During the election campaign, Plaid Cymru published The First 100 Days, setting out the immediate steps it would take in government to begin delivering its manifesto. Now, as we pass the 50-day mark, we look at where early progress has been made, which commitments remain outstanding, and what you should watch for before the mid-August deadline.
Key takeaways
- Plaid’s first 100-day plan focused on reviews, expert groups, audits, and strategy development rather than immediate large-scale delivery.
- Major pledges are in motion, including on health, childcare, education, the economy, and transport, but stakeholders are still waiting for details on funding, timelines, and measurable outcomes.
- Energy is likely to become a major area of political scrutiny, with key questions on grid infrastructure and rural impact.
- Opposition pressure is likely to grow around whether larger commitments, particularly childcare, can be funded without reducing investment in other public services or increasing devolved taxes.
Health
Rather than promising immediate healthcare intervention, the 100-day plan focuses on laying the groundwork for future NHS reform. Plaid Cymru’s flagship healthcare proposal is establishing up to ten elective care hubs. Although no timeline has been set, the Government has established a task and finish group, with plans due by the end of the year.
The Government has also delivered on its pledge to commission an independent review of NHS performance in Wales, and the First Minister confirmed that work had begun to develop a workforce plan to support students to gain employment in the NHS.
However, delivery timelines and locations for the hubs remain unknown, and the independent review has yet to report.
Education
So far, Plaid Cymru has delivered on several education-related pledges within the first 100-day plan. These include a national skills audit, a Future Skills Summit focused on labour market needs, and increasing Initial Teacher Education incentives in shortage subjects to £20,000. The Education Minister also announced that every primary school will have a library by the end of this Senedd term, and a review into Welsh University funding.
Over the summer, we should expect to hear more about the Government’s numeracy and literacy plan, aimed at raising standards in Welsh schools. The First Minister has already confirmed that work on the plan has begun, with an implementation date expected to be agreed this summer.
However, the wider programme of skills reform is still under development and recommendations from the skills audit are still to come.
Childcare
One of Plaid Cymru’s most significant pledges is to provide 20 hours a week of free childcare for children aged nine months to four years. Progress has already been made on this commitment through the establishment of an Expansion of Childcare Expert Steering Group. The Government has committed to publishing initial costings and a phased implementation plan before summer recess, following opposition criticism that the pledge was uncosted and unplanned.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) estimates the scheme could cost around £400 million, raising questions about whether Plaid will need to prioritise childcare over other spending, make cuts elsewhere, or increase devolved taxation.
Progress has also been made on the Cynnal Payment, with an expert group established to design the £10 weekly payment for children aged 0-6 from low-income families.
Plaid Cymru have yet to publish the full costs, eligibility criteria, or delivery timetable for the childcare plan and how it will be funded is still unknown.
Social justice
Since the election, Deputy First Minister Sioned Williams has announced that work has begun on a new child poverty strategy, and has emphasised the Government’s commitment to the Disability Rights Plan, the Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan and the implementation of the British Sign Language (Wales) Act 2026.
However, the Government has yet to publish the child poverty strategy or details on how it will be measured. Its targets and milestones are expected to link to Plaid’s wider digital dashboard for tracking progress against commitments.
Housing
The first 100-day plan contains commitments to review the existing Warm Homes Programme and to outline proposals for a right to adequate housing.
Since the election, the Government has reaffirmed its commitment to these pledges and has voiced support for delivering social housing and bringing forward a community right to buy Bill.
However, major legislative reforms have yet to be introduced.
The economy
Plaid’s economic agenda is more long term, meaning fewer immediate actions are expected in the coming months. However, some key announcements have been made. Enterprise Minister Adam Price announced the launch of an economic mission to halve Wales’s productivity gap with the rest of the UK within ten years and has launched the national skills audit tasked with supporting economic growth. The Government has also announced a town-centre taskforce to examine business rates reform and wider support for high street regeneration.
Businesses are still awaiting detailed plans on reforms to business rates, and many of the Government’s economic commitments lack funding arrangements, performance measures, or delivery plans.
Transport
Plaid’s first 100-day plan included a commitment to open negotiations with the UK Government on consequential funding from HS2, and to initiate discussions on full rail devolution, which the Government has already done. A priority that has moved to the forefront of the transport debate in recent weeks has been discussions on an M4 relief road to ease congestion around Newport. Repeated calls from the Welsh Conservatives and Reform for a new road have been met with reluctance from Plaid to commit to anything substantial. However, Plaid Cymru has signalled an intent to address congestion in the area while ruling out a new road.
The Government has also begun working on ways to improve the resilience of the Menai crossings from the Welsh mainland to Anglesey. This work includes committing to improvements to the existing crossings and exploring options for a third.
Plaid Cymru’s longer-term infrastructure strategy, of which the M4 and Menai crossings are likely to be a part, has yet to be published.
Energy
Since the election, Plaid has been clear about its support for renewable energy, not only in terms of environmental protection, but also in terms of the cost of living. Ministers have backed renewable generation, committed to reviewing project development and consultation, and supported community-owned schemes to reduce energy costs. However, key decisions on delivery, and other projects such as nuclear, have yet to be made. There is still uncertainty on transmission policy, particularly relating to pylon construction.
Constitutional reform
Plaid Cymru has moved quickly to make constitutional reform and greater powers for Wales a central part of its programme for government. The First Minister has already raised devolution issues with Prime Minister Kier Starmer, while both the First Minister and Deputy First Minister have spoken about closer cooperation between the Celtic nations.
Following the resignation of Kier Starmer and with the likely appointment of Andy Burnham as the next Prime Minister looming, Plaid Cymru could enjoy renewed support for devolution from Westminster. Burnham has spoken publicly about his support for “maximum devolution” for Wales, suggesting possible future discussions on constitutional matters with a Burnham government could be productive for Plaid’s devolution agenda – which includes the Crown Estate, reform of the Barnett formula, devolution of justice, and consequential funding from HS2, which Plaid argues should be worth around £4 billion to Wales.
Battles over the summer
Key Senedd battles are likely to focus on transport, energy, childcare, and taxation. Reform UK is expected to strongly oppose Plaid Cymru’s constitutional agenda and push back against efforts to secure further powers for Wales. Renewable energy and net zero policies are also likely to be contentious, with Reform and the Welsh Conservatives challenging large-scale renewable projects, especially concerning the impact on rural communities. Plaid’s childcare policy will face significant scrutiny over cost and delivery timetables, especially regarding where the funding is coming from.
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