Latest news with #RhunApIorwerth
BBC News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Ryan Reynolds' Welsh teacher to receive top Welsh honour
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's translator is to receive a top Welsh honour. Broadcaster and journalist Maxine Hughes will be honoured by Gorsedd Cymru at this year's National Eisteddfod in Wrexham county. Hughes, originally from Conwy, is well known for being the official Welsh translator and poking fun at the two Wrexham FC owners in television show Welcome to Wrexham. The Gorsedd of the Bards is an association made up of people who have made a distinguished contribution to the Welsh nation, the language, and its culture. Hughes, who previously worked for BBC News and now lives in Washington DC, flew out to Los Angeles and landed the part of the "official Welsh translator" for the television features in a video acting as a disgruntled translator who makes her opinion clear of Deadpool star Reynolds and McElhenney, who starred in It's Always Sunny in ignores what they say and then provides her own commentary on the pair in Welsh, as the subtitles reveal to the receiving a blue robe for services to the nation will be Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth worked as a journalist and broadcaster for the BBC before being elected as a Senedd member for Anglesey in 2013. Journalist and broadcaster Dewi Llwyd will also receive the honour at this year's festival. Llwyd, from Bangor, has reported in Welsh on some of the biggest news stories in Wales and the world for nearly half a century. He has been the face of S4C's election programmes and has presented the channel's main news programme along with the discussion show "Pawb a'i Farn" for many years. Actor Mark Lewis Jones, from Rhosllanerchrugog, Wrexham, will also receive an honour. He has appeared in series such as The Crown, Game of Thrones, and is also known for his roles in films such as "Star Wars: Episode VIII" and "The Far Side of the World".
BBC News
16-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Menai Bridge: Delays as repair work to continue until August 2026
Repairs to one of the two bridges linking the north Wales mainland to Anglesey will not be complete until August 2026. Maintenance works on the Menai Bridge began in 2023 and were previously delayed from August to December 2025, due to the discovery of defective hangers, which required "urgent replacement". Despite previous hopes for the bridge work to be completed for the bridge's 200th anniversary on 30 January 2026, procurement and licensing issues will see repairs continue into spring. In a statement, the Welsh government described the news as extremely disappointing, but said the bridge requires significant maintenance to ensure it "continues safely for the next 200 years". Serious safety concerns were identified during a technical analysis leading to the closure of the bridge for four months in work began in September 2023 and has caused delays for people trying to get between the island and the first phase of works was completed in October 2024, which enabled the bridge to re-open to all traffic over the winter period. But phase 2 maintenance works, including full repainting and preservation, are now "not likely" to be completed until Spring 2026, with hopes the reopening will coincide the birthday of the bridge's designer, Thomas Telford, in August. Rhun ap Iorwerth, Plaid Cymru Leader and Member of the Senedd for Ynys Môn, said he would be raising the matter on the Senedd at "the earliest possible opportunity". In a statement, he described the announcement as "further proof that the Labour Welsh government is not serious about making sure our island infrastructure is fit for the 21st Century". Transport Secretary Ken Skates said: "My officials will be monitoring the work closely, through frequent site visits and regular meetings with the site team, and if there is any scope for the work to be finished earlier, then it will be done."We were given assurances at the time that the phase two works would be completed by December 2025, and I know this news will be very disappointing for the community and others."The age of the bridge and the fact it's a critical asset to the area means that it is imperative that works are completed to the highest of standards to ensure it continues to operate for the next 200 years."
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Welsh nationalist leader: IndyRef ‘could happen in our lifetime'
A referendum on Welsh independence could 'absolutely' be held within 'our lifetime', Plaid Cymru's leader has said. Rhun ap Iorwerth did not shy away from suggesting his party may be the leading political force in Wales following a poll that predicts Plaid will have the largest vote share in the 2026 Senedd elections. Plaid is projected to be the largest party in the Senedd following the outcome of the election, with around 30 per cent of votes and 35 seats in the Siambr, according to a YouGov poll published on Tuesday. Nigel Farage's Reform UK would be the second largest party, with 25 per cent of votes, according to the poll. The Plaid leader ruled out holding a referendum on Wales leaving the UK in the first term of a Plaid-led Welsh government, when speaking to the BBC's Walescast this week. He has previously declined to put a timeline on a referendum, after Plaid's last leader Adam Price promised such a vote within five years. But Mr ap Iorwerth told the PA news agency a referendum could form part of a Plaid government's platform for the future, once it has built trust with the Welsh electorate. 'The key thing is it's up to the people of Wales. And I've many times said that I would have independence tomorrow, but it's not what I think that matters,' Mr ap Iorwerth told the Press Association. 'It's what the people of Wales believe, and I absolutely think we can have that referendum and set us off on a different direction as a country within our lifetime,' he added. Should Plaid pursue such a referendum in future, it would be likely to need support from other parties in Cardiff Bay and at Westminster, which is unlikely to be forthcoming. Plaid would focus on 'deep problems within the NHS in Wales', as well as education, economic stagnation and poverty, should it be the party that leads the next Welsh government, Mr ap Iorwerth said. The next Senedd election will see Welsh voters use a new proportional system to choose their representatives. Some 49 seats will be required for an outright majority, with the Senedd being expanded to 96 members. The previous system had an 'in-built bias towards Labour', the Plaid leader said. Mr ap Iorwerth added: 'That changes with the new electoral system that we have in Wales, and it's a genuine case that wherever people are in Wales, the votes that they cast will contribute towards who can be leading that government next year, Plaid Cymru is putting itself forward as the party to lead that government. 'And if people want that, they can have it with me as first minister, the first non-Labour first minister, setting a different direction for governments in Wales.' Parties in Wales are likely to have to co-operate following the poll, the Plaid leader admitted, but he continued to rule out a 'formal relationship' with Mr Farage's Reform UK. Mr ap Iorwerth added: 'We have two conservative parties in Wales now: the Conservative Party, and the Tories on steroids that Reform are: the pro-Thatcher, the pro-Liz Truss, the pro-Trump political party that works against the interests of workers, that works against the interests of businesses in Wales. 'I just don't think that's the politics that is in the interests of Wales.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Welsh nationalist leader: IndyRef ‘could happen in our lifetime'
