Plaid Cymru is your party – it’s here for all of Wales

Yet again no mention of independence Why not? If not Independence Party, Just Labour lite Shameful

"It was difficult to see Wales following British patterns – or to be more correct – English patterns of voting." with over 20% of the Cymru population being English and growing what do you expect!

I wish I could believe this - in fact, the stuff about Wales itself, as a country, I strongly believe - but as for Plaid Cymru its credibility was totally shot from the moment that it started collaborating with Labour in 2007. Labour has been the ruination of Wales since it first started gaining traction in the early 20th century, and no party that allies itself with it can possibly claim to have Wales' interests at heart. It's time for a new nationalist party that's untainted by that devil's bargain, and my hope is that something comes out of either Yes Cymru or the new venture to form an alternative nationalist party to supplant Plaid Cymru.

Rhun, you say that Betsi Cadwaladr is finding it impossible year after year to stay in budget. Well what do you expect when the housing policy is to build more and more houses specifically for elderly people from England, who need lots of health care. At the risk of overstating the obvious housing policy needs to have regard for services, and anyway we know from studies that these retirees come here with no regard for funding their health requirements. They also need social care and their state pensions are allocated to Welsh expenditure. What other country in the world accepts so many elderly immigrants relative to the population? Address the Cause not only the Symptoms.

Of course one must admire and agree with everything written in the article above. The solution to Welsh 'confidence' is in the Diaspora. Putative Prophets, like Rhun ap Iorwerth, are never 'recognised in their own lands' so appeals, incentives, demands must be made to confident (and economically competent) Welsh people in far flung corners of the earth to come back and sort things out. This is what the Irish and the Scots have done and are still doing. Making it easier for young people to stay would help as well. Sadly, many, if they have anything about them, take the first train out (as I did).

Rhun, you say "Wales should be a self-governing/sovereign/independent country". You need to be clearer, because of the implications. "Indepdendent" is fine-sounding but is vague.Probably better to combine the fine-sounding and the recognised term and say "independent sovereign State." Independent Sovereign LIke Ireland, Slovenia, Lithuania, Finland? They all broke away from various independent sovereign States and became independent sovereign States themselves, recognised by other independent sovereign States. This is very hard to do. Fine for Wales to have a party that aims for this. Could be like the SNP and Scotland and get to 40%+ in the polls. But in Wales such a party would be small. It is not clear to the people of Wales understand that Plaid wants Wales to be independent (sovereign State). You do. I do. But Plaid fudges this. Really, Plaid is so tiny, it might as well come out and seek an independent sovereign State. No London party will support this. You will not get much "building of alliances". But so what? Plaid being small already can live with staying small, but clear and committed. What is there to lose? Surely this is what you mean by "confidence" - not merely a reduction in being "scared". Self-governing Is not the same as being an independent sovereign State. So is Wales self-governing? No. It has a structure set by London, which conquered Wales. Wales has not had a Consitutional Convention since the time of Hywel Dda. It has never written its own Constitution. It can legislate in very limited fields only. But it is seriously realistic to aim for self-government. The British Empire has permitted self-government many times in history. From 13 now 50 US Colonies/States, to Australian States, Canadian Provinces. Ireland after WW1, Yes, one should ask the question, can we build and alliance to get this? Well, we can try. Ask Labour. Ask Tories like Andrew Melding AM. What LIb Dems there are would be fine. But here's the key, the big one. Will Labour (the big potential ally) do it? Hand on heart, Rhun, will they? That is your problem. If after a sincere effort you personally conclude that Labour won't made an alliance - stop trying. And do this before Plaid goes further down the plug-hole, please.

Annwyl Rhun, Mae anghytundebau â chi gen i. Ond pan dreuliais noson a bore mewn cwmni flirtatious ag aelod Llafur, gwelais i fod gan lawer yn y Blaid Lafur chip on the shoulder go iawn am yr iaith Gymraeg, a rhoi Cymru'n gyntaf. Wedyn, aeth ymlaen a'ch sarhau chi'n benodol, a phwyleisio bod angen dod i ben â thlodi a bod hunaniaeth Gymraeg yn rhwystr i gydraddoldeb. So I decided bod angen arnaf i gefnogi Plaid yn lleol yn erbyn y Blaid Lafur nac ystyried ymuno â nhw er lles fy hun a rhyw fath o yrfa ar ben eu llwyddiant (despite their socialist holier than thou piety). I disagree with you on many things, but Cymru is more important than that.

OK Rhun, you convinced me. I think. Lets try some things and see if they fit. We try to build alliances with,....who? - YesCymru. A minnau'nn aelod hefyd. But bear in mind they (like Plaid) are leftish, and should be in not out anyway. Easy. - Neil McEvoy and 20/20? No brainer. Stop bullying McEvoy for merely fighting the good fight. Easy - Royston Jones' following? Someone called them Welsh Ukippers which was harsh. But they are not exactly left- leaning. Ally anyway? - members of Labour for Independent Wales? Try to peel them off and get them on side? Fine. - Lib Dems? They are Federalist. Good, up to a point. Gets Wales self-governing. - Tories like Andrew Melding AM? Understands Federalism well because he went to William and Mary, Va. Would favour self-government/Statehood. Not really independence-minded though. Any more than the State of Virginia does. What strikes me straight away is that there is something wrong with the Statement of Aims in the Plaid Constitution. It is producing too narrow a clique. Need to widen the Aims, and ally with Yes.Cymru, 20/20, Royston & Co (as individuals, because the group thing is not going well. The Plaid-led Independence Front will not be big, but it will be bigger, and gutsier. It will have clarity and integrity and appeal, and logic and history on its side. It could get on the march and grow. With the confidence you want. Sounds good to me.

I fin it remarkable that the editor of this site has allowed Jonathan Edwards to accuse Rhun of bullying Neil McEvoy when it is McEvoy himself who has been found guilty of bullying. What is even more remarkable is that Mr Edwards, who I believe is Mr McEvoy’s solicitor, was himself found guilty of bullying and sexual harassment by the Bar Tribunals and Adjudication Service in 2013! http://www.tbtas.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/hearings/727/Outcome-Posting-Edwards-amended1.pdf I suggest that the editor does more research before allowing comments, or articles, from such obviously flawed characters. The English media would have a field day if Neil McEvoy ever came close to real power and the national movement would be undermined and tarnished. We need people with impeccable credentials leading us to independence.