he had considered resigning, Sir Keir Starmer said he would “keep on fighting” as well as pledging to “fight against extremes in politics” on both the left and the right.
Plaid Cymru has launched their plan for their first 100 days in government if they were to win the Senedd election at an event at their party conference in Newport. The 60-page bilingual document which was like a mini manifesto was big on launching plans but lacked specific details.
On Saturday, February 28, the media gathered for the press conference and unveiling of their plan, the first party in Wales to produce such a plan of action. Minutes before Rhun ap Iorwerth was due to speak to members of the press they were informed he would not be answering any questions at the press conference.
As journalists quickly read through the mammoth document, which contained 88 bullet points setting out various action Mr ap Iorwerth’s government would take in the first 100 days, the party leader continued to hammer home points on waiting lists and childcare, which have been a theme of this party conference.
In total, the document set out that they would commission a total of 13 reviews and audits, meaning they are promising to commission something new each week. For the biggest stories in Wales first sign up to our daily newsletter here.
Included in these was the commissioning of an independent review on the performance of the NHS in Wales, focusing on waiting lists, which the party leader told journalists was a “scandal”. There was however a lack of information as to how much they intend on cutting down waiting lists in this time frame.
He also said his party would develop a roadmap to cut out the spending on private agency staff in the NHS by 2030.
Much of the document contained plans to develop targets, commissions, reviews, roadmaps, and to begin work on policy the party have already announced, such as their plans to substantially expand the free childcare provision in Wales.
Mr ap Iorwerth said: “We will work with local authorities and childcare providers on plans to urgently complete the rollout of 12.5 hours of funded childcare for all two-year-olds.”
Alongside these plans, developing new school swimming programmes was mentioned twice, and planning for the rollout of the new libraries in primary schools scheme was all mentioned.
The 100-day plan also states that from September 2026, Plaid Cymru will expand free school meals to all secondary school pupils in households on Universial Credit with no income limit, and says they will restrict the use of smartphones in schools for under-16s.
It also includes commisioning a “comprehensive review” into the funding of universities in Wales which they said would make sure more Welsh students are supported to study in Wales.
Mr ap Iorwerth’s plan also brought forward proposals to incorporate key United Nations human rights conventions into Welsh law and said they would work to end violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence across all areas of government.
He was also keen to state that his government would press Westminster to devolve welfare powers to Wales, on a par with Scotland, and said they would review existing Welsh benefits.
Moving on to the economy, the 100-day plan promises to set up town centre taskforces to explore the option of reformed business rates and set clear targets on the economy.
On transport, another issue Plaid have repeatedly slammed Westminster for, Mr ap Iorwerth said his party would begin negiotiations with the UK government on losses for England-only rail projects, and would prepare to launch an express coach service to link north and south Wales.
Mr ap Iorwerth’s party are currently projected to win the largest portion of the vote share in May’s Senedd elections. The latest poll carried out by YouGov on behalf of ITV Cymru Wales/Barn Cymru projected Plaid Cymru would win 37% of the vote share, to Reform’s 23% and Labour’s 10%.
Damon Wilkinson Reporter
21:49, 27 Feb 2026
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and by-election candidate Matt Goodwin(Image: 2026 Getty Images)
Sectarianism. Here in the UK, it’s a word we’re more used to hearing in connection with the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
But in the early hours of Friday, as the result of the bitterly-contested Gorton and Denton by-election was announced, it was a term Reform’s candidate Matt Goodwin used time and time again.
“I think what you’ve seen is the emergence of a dangerous sectarianism in British politics,” the GB News presenter told the press as he lamented an apparent shift of the Muslim vote to the Greens that saw Hannah Spencer claim the seat in a watershed victory.
He added: “I think the progressives were told how to vote and I think what you saw was a coalition of Islamists and woke progressives that came together to dominate a constituency.”
Asked if his ‘divisive language’ was putting people off Reform, Mr Goodwin – a former academic who was once a leading expert on the far right – used the word again.
