Latest news with #CefinCampbell
Sky News
30-05-2025
- General
- Sky News
Adam Price: Former Plaid Cymru leader's re-election uncertain under new voting system
Why you can trust Sky News There is uncertainty whether the former leader of Plaid Cymru will be re-elected under the Senedd's new voting system. People in Wales will be heading to the polls next May to vote in the Senedd election for the first time since 2021. Plaid Cymru has published its candidate list for the new constituency of Sir Gaerfyrddin, which puts Adam Price in third place. For the first time, voters will be electing 96 members to the Welsh parliament - an increase of more than 50%. The 32 Welsh constituencies at UK general elections will be paired to form 16 larger constituencies. Six candidates will be elected to represent each constituency, under a more proportional voting system. The order of candidates on each party's list is decided by party members. The lower a candidate's position on each party's list, the lower their chances of being elected. In a statement to local members, seen by Sky News, the party confirmed that Cefin Campbell, its education spokesperson, had topped the list. Former Senedd member Nerys Evans was placed second, followed by former leader Adam Price in third. Mari Arthur, who the party describes as a social entrepreneur and sustainability campaigner, completes the party's top four candidates. After the result, Mr Price said he would "like to thank the members that showed [him] support during this process and congratulate Cefin on topping the list". Mr Price quit as leader of the Welsh independence-supporting party in May 2023. His departure came after a report into a "toxic" culture within Plaid Cymru, which found a "lack of collective leadership and governance" in responding to the issues. The party commissioned the report by a working group, chaired by Mrs Evans, who now hopes to be re-elected to the Senedd after an initial stint between 2007 and 2011. Mr Price was ultimately replaced as leader by Rhun ap Iorwerth, who currently represents Ynys Môn in the Senedd. A Senedd poll published earlier this month placed Plaid Cymru as the party with the highest vote share, ahead of Reform UK, Labour and the Conservatives.
BBC News
30-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Ex-Plaid Cymru leader Price unlikely to be re-elected in 2026
Former Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price is unlikely to be re-elected in next year's Senedd election. Members of the Senedd (MS) Cefin Campbell and Nerys Evans are the top two candidates the party will put forward for the new Sir Gaerfyrddin constituency while Price is third, the BBC has been told. Plaid Cymru's rules aim for gender equality, meaning the second name on each regional list must be a party would expect to win two of the six Sir Gaerfyrddin seats and face a challenge from Reform and Labour at the election in May 2026. Plaid's selection process is more competitive than Labour's or the Conservatives as the party is not giving its current MSs any preferential treatment and is prioritising gender balance in how it determines the order of Sir Gaerfyrddin, this means that if a woman tops the local members' selection, another woman must also be placed second on the list of up to eight candidates on the ballot. If a man takes the top spot, a woman would still be required to take second Campbell and Evans occupying the top spots, the prospects of Price securing a seat seem more exact votes cast for each member is yet to be confirmed but it is understood the selection process concluded on Thursday evening. Who is Adam Price? Price became leader of the Plaid Cymru in 2018 and led the party into the 2021 Senedd election with a pledge to hold a referendum on Welsh independence within five years if it won the party finished third behind Labour and the Welsh Conservatives. Following the election, Price signed a co-operation agreement with the Labour government, helping to deliver policies such as universal free school 2022, the party became engulfed by claims of a toxic culture, culminating in a report by Evans that said it had tolerated "too many instances of bad behaviour".Price stepped down as leader in 2023. Evans was an Assembly Member from 2007 to 2011, with Campbell elected to the Senedd in Price on the list is former Llanelli candidate Mari Arthur, who now works in marketing and the sustainable energy Griffiths, a Carmarthenshire councillor, is fifth, followed by Abi Thomas, a former Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire new election map has 16 seats, each electing six MSs, with the voting system electing members from party Cymru has been asked to comment. Analysis - BBC Wales political editor Gareth Lewis Had Adam Price had his way we could be on the verge of a referendum on Welsh one within five years was central to his pitch at the 2021 Senedd election, but Plaid finished seemed resigned to coming third again - this time in his party's list - when I spoke to him at Plaid's spring conference in some in the party his resignation in 2023 and the scandal surrounding Jonathan Edwards - the former MP in Price's Carmarthen East and Dinefwr constituency - still cast a long is not impossible for Price and Plaid to win three seats in Sir Gaerfyrddin, but they would need a good having topped a recent poll, Plaid's selection process could cost them two big names - Price and economy spokesman Luke Fletcher.
