Our 'Green objectives’ will be the price of any support for new government, say Wales Green Party

Wales Green Party will be looking to achieve the key manifesto pledges it promised to voters in any forthcoming arrangement with Plaid Cymru, their leader Anthony Slaughter announced today. At the same time, Slaughter welcomed the defeat of the ‘divisive, Trumpian' Reform Party. 

Anthony Slaughter said: “We welcome the defeat of Reform and congratulate Plaid Cymru on their result – this is a victory for everyone who wanted to keep Reform's divisive, Trumpian politics out of Wales. We are a welcoming nation – and Wales needs to stay a place where everyone is treated with respect and dignity and can thrive. 

“When it comes to the next government of Wales, we are open to having conversations, but no decisions have been made at this point. In any negotiations we will be looking to deliver on the Green objectives that people voted on in this election - including action to address the cost-of-living crisis, protecting our NHS, fixing the renting crisis, and restoring our natural environment.” 

The declaration comes after Wales Green Party celebrated its historic breakthrough onto the Senedd with the election of their first ever two MSs - Leader Anthony Slaughter in Caerdydd Penarth and environmentalist Paul Rock in Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf.  

Wales Green Party's key manifesto pledges include: 

• Replacing council tax with land value tax paid by landlords not tenants 

• Freezing rents, building 60,000 social homes and ending no-fault evictions 

• Ending corridor care, addressing the mental health pandemic and putting the NHS on a sustainable footing 

• Free bus fares for the under 22s, £1 for adults, more bus routes 

• Extending free childcare from nine months to four years 

• Taking back control of water to clean up our rivers and bring down bills 

• Making sure every government decision supports climate and nature recovery 

Paul Rock was the second Green Party candidate to win a seat in the Senedd. He will serve in the Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf constituency where he has lived for 30 years. Paul is committed to the sustainability and resilience of Welsh communities, serving as UCU branch Environmental Officer at Cardiff University, and helping create the Gabalfa Library of Things. He has a long history of activism, with interests in sustainable transport, renewable energy and public access to land. 

Zack Polanski, Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales said: 

“When myself and my deputies Rachel Milward and Mothin Ali were elected a year ago we were very clear that breaking through and gaining representation in the Senedd was our number one priority. If you asked us six months ago no one expected us to get more than one seat but we have doubled that.”