Rhun ap Iorwerth's Plaid Cymru government has completed its first 100 days in power following the party's historic victory on 7 May 2026, when it inflicted a decisive defeat on Welsh Labour and formed Wales's first non-Labour administration in decades. The minority government, which holds six fewer seats than the 49 needed for a majority, has laid groundwork on multiple policy fronts while facing early setbacks that underscore the difficulties of governing without an overall majority in the Senedd.
The administration has made tangible progress in some areas, particularly childcare expansion, and has already begun implementing commitments made during the election campaign. However, the government suffered a significant blow when the Senedd rejected its first supplementary budget in a vote that exposed the vulnerability of its minority position. Opposition parties have questioned whether meaningful change has truly begun, with some arguing that little has shifted since Plaid took office.
What was Plaid's election mandate?
Plaid Cymru campaigned on a platform of wresting greater control from Westminster over Welsh affairs, delivering a major childcare expansion programme, and reducing NHS waiting times that had become a defining problem under the previous Labour administration. The party set out a 100-day plan ahead of the election to demonstrate its seriousness about governing, though critics dismissed it at the time as a "plan to have a plan" because it relied heavily on commissioning reviews and strategies rather than announcing immediate policy changes.
The party's manifesto, unveiled in April 2026, focused on cutting NHS waiting times, supporting childcare, and boosting the Welsh economy. Following its election victory, Plaid's first major spending plan in June allocated £294 million across school repairs, NHS waiting times, and childcare, signalling its intent to move from campaign promises to concrete action.
How is the childcare expansion progressing?
Childcare has emerged as the government's flagship policy, but also its most scrutinised commitment. Plaid wants to expand free childcare so that at least 20 hours per week is available from nine months to four years old, compared with the current provision of up to 30 hours weekly for children aged three or four whose parents are in work or training. The party plans to phase this expansion over a four-year period, but has faced repeated pressure from opposition parties and councils to provide detailed costings and timelines.
The Welsh government has confirmed that all local authorities are on track to provide 12.5 hours of free childcare to two-year-olds via the Flying Start scheme by next March 2027. However, until Plaid spells out how the broader scheme will be funded and delivered, the party will continue to face scrutiny. Councils have raised serious concerns about the proposal, citing a lack of resources and staffing capacity to deliver the expanded provision.
What progress has been made on NHS waiting times?
Waiting times in the NHS were a defining challenge for the previous Welsh