Oct 12, 2025 05:30 PM
(This post was last modified: Oct 12, 2025 07:22 PM by C C.)
https://nation.cymru/news/labour-will-no...laid-cymru
INTRO: Labour will not be forgiven in Wales for allowing the closure of Port Talbot’s blast furnaces, Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth has said, as the party stepped up its attack on Keir Starmer’s leadership ahead of next year’s Senedd election.
Traditional steel production in Wales was brought to an end in September last year as the last blast furnace at Tata Steels Port Talbot plant was shut down. An estimated 2,000 jobs are expected to be lost at the plant, which will transition to greener steel production from 2027.
Speaking on Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, Mr ap Iorwerth accused the Labour leader of showing no interest in Wales’ “specific and particular needs” and said voters remained angry about the loss of virgin steelmaking capacity at Tata’s Port Talbot works.
“Port Talbot would be perhaps the most glaring example where we lost virgin steelmaking capacity at the Port Talbot steelworks – real anger about that, a process started by the Conservatives, of course, finished off by Labour,” he said.
“At the same time they were letting Port Talbot go, they decided that Scunthorpe was deserving of Government help to step in to save primary steel making. They will not be forgotten, forgiven in Wales for doing that.”
His comments comes as Plaid seeks to position itself as the leading alternative to both Labour and Reform UK ahead of the May 2026 vote.
Polls suggest the three parties are running close, with Plaid presenting itself as a “government-in-waiting” while Reform aims to break through with what leader Nigel Farage has promised will be “fresh thinking.” (MORE - details)
INTRO: Labour will not be forgiven in Wales for allowing the closure of Port Talbot’s blast furnaces, Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth has said, as the party stepped up its attack on Keir Starmer’s leadership ahead of next year’s Senedd election.
Traditional steel production in Wales was brought to an end in September last year as the last blast furnace at Tata Steels Port Talbot plant was shut down. An estimated 2,000 jobs are expected to be lost at the plant, which will transition to greener steel production from 2027.
Speaking on Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, Mr ap Iorwerth accused the Labour leader of showing no interest in Wales’ “specific and particular needs” and said voters remained angry about the loss of virgin steelmaking capacity at Tata’s Port Talbot works.
“Port Talbot would be perhaps the most glaring example where we lost virgin steelmaking capacity at the Port Talbot steelworks – real anger about that, a process started by the Conservatives, of course, finished off by Labour,” he said.
“At the same time they were letting Port Talbot go, they decided that Scunthorpe was deserving of Government help to step in to save primary steel making. They will not be forgotten, forgiven in Wales for doing that.”
His comments comes as Plaid seeks to position itself as the leading alternative to both Labour and Reform UK ahead of the May 2026 vote.
Polls suggest the three parties are running close, with Plaid presenting itself as a “government-in-waiting” while Reform aims to break through with what leader Nigel Farage has promised will be “fresh thinking.” (MORE - details)