Plaid Cymru's Rhun ap Iorwerth hopes to be first minister on Tuesday

"Rhun ap Iorwerth says he hopes to become the first Plaid Cymru first minister on Tuesday, after its Senedd election victory. Leading the largest Cardiff Bay group, with 43 seats, ap Iorwerth needs to win a vote of Senedd members to be appointed, but Labour's interim Welsh leader, Ken Skates, has indicated it is unlikely to oppose him. Ap Iowerth told BBC Wales "certainly Tuesday is what we would prefer" but any delay "won't be much" and Plaid was keen to "hit the ground running"."

"Skates said the idea of "teaming up with Reform" members to block ap Iorwerth was "deeply unpleasant" for Labour Senedd members but they will make a "final decision" on Monday. Reform has 34 MSs, Labour just 9, the Conservatives 7, the Green Party 2 and one Liberal Democrat, in an expanded 96-member Welsh Parliament. He told BBC Radio Wales he was seeking cross-party cooperation and wanted support from across the Senedd."

"He said he had spoken to all the other party leaders apart from Reform's Dan Thomas who "didn't feel like he wanted to speak with me as leader of Plaid Cymru". The Plaid leader's suggestion was immediately denied by Reform. "We provided a number for the purpose of Rhun contacting Dan," a spokesperson said. "We made a clear communication channel if they wanted to reach him, he hasn't. "Rhun said Dan didn't want to speak to him. That's not true.""

"Skates, Senedd member for Fflint Wrecsam, revealed Labour Senedd members will hold a meeting on Monday to decide how to vote on Rhun ap Iorwerth's nomination for first minister. "We're going to meet tomorrow to make a final decision on this, but the idea of teaming up with Reform is deeply unpleasant for all of the members of my group," he said. The Labour group is expected to abstain in the vote."

Rhun ap Iorwerth, leader of Plaid Cymru, hopes to be appointed first minister on Tuesday following the party’s Senedd election victory. Plaid holds 43 seats in the 96-member Welsh Parliament, and ap Iorwerth must win a vote of Senedd members to take office. Labour’s interim leader Ken Skates indicated Labour is unlikely to oppose him, though Labour Senedd members will meet on Monday to make a final decision. Skates said teaming up with Reform to block ap Iorwerth would be deeply unpleasant. Ap Iorwerth said he wants cross-party support and has spoken to other party leaders, except Reform’s Dan Thomas, whose refusal was denied by Reform. Labour is expected to abstain in the vote.

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