South Wales Evening Post - 22 July 2008
Often regarded as outsiders battling the traditional political establishment, over the past year Plaid has become a ruling party in Wales.
Now Plaid also has a hand in running Swansea Council. This year's local election in Swansea saw no party emerge as clear political victor, leaving the Lib Dems and Labour seeking to form a coalition to rule the city.
The Lib Dems, along with the Independent councillors, succeeded in forming a ruling coalition - the Swansea Administration.
However, one detail that has almost crept in under the radar is that the ruling body on Swansea Council now also contains a member of Plaid - meaning the Party of Wales has a hand in running Swansea for the first time.
Upper Loughor councillor Darren Price joined the administration in the days following the May 1 vote.
The council election was not a successful one for the party, as the number of council members fell from four to one, but across Wales it did enjoy its best results.
These results are not a one-off. Last year was a landmark for Plaid.
Following the Assembly elections of 2007, Plaid secured its position as the second-largest party in Wales, with 15 seats.
After long negotiations, Plaid formed the One Wales government with the Labour Party, and became a government party for the first time in its history.
Swansea AM Dai Lloyd said: "Plaid's presence in the Assembly's coalition government has forged a new Welsh agenda.
"Many of Plaid's aspirations are now, for the first time, at the forefront of the political agenda.
"Before Plaid came to power at the Assembly, there were no proposals on how to take forward a referendum to create a proper Parliament for Wales; no plans to review the way our nation is funded by the London Treasury, and no intention to legislate on the Welsh language.
"These are all now happening thanks to the Plaid-driven One Wales Government.
"Support for these key Plaid policies is growing among the public, with opinion polls showing that two-thirds of the population now want to see a proper parliament established in Cardiff, with the people of Wales finally taking decisions for themselves.
"Wales does not need to be told what to do by politicians in London who understand Wales very little and care even less. Wales is experiencing a growing confidence that it can take its place on the international stage.
"We can point to other smaller countries, such as Ireland, which have forged ahead economically over recent years due to their ability to take decisions for themselves.
"We have shown that Plaid can put differences aside to work for Wales - that is Plaid's only goal and what makes us different from the rest of the field."So is the future looking bright for the 83-year-old party?
Councillor Price said the position the party now found itself in meant it was able to achieve a great deal more.
"The main difference is that when we were in opposition, there were huge frustrations," he said.
"We could put forward ideas, but a lot of the time they got rejected."The change in situation is that, on a national level, and in Swansea, we are now able to put forward ideas and get them implemented.
"So far, we have been very pleased with how things are going."
He added that the past year had shown the people of Wales what Plaid as a ruling party was capable of.
"I think it is hugely positive," he said.
"The important thing is that politics in Wales is now a very competitive field. Every party has to be open-minded and prepared to work with other parties. That is what has happened on a Welsh level and now on a Swansea level as well."Councillor Price is now hoping he can use his position within the ruling administration to show the voters of Swansea what the party is capable of.
He said: "Within the past four years, when we were a group of four, I felt we had a lot of positive ideas, many of which had support on both sides of the chamber.
"However, we could not get these ideas passed and implemented."In opposition we were working against the grain to a certain extent. Now this is an opportunity for Plaid in Swansea to prove that, when in power, we can deliver some positive change.
"The party is also experiencing a growth of its membership, with younger people taking an active role in the party. Councillor Price is one youngest members of Swansea Council, and Neath AM Bethan Jenkins is also one of the Assembly's younger members.
Councillor Price said: "We have got a lot of younger people coming through. With our representation on local councils and in the Assembly, there's certainly a feeling that Plaid is a party with a lot of quality people coming through."It bodes well for the future."
Paraphrasing a well-known mobile phone firm, Councillor Price added: "The future's bright - the future's Plaid."
