WELSH nationalists launched their manifesto for the Senedd elections today in Wrexham saying this is a straight fight between them and Reform UK.

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth said that the election on May 7 “will be the most important since the dawn of devolution” and that only his party could stop the threat of Reform, which deals in empty soundbites and fans the flames of division.

He said Nigel Farage’s party’s plans are “unserious, uncosted and unkind,” with Plaid offering to “govern with hope” and “impatience that gets things done.”

Mr ap Iorwerth promised to unlock the full potential of the Welsh economy and stand up for Wales to secure a fairer funding deal from Westminster.

He said: “We will cut NHS waiting times, freeing up time, space and resources to build a sustainable and integrated health and care service for Wales – one that does more to keep people well, rather than just treating illness.

“We’ll support families and give every child the best possible start through a transformational new free childcare offer for all children aged nine months to four years old.

”We will unlock our untapped economic potential – building on our strengths to create well-paid and secure jobs and spread prosperity to every part of Wales.”

Unite Wales welcomed the announcement on jobs in the manifesto but said it will need to see the detail.

The union’s political officer Pasty Turner said: “It was notable that trade unions were only mentioned once in the section on energy independence, and with no mention of social partnership.”

Plaid pledged to make the case for Britain to rejoin both the European Union single market and customs union.

Mr ap Iorwerth also promised change in education with “a new, bold and determined drive on numeracy and literacy skills.”

That pledge has been criticised by teaching unions in Wales, which have said that school funding needs to be urgently tackled to stop the exodus of experienced teachers from the profession.

Welsh Labour hit back at the claims that the election was a two-horse race with Reform saying this was a proportional voting system.

Plaid Cymru and Reform have topped recent opinion polls in Wales, while Labour, which has led the country for more than two decades, looks set to lose its grip on the Senedd.

A Welsh Labour spokesperson said: “Plaid Cymru should be honest with voters. They claim not to be focusing on independence in this election and yet their manifesto explicitly sets out a route map towards independence.”