Latest news with #RhunApIorwerth
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Calls for national data centre strategy after Newport visit
Plaid Cymru is calling for a national data centre strategy to support growth in the digital sector. Party leader Rhun ap Iorwerth and South Wales East MS Peredur Owen Griffiths made the call following a visit to Vantage Data Centers' Newport facility, where they met Justin Jenkins, chief operating officer for EMEA. The meeting focused on industry challenges, future expansion in Wales, and the need for reliable grid power. Mr ap Iorwerth said: "I'm grateful to Justin and the Vantage team for the warm welcome during our recent visit to their data centre campus. "It's important that businesses like Vantage feel supported by government to expand their operations in Wales, so they can continue to create good-quality jobs for local people and meet the increasing demand for services." Mr ap Iorwerth said a Plaid Cymru government would develop a national strategy for data centres to help maximise their economic potential. Mr Owen Griffiths said: "It was great to be back at Vantage and meeting with Justin once again. "The attention to detail and the contingency planning at this company never ceases to amaze me. "It is no wonder that they have some of the biggest tech companies in the world as their customers."
BBC News
6 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
MPs should get veto on any Iran conflict, Plaid Cymru says
MPs should have the opportunity to veto any plans for UK military involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict, Plaid Cymru has said. The US bombed three nuclear sites in Iran at the weekend after escalation between Israel and Iran entered its third Minister Sir Keir Starmer called for de-escalation as Iran and Israel still launch missiles at each other's Secretary David Lammy is due to make a statement to MPs in the Commons later on the conflict. US President Donald Trump said the US military had carried out "massive, precision strikes" on three key nuclear facilities in Iran following concerns about reports Tehran was working on a nuclear missile officials confirmed sites were struck but denied they suffered any major damage and have vowed there would be "everlasting consequences" following the US Keir stressed the UK was not involved in the US strikes. He also warned of the risk of escalation, and said he wanted to reassure people "we're doing everything we can to stabilise the situation". Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth said the US attack was "a mistake" which could lead to "potentially catastrophic consequences".Speaking on BBC Radio Wales Breakfast, ap Iorwerth said: "Yes, we agree with Sir Keir Starmer that de-escalation has to be the goal now but we need assurances here for example and we are asking for assurances that there will be a vote in the UK Parliament before there was a possibility of the UK being sucked into this action – which we think should not happen".
BBC News
17-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Some new Welsh train stations will take more than three years
It will take more than three years to build some of the stations that funding was announced for in the spending review, Wales' first minister told the Senedd on Rachel Reeves announced £445m of rail funding for Wales last week, some of which will be spent on five new stops along the mainline between Cardiff Central and the Severn cash has been allocated for the scheme than the £385m over five years estimated to be needed in a transport Cymru's Rhun ap Iorwerth argued the chancellor's spending review, which covers three to four years of spending, "left Wales trailing further behind". BBC Wales has been told that the £445m is a fraction of the overall funding needed for the projects as many will need more money in future spending reviews due to the length of time it takes to deliver rail has not been announced yet how quickly ministers believe the stations would be in First Minister's Questions on Tuesday, Morgan said the cash was a "good first step to addressing the historic underfunding when it comes to real rail infrastructure".She said: "You can't switch these things on overnight."We've done our job in Welsh government to prepare, to make sure that these things are in place, ready to go."But there was always a recognition that it would take more than three years to build some of those train stations."She made the comments in reply to ap Iorwerth who took objection to claims by Labour sources that the £445m was more than what Wales would have got had the Welsh government received money because of the High Speed 2 rail the multi-billion scheme is classed as an England and Wales project, there is no knock on additional funding for Wales as a result."It simply isn't true," he said, quoting Cardiff University academics in saying any suggestion that the funding compensated for HS2 was "unsustainable".He argued the spending review "left Wales trailing further behind in terms of the investment needed" with the "worst real terms growth in the capital budget of all devolved governments". The review gave its support to five stations backed by a review of transport options along the M4 corridor in south Wales - named Cardiff East, Newport West, Somerton, Llanwern and Magor & take place the scheme would require upgrades to the south Wales mainline.A total of £300m was earmarked for the schemes in the spending review, as part of a pot of cash that included support for the North Wales Level Crossing, Padeswood Sidings and Cardiff West £38m was allocated for the South Wales Metro project while the remainder is believed to be earmarked for planning rail schemes over ten years. Experts have warned that the spending review could result in cuts if the NHS swallows extra funding that was announced for the settlement, Morgan said it saw "£5bn in terms of public spending, that's money that we can spend on the things that matter to the people of Wales".Additional reporting by Gareth Lewis.
