Wales reporter

WELSH nationalist leader Rhun ap Iorwerth promised to breathe life into the rural economy yesterday during a tour of Wales.

The party said rural communities are currently struggling with the cost of living, with 36 per cent of households in Pembrokeshire and 39 per cent of households in Ceredigion facing unaffordable living costs.

Ceredigion has the seventh-lowest median income in Britain.

Mr ap Iorwerth is visiting Cardigan and Crymych, which is within the new Ceredigion Penfro Senedd constituency, tomorrow.

He said: “On the second stop of my tour of Wales, I’ll be engaging with communities in Ceredigion Penfro and putting forward Plaid Cymru’s plans to breathe new life into rural communities and businesses struggling with the cost of living.

“We know that poverty often hides in plain sight in our rural and coastal communities.”

Plaid’s strategy to tackle rural poverty and drive rural growth was launched at last year’s Royal Welsh Agricultural Show.

Mr ap Iorwerth said a Plaid Cymru government would breathe new life into rural communities with a strong focus on reviving the economy.

The party launched its economy strategy, Making Wales Work, in May and plans to re-establish the Welsh Development Agency (WDA) to help businesses.

Plaid claims the WDA will also have a tailored approach to help rural communities.

“This tour of Wales is about sharing that vision but also listening to what communities across Wales have to say — and how we can work together to ensure a Plaid Cymru government is elected to deliver that,” Mr ap Iorwerth said.

Welsh Labour was asked to comment.