“You seem to be implying that we should be playing the game of sectarianism to win seats,” he replied. “We reject that. We are a party that’s about national community and national unity.”
Less than an hour later he was at it once more. “We are losing our country,” he wrote on X. “A dangerous Muslim sectarianism has emerged. “We have only one general election left to save Britain.”
Soon Mr Goodwin was joined by party leader Nigel Farage. “This election was a victory for sectarian voting and cheating,” he posted on X, alluding to comments made by independent election observers who claimed to have witnessed ‘extremely high’ cases of illegal ‘family voting’ at polling stations across the seat on Thursday.
The Greens were quick to respond, describing Farage’s claims as ‘an attempt to undermine the democratic result’ that was ‘straight out of the Trump playbook’.
Professor Rob Ford – who once co-authored an award-winning book on right-wing politics alongside Mr Goodwin while the pair worked at the University of Manchester – also joined in the condemnation.
“A win this big and decisive in a seat this socially mixed is not, and cannot, be down to ‘Muslim sectarianism’,” he wrote on X. “Deeply concerning that a defeated candidate would seek to undermine the legitimacy of an election result rather than accept a simple truth: Gorton & Denton rejected him.”
Reform had come into the campaign trying to convince people their agenda was not about division and animosity. What he wanted, Mr Goodwin said in a post on his Substack page, was to ‘live in a country… where people who work hard, play by the rules and contribute are put first – where they belong’.
But once the result was announced the mask slipped. ‘Islamists’, ‘woke progressives’, ‘dangerous Muslim sectarianism’ – that’s not the language of a party concerned with ‘national unity’, as Mr Goodwin claimed.
Instead, we got a glimpse of what Reform really thought about the people whose votes they had been trying to win.
Paul Hutcheon
21:58, 27 Feb 2026Updated 22:04, 27 Feb 2026
Prime Minister Keir Starmer meets local party members in London, after the Green Party won the Gorton and Denton by-election(Image: PA Wire)
The Green Party’s win in Gorton and Denton is a political earthquake whose tremors will be felt for years to come.
Labour won the same constituency with over 50% of the vote at the general election, but slumped to an abysmal third place on Friday.
Much has been written about the rise of Reform and the way Labour are haemorrhaging votes to the resurgent Right.
But the result in Greater Manchester also confirms Labour also leaking votes to the Left.
The Greens used to be party synonymous with fighting climate change, protecting the natural environment and generally adopting a pacifist approach to world affairs.
They are now a full-blown progressive party that is committed to social justice and a fairer society.
They won by pushing hard for a fairer society and supporting the people of Gaza, not by demanding more radical policies on net zero,
Reform appeals to older voters, the Greens speak directly to the young, and Labour finds themselves squeezed as people across the UK turn their backs on Keir Starmer.
All Labour has is an attachment to a woolly and widely mocked definition of “working people” that excludes small business owners and anyone earning over £40,000.
Labour’s dismal predicament is what happens when a party focuses on winning but gives little thought to governing.
In Tony Blair’s first year as Prime Minister, he made the Bank of England independent, pushed through devolution and delivered peace in Northern Ireland.
None of these measures cost a fortune in political terms and yet these transformative policies changed the UK forever.
Against a backdrop of tight public finances, Starmer should have a similar policy but had nothing to fall back on in his first twelve months.
He surfed the wave of voter anger to get into Downing Street and now seems certain to be overcome by a tsunami of anger.
Voters are increasingly intolerant of political failure and the public have made up their minds on the PM.
The result in Gorton and Denton is also likely to have consequences for the Holyrood election on May 7th.
Reform UK are in line for second place and Labour will now be worried about the Scottish Greens.
Political parties in devolved elections are largely judged on how their parent organisations are performing at Westminster. Just ask Anas Sarwar or Russell Findlay.
The Green Party and the Scottish Greens are separate entities, but most voters will not know they are distinct.