The Independent
10-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
UK Government ‘betraying Wales' over rail funding, Plaid leader says
Plaid Cymru has called for the First Minister of Wales to condemn the UK government for 'betraying Wales' on rail funding. Rhun ap Iorwerth, leader of Plaid, criticised the UK Labour Government for reclassifying the £6.6 billion Oxford to Cambridge line to an England and Wales project. The designation means Wales will not receive the additional rail funding it would get if branded an England-only project. Mr ap Iorwerth called on Eluned Morgan, the Welsh Labour First Minister, to condemn the reclassification. Baroness Morgan agreed Wales was not getting its fair share but said she was expecting to see positive changes in the UK Government's spending review on Wednesday. Mr ap Iorwerth's comments come following reports that revealed the project had originally been listed as England-only from 2020 to 2024. The Treasury told the BBC the classification was a 'publishing error' and insisted it was always considered an England and Wales development. Speaking First Minister's Questions in the Senedd on Tuesday, Mr ap Iorwerth said: 'We were getting our share until Labour actively moved the goalposts. 'Labour went out of its way to make sure Wales wouldn't get the money when the big spending really began.' He added: 'She should be joining me in condemning the UK Labour Government for betraying Wales. Will she?' Mr ap Iorwerth argued the reclassification was a 'new HS2 scandal' – a rail project that has been controversial in Wales. Despite none of the track being laid in the country, it was also designated an England and Wales project by the last UK Conservative government. Plaid has said this designation cost Wales £3.9 billion in funding. Responding to Mr Iorwerth, Baroness Morgan said: 'I've learned to expect nothing but constant negativity from the Plaid Cymru leader. 'I've been clear and I've been consistent when it comes to rail funding that we have not been getting our fair share of funding, in a position that the Tories left us with for over a decade. 'The difference between the Tories and the UK Labour Government is that they've recognised that injustice. 'I don't know what's going to be in the spending review, but the one thing I do know is that if Labour gave Wales a total land of milk and honey, Plaid Cymru would still find fault.' Baroness Morgan added they were 'expecting something positive from the spending review', but the Welsh government would have to keep on making the case for a fair share of funding. In January, the UK government admitted Welsh railways had been underfunded, with spending at 'low levels' in recent years. However, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander did not announce any additional funding at the time.
BBC News
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Ryan Reynolds' Welsh teacher to receive top Welsh honour
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's translator is to receive a top Welsh honour. Broadcaster and journalist Maxine Hughes will be honoured by Gorsedd Cymru at this year's National Eisteddfod in Wrexham county. Hughes, originally from Conwy, is well known for being the official Welsh translator and poking fun at the two Wrexham FC owners in television show Welcome to Wrexham. The Gorsedd of the Bards is an association made up of people who have made a distinguished contribution to the Welsh nation, the language, and its culture. Hughes, who previously worked for BBC News and now lives in Washington DC, flew out to Los Angeles and landed the part of the "official Welsh translator" for the television features in a video acting as a disgruntled translator who makes her opinion clear of Deadpool star Reynolds and McElhenney, who starred in It's Always Sunny in ignores what they say and then provides her own commentary on the pair in Welsh, as the subtitles reveal to the receiving a blue robe for services to the nation will be Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth worked as a journalist and broadcaster for the BBC before being elected as a Senedd member for Anglesey in 2013. Journalist and broadcaster Dewi Llwyd will also receive the honour at this year's festival. Llwyd, from Bangor, has reported in Welsh on some of the biggest news stories in Wales and the world for nearly half a century. He has been the face of S4C's election programmes and has presented the channel's main news programme along with the discussion show "Pawb a'i Farn" for many years. Actor Mark Lewis Jones, from Rhosllanerchrugog, Wrexham, will also receive an honour. He has appeared in series such as The Crown, Game of Thrones, and is also known for his roles in films such as "Star Wars: Episode VIII" and "The Far Side of the World".