A referendum on Welsh independence could 'absolutely' be held within 'our lifetime', Plaid Cymru's leader has said. Rhun ap Iorwerth did not shy away from suggesting his party may be the leading political force in Wales following a poll that predicts Plaid will have the largest vote share in the 2026 Senedd elections. Plaid is projected to be the largest party in the Senedd following the outcome of the election, with around 30 per cent of votes and 35 seats in the Siambr, according to a YouGov poll published on Tuesday. Nigel Farage's Reform UK would be the second largest party, with 25 per cent of votes, according to the poll. The Plaid leader ruled out holding a referendum on Wales leaving the UK in the first term of a Plaid-led Welsh government, when speaking to the BBC's Walescast this week. He has previously declined to put a timeline on a referendum, after Plaid's last leader Adam Price promised such a vote within five years. But Mr ap Iorwerth told the PA news agency a referendum could form part of a Plaid government's platform for the future, once it has built trust with the Welsh electorate. 'The key thing is it's up to the people of Wales. And I've many times said that I would have independence tomorrow, but it's not what I think that matters,' Mr ap Iorwerth told the Press Association. 'It's what the people of Wales believe, and I absolutely think we can have that referendum and set us off on a different direction as a country within our lifetime,' he added. Should Plaid pursue such a referendum in future, it would be likely to need support from other parties in Cardiff Bay and at Westminster, which is unlikely to be forthcoming. Plaid would focus on 'deep problems within the NHS in Wales', as well as education, economic stagnation and poverty, should it be the party that leads the next Welsh government, Mr ap Iorwerth said. Electoral reform to address Labour 'bias' The next Senedd election will see Welsh voters use a new proportional system to choose their representatives. Some 49 seats will be required for an outright majority, with the Senedd being expanded to 96 members. The previous system had an 'in-built bias towards Labour', the Plaid leader said. Mr ap Iorwerth added: 'That changes with the new electoral system that we have in Wales, and it's a genuine case that wherever people are in Wales, the votes that they cast will contribute towards who can be leading that government next year, Plaid Cymru is putting itself forward as the party to lead that government. 'And if people want that, they can have it with me as first minister, the first non-Labour first minister, setting a different direction for governments in Wales.' Parties in Wales are likely to have to co-operate following the poll, the Plaid leader admitted, but he continued to rule out a 'formal relationship' with Mr Farage's Reform UK. Mr ap Iorwerth added: 'We have two conservative parties in Wales now: the Conservative Party, and the Tories on steroids that Reform are: the pro-Thatcher, the pro-Liz Truss, the pro-Trump political party that works against the interests of workers, that works against the interests of businesses in Wales. 'I just don't think that's the politics that is in the interests of Wales.'
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Welsh independence referendum an 'absolute' possibility says Plaid Cymru leader
A referendum on Welsh independence is 'absolutely' a possibility within 'our lifetime', Plaid Cymru's leader has revealed. An independence referendum was promised by Adam Price, with the former Plaid leader saying it would take place in the next five years. However, new Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth has now ruled out holding a referendum on Wales leaving the UK in the first term of a Plaid-led Welsh government, when speaking to the BBC's Walescast this week. But Mr ap Iorwerth told the PA news agency a referendum could form part of a Plaid government's platform for the future, once it has built trust with the Welsh electorate. Mr ap Iorwerth, speaking to PA, said: "The key thing is it's up to the people of Wales. And I've many times said that I would have independence tomorrow, but it's not what I think that matters,' 'It's what the people of Wales believe, and I absolutely think we can have that referendum and set us off on a different direction as a country within our lifetime,' he added. Rhun ap Iorwerth has said a referendum for Welsh independence could form part of a Plaid government's platform for the future. (Image: Ben Birchall/PA) Should Plaid Cymru pursue such a referendum in the future, it would be likely to need support from other parties in Cardiff Bay and at Westminster, which is unlikely to be forthcoming. Talk of a referendum for Welsh independence brought on by a Plaid-led Welsh government comes after the most recent poll results were released for the upcoming Senedd election (set to take place in 2026). Plaid is projected to be the largest party in the Senedd following the outcome of the election with around 30% of votes and 35 seats in the Siambr, according to a YouGov poll published on Tuesday (May 6). Plaid Cymru is the only credible pro Wales government on offer in 2026. 🏴 — Plaid Cymru 🏴 (@Plaid_Cymru) May 7, 2025 Nigel Farage's Reform UK would be the second-largest party, with 25% of votes, according to the poll. Plaid would focus on 'deep problems within the NHS in Wales', as well as education, economic stagnation and poverty, should it be the party that leads the next Welsh government, Mr ap Iorwerth said. RECOMMENDED READING: When is the next Senedd election in Wales? The exact date you can vote Plaid responds to Welsh Government NHS report The next Senedd election will take place on May 7, 2026. It will see Welsh voters use a new proportional system to choose their representatives. Some 49 seats will be required for an outright majority, with the Senedd being expanded to 96 members.
