A Plaid Cymru Senedd Member has announced that a ‘valleys conference’ will be held by the party later this autumn.

Peredur Owen Griffiths told his party’s conference in Aberystwyth that the event will be for members and activists to come together, hear about the problems communities face and talk about potential solutions.

The MS for South Wales East said the exercise is part of a strategy to develop a stronger links between policy-making and the grassroots of the party.

He said: “I am pleased to tell conference that there will be a Valleys conference in Merthyr later this autumn.

“The idea is to bring together our members and activists under one roof so we can craft the ideas and policies that are tailor made for the former coalfields in the south of our country.

“I may not sound like I’m from the south but that is where is my heart is after moving here more than 20 years ago.

“One thing I’ve learnt about valleys communities in the two decades I’ve lived here is that resilience, solidarity and kindness are in abundance.

“Our people are our greatest resource. I know that the best solutions to the problems we face will come from within.

“I hope that the suggestions we put forward from Valleys conference play a big part in the next Senedd manifesto.

“We need to demonstrate to people in Wales that we are the real alternative to the stale old, same old, status quo that has dominated the political landscape of Cymru for a century.

“As a party, we must come together like never before because our country needs a strong Plaid Cymru.”

During the speech, Peredur also paid tribute to the work of members throughout the country to help their communities, citing examples like the Food Share schemes that have been run from Plaid Cymru MS offices in the north and south of the country. 

He added: “As you all know, to be an active member of Plaid Cymru means you get a first-class degree in street politics and it plugs you into our local community if you weren’t involved before.

“These qualities are written large inside the members of this party like the writing in a stick of Aberystwyth rock.

“It is what makes our activists, our campaigners and our councillors extra special.”

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