With UK leader Zack Polanski one of the most popular politicians in the UK, the Scottish Greens will inevitably benefit from his star power.
Polanski campaigning in Edinburgh Central and Glasgow Southside – two Holyrood targets for the Scottish Greens – could result in two humbling defeats for the SNP.
And just as Reform looks likely to scupper Labour in the Holyrood constituencies by splitting the pro-UK vote, so too are the Greens eyeing up Labour seats on the regional lists.
Labour are being eaten alive and Starmer does not have the political skills to stop it.
Family voting is illegal in the UK(Image: PA)
Recent controversy has surrounded the latest UK by-election in Greater Manchester after election observer group, Democracy Volunteers said they had witnessed “concerningly high levels of family voting” at the polling stations.
By-election officials shared their anger as they did not receive reports of these issues throughout the day and questioned why the group had not raised the serious allegations sooner. Democracy Volunteers said it had seen family voting in 12% of polling stations during the Gorton and Denton by-election.
Nigel Farage has reported allegations to Greater Manchester Police and the Electoral Commission and has called for an investigation into reports by independent election observers of “extremely high” levels of family voting.
The group said it had seen the “highest levels of family voting at any election in our 10-year history of observing elections in the UK” at the vote on Thursday that saw Green take the lead. For the biggest stories in Wales first sign up to our daily newsletter here
John Ault, director of Democracy Volunteers, said: “Today we have seen concerningly high levels of family voting in Gorton and Denton. Based on our assessment of today’s observations, we have seen the highest levels of family voting at any election in our 10-year history of observing elections in the UK.
“We rarely issue a report on the night of an election, but the data we have collected today on family voting, when compared to other recent by-elections, is extremely high.”
Family voting is when family members enter a voting booth together and collude or direct the vote.
The Ballot Secrecy Act 2023 made the practice illegal to stop people from watching family members while they were voting, seeing what they write on the ballot and sometimes guiding them on how to vote.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: “We can confirm a report has been made. We are in the process of reviewing this report and will provide a further update in due course.”
Reform UK were beaten into second place by the Green Party at the by-election but Farage has claimed it was “a victory for sectarian voting and cheating”.
In a statement, he said: “Reform has today reported the many cases of ‘family voting’ to the Electoral Commission and the police.
“What was witnessed yesterday is deeply concerning and raises serious questions about the integrity of the democratic process in predominantly Muslim areas.
“If this is what was happening at polling stations just imagine the potential for coercion with postal votes.
“If action isn’t taken now, then we will ensure it is after the next general election.”
The Green Party has hit back at Reform’s criticisms, with a spokesman saying: “This is an attempt to undermine the democratic result and is straight out of the Trump playbook.
“We’ve just won a historic by-election by a comfortable margin.
“We’ve shown the country that Greens can beat Reform, despite their big business donations.”
Plaid Cymru party leader Rhun ap Iorwerth revealed his plans for government as he addressed his party members in the keynote speech at the Plaid Cymru party conference in Newport and hailed the May elections a “generational opportunity”.
The man the polls suggest is most likely to be the next First Minister of Wales spoke of wanting to improve education, healthcare, childcare and support for Welsh businesses as he sparked cheers in his address.
Mr ap Iorwerth also said he would set out his plan for his first 100 days in government on Saturday, February 28, saying the party plans on setting the ground running straight away if they are to be elected in May.
The latest poll carried out by YouGov on behalf of ITV Cymru Wales/Barn Cymru projected Plaid Cymru would be the biggest party winning 37% of the vote share. It projects that Reform will win 23% and that Labour will slump to what would be a disappointing third, with 10% of the vote. However a separate poll by More in Common put Reform in the lead.
Mr ap Iorwerth said a number of times how his party would “get the basics right”, and was keen to tell supporters that he would make sure the NHS would be a system that is “fighting fit” as he slammed the current waiting times crisis.
