Plaid Cymru leader says he hopes to be made first minister as early as Tuesday

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth expressed hope of becoming Wales’ first minister by Tuesday following his party’s historic victory in the Senedd elections, where it emerged as the largest party despite falling short of a majority. Ap Iorwerth stated on BBC Radio Wales that Plaid is ready to govern immediately and has proposed a clear program for government, urging other parties to support him. He emphasized cooperation, saying he would ‘explicitly’ work with others, though he had not yet spoken with Welsh Reform leader Dan Thomas. Labour’s collapse in Wales left the party with just nine Senedd seats, marking the end of its century-long dominance. Ap Iorwerth criticized UK Labour for potentially ‘punishing’ Wales over the election result, warning that such a move could harm Labour’s future prospects. He suggested Keir Starmer’s leadership may not last long and hinted that a successor like Andy Burnham could adopt a different approach toward Wales. Ap Iorwerth also proposed collaboration with nationalist parties in Scotland and Northern Ireland, citing shared policies on natural resources and reducing inequality. Speaking on BBC’s *Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg*, he called for a united stance against economic disparity across the UK. Welsh Labour’s interim leader, Ken Skates, confirmed the party would discuss its approach to the first minister vote on Monday but dismissed the idea of teaming up with Reform to block Plaid. Skates described such a move as ‘deeply unpleasant’ and insisted Labour would prioritize serving Wales rather than opposing Plaid Cymru. Former first minister Eluned Morgan had resigned earlier, contributing to Labour’s current leadership uncertainty.