Plaid Cymru Leader Rejects Reform Coalition as 2026 Election Looms

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth has firmly rejected any potential coalition with Reform UK as Wales approaches the 2026 Senedd Election. 📊

Speaking at a press conference today marking one year until polling day, Mr ap Iorwerth stated Reform “isn’t the politics that works for Wales.”

“I understand why people are protesting against the merry-go-round of red and blue politics, I’m frustrated about that too… We have a vision though that is based on what is right for Wales, something Reform don’t have,” he said.

According to the latest YouGov poll for ITV Wales and Cardiff University published yesterday, Plaid Cymru and Reform are currently predicted to be the two largest parties in Wales in 2026, though neither is expected to secure an outright majority.

Speaking outside the Senedd, Mr ap Iorwerth acknowledged that due to Wales’ new electoral system, a single party majority is unlikely, meaning “a degree of cooperation will be necessary.”

Labour has led every Welsh government since devolution began.

Mr ap Iorwerth attributed his party’s positive polling to both voter disaffection with Labour and the popularity of Plaid’s policies.

“We have a Labour UK Government that came in with a whimper and clearly don’t care at all about Wales,” he said. “We have a Labour government in Wales, who’ve shown week after week that they are not interested in standing up for Wales. They just want to keep things steady and not rock the boat for themselves within the Labour Party.”

He added: “So yes, people are fed up, and of course are still fed up after 14 years of destructive Conservative government. But it’s not just about that, it’s about us putting our house in order, making sure that there’s a clear policy agenda.”

Responding to Tuesday’s poll, Welsh Labour leader Eluned Morgan described the results as a “wake-up call” and urged voters to “think really carefully” about their choice of leadership.

“I can pick up the phone to Keir (Starmer)… I am able to have a discussion with him that we want more for Wales, and that’s not available to other people,” she stated.