PLAID CYMRU leader Rhun ap Iorwerth slammed the election of Vaughan Gething today over alleged voting stitch-ups with unions, scrutiny ducking and “dodgy” donations.

He said: “I repeat the congratulations I extended to Vaughan Gething on his election victory last weekend, but the only newness with Vaughan Gething is the fact that he’s only been in post for two days.”

Mr ap Iorwerth was scathing about Mr Gething’s election campaign.

“Let’s not forget that this was no ordinary campaign,” he said.

“The voting stitch-up, the ducking of scrutiny of his own record, and — while we’re used to questions about dodgy donations around the Conservative Party — what we’ve seen during this Labour campaign has undermined so much faith.

“When we talk about the need to pay something back, we can mean that in two ways — it’s not just the cash, it’s trust too, and that is even more valuable.”

The Plaid leader also criticised Sir Keir Starmer and what his election at the next general election might mean for Wales.

He said: ”Friends, my fear is that it’ll be more of the same: more stagnation, more managerialism and more cuts to public services.”

To applause from delegates he slammed the Conservative Party’s record in government and how austerity has caused damage to the people it is meant to serve.

He said that Sir Keir and shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves were following Conservative economic policies and spending plans which would only offer more austerity.

Mr ap Iorwerth said he sympathised with the Welsh government on the impact of UK Treasury cuts and the outdated Barnett Formula to calculate devolution funding.

“But my sympathy is somewhat curtailed by Keir Starmer’s continued refusal to deal with that if he does become prime minister,” he said.

“Friends, we stand apart from UK Establishment politics. We don’t want the future to look like the past. We want people to feel hope about politics once again.”

The Plaid leader pledged that independence for Wales would mean a “National Health Service that’s fit for the future and an education system worthy of our proud history as a leader in literacy. 

“A society in which each individual can be themselves, free from prejudice and preconceptions.

“A Wales which everyone can call home, whatever their language, wherever they’re from — that is Plaid Cymru’s vision for our nation.”