He said: “The Plaid Cymru government I lead will focus on driving down waiting lists – not only because this matters for its own sake, but because we also need to give ourselves breathing space if we’re to create a truly sustainable health and care service that’s fit for the challenges of the 21st century.”
To achieve this, he said his government would create 10 surgical hubs with dedicated centres for operations dealing with some of the longest areas of waiting lists, and would improve out of hours access to GPs through telehealth services.
Another area where the Plaid leader was adamant his party would be able to tackle child poverty and a disparity with England, was education. A system in Wales which he said was currently failing too many young people.
Mr ap Iorwerth said: “Under Labour, our education system is failing too many of our young people when it comes to developing critical skills in reading, writing and maths. As reflected in Wales’s PISA results, educational standards are simply not good enough, and have been getting worse.
“The skills gap is all the greater for students from the most disadvantaged backgrounds, who underperform compared to their peers in every other part of the UK. Students in England achieve more on a similar or lower level of per-pupil funding.
“So falling standards in Welsh schools aren’t just a case of what we spend, but how we spend it. We need to reset and refocus if we’re to raise the bar.”
Met with sea of applause by the hundreds of Plaid supporters who travelled from across the country and beyond to cram into a hall in the International Convention Centre in Newport, Mr ap Iorwerth was blunt as he framed the election as a two-horse race between the “chaos of Reform and the hope of Plaid Cymru”.
The Plaid leader said the reaction of people on doorsteps across the country had been “energising” and unlike anything he’d ever experienced before.
In addressing why people should vote for his party, he was adamant they offered a hope of a better healthcare system and more affordable childcare.
Mr ap Iorwerth was keen to bring attention back to his flagship policy of increasing the free childcare allowance in Wales, something he said would allow parents to go back to work without the fear that they would be better off not.
His policy would introduce 20 hours of free childcare for every child from the age of 9 months to 4 years, with 30 hours for children aged 3 and 4 where their parents are in work, education or training.
He told supporters: “That’s thousands of pounds back in families’ pockets just when they need it most. It’s an opportunity for more parents to return to work, or to pick up more hours.
“It’s an offer of real, practical support not only to parents, but to grandparents too, so many of whom have had to step in to plug the gap. We’ll go further than any other government on these islands – delivering an offer that’s universal and ensures every child has access to the life-long benefits that flow from quality childcare and early years education – regardless of background or family income.
“And our ambition to give every child the best start in life doesn’t end there.”
As he framed the May elections as a two-horse race between his party and Reform, Mr ap Iorwerth said: “Friends, for Labour, the party is over – and so the election in May will be a choice between two contrasting futures. Tolerance or division. Progress or decay. Defiance or deference. Culture or ignorance. Humanity or indifference. Plaid or Reform.”
One of the more light-hearted moments of his speech was when the leader was keen to welcome some of their newer recruits. He told the conference how Cole and Alison Vyas, who went viral in the lead-up to the Caerphilly by-election for their critiscm of Reform and candidate Llyr Powell’s immigration policies, had joined the party.
He said how in the last week Alison had become a Plaid Cymru community councillor in the Porset ward of Caerphilly. As Alison stood up and waved around the hall she receieved one of the biggest cheers of the day.
Mr ap Iorwerth said: “Cole and Alison Vyas stood up for themselves and for their community. By sheer coincidence their front door was the very last I knocked on election day itself. I remember fondly the conversation we had.
“They weren’t members of Plaid Cymru then, but they are now, having joined us because we share a vision of building bridges and breaking down barriers. And as of last week, Alison is an elected Plaid Cymru community councillor too.
“For Labour it really is last orders”
In response to his speech, a Welsh Labour spokesperson said: “Once again, we get nothing new from Plaid Cymru – a long wish list with no costings behind them. They won’t answer the tough questions. How will they pay for all these things? Rhun talks of ‘efficiency’ but won’t say if they’ll make cuts to existing services or will they raise taxes?
“It’s just the same old fantasy politics that will turn out to be just as ‘unrealistic’ as their abandoned net-zero pledge.”
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