South Wales Argus
09-05-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Welsh Language and Education Bill passes another hurdle
Senedd members debated the Welsh language and education bill , which aims to ensure all pupils become confident Welsh speakers by the end of compulsory school. If passed, the bill will create three school categories: primarily Welsh; dual language; and primarily English, partly Welsh – with targets for each. A minimum of 10 per cent of Welsh education would be required in primarily English schools, with 50 and 80 per cent for the dual language and primarily Welsh categories respectively. The bill would also put the target of reaching at least a million Welsh speakers by 2050 on a legal footing and establish the National Welsh Language Learning Institute. Senedd members considered dozens of detailed amendments to the bill during a four-hour stage-three debate on May 6. Plaid Cymru's Cefin Campbell said: 'A quarter of a century after the opening of this Senedd, it is disappointing that the majority of children and young people in Wales continue to be deprived of the opportunity to learn Welsh in our education system and to use the language in their everyday life. 'Due to these failures over the past decades, it's very important that we legislate in this area to ensure the necessary progress is made… to reach a million Welsh speakers by 2050.' Mr Campbell proposed raising the minimum requirement in primarily English schools to 20 per cent but Senedd members roundly rejected this amendment. Mark Drakeford, who is responsible for Welsh language policy, argued increasing the minimum to 20 per cent would pose a significant risk the requirement could not feasibly be met. Mr Campbell raised concerns about exemptions from the 10 per cent minimum for primarily English schools which would be able to apply for two three-year extensions. Senedd members voted against an amendment which would have required ministers to issue guidance on how Welsh learning goals apply to pupils with additional learning needs. The bill now moves to stage four: a key vote on the final version agreed at stage three. With Labour and Plaid holding two-thirds of seats, the Senedd is likely to pass the bill on May 13.
Western Telegraph
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Western Telegraph
Welsh Language and Education Bill passes another hurdle
Senedd members debated the Welsh language and education bill , which aims to ensure all pupils become confident Welsh speakers by the end of compulsory school. If passed, the bill will create three school categories: primarily Welsh; dual language; and primarily English, partly Welsh – with targets for each. A minimum of 10 per cent of Welsh education would be required in primarily English schools, with 50 and 80 per cent for the dual language and primarily Welsh categories respectively. The bill would also put the target of reaching at least a million Welsh speakers by 2050 on a legal footing and establish the National Welsh Language Learning Institute. Senedd members considered dozens of detailed amendments to the bill during a four-hour stage-three debate on May 6. Plaid Cymru's Cefin Campbell said: 'A quarter of a century after the opening of this Senedd, it is disappointing that the majority of children and young people in Wales continue to be deprived of the opportunity to learn Welsh in our education system and to use the language in their everyday life. 'Due to these failures over the past decades, it's very important that we legislate in this area to ensure the necessary progress is made… to reach a million Welsh speakers by 2050.' Mr Campbell proposed raising the minimum requirement in primarily English schools to 20 per cent but Senedd members roundly rejected this amendment. Mark Drakeford, who is responsible for Welsh language policy, argued increasing the minimum to 20 per cent would pose a significant risk the requirement could not feasibly be met. Mr Campbell raised concerns about exemptions from the 10 per cent minimum for primarily English schools which would be able to apply for two three-year extensions. Senedd members voted against an amendment which would have required ministers to issue guidance on how Welsh learning goals apply to pupils with additional learning needs. The bill now moves to stage four: a key vote on the final version agreed at stage three. With Labour and Plaid holding two-thirds of seats, the Senedd is likely to pass the bill on May 13.
South Wales Guardian
08-05-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Guardian
Welsh Language and Education Bill passes another hurdle
Senedd members debated the Welsh language and education bill, which aims to ensure all pupils become confident Welsh speakers by the end of compulsory school. If passed, the bill will create three school categories: primarily Welsh; dual language; and primarily English, partly Welsh – with targets for each. A minimum of 10 per cent of Welsh education would be required in primarily English schools, with 50 and 80 per cent for the dual language and primarily Welsh categories respectively. The bill would also put the target of reaching at least a million Welsh speakers by 2050 on a legal footing and establish the National Welsh Language Learning Institute. Senedd members considered dozens of detailed amendments to the bill during a four-hour stage-three debate on May 6. Plaid Cymru's Cefin Campbell said: 'A quarter of a century after the opening of this Senedd, it is disappointing that the majority of children and young people in Wales continue to be deprived of the opportunity to learn Welsh in our education system and to use the language in their everyday life. 'Due to these failures over the past decades, it's very important that we legislate in this area to ensure the necessary progress is made… to reach a million Welsh speakers by 2050.' Mr Campbell proposed raising the minimum requirement in primarily English schools to 20 per cent but Senedd members roundly rejected this amendment. Mark Drakeford, who is responsible for Welsh language policy, argued increasing the minimum to 20 per cent would pose a significant risk the requirement could not feasibly be met. Mr Campbell raised concerns about exemptions from the 10 per cent minimum for primarily English schools which would be able to apply for two three-year extensions. Senedd members voted against an amendment which would have required ministers to issue guidance on how Welsh learning goals apply to pupils with additional learning needs. The bill now moves to stage four: a key vote on the final version agreed at stage three. With Labour and Plaid holding two-thirds of seats, the Senedd is likely to pass the bill on May 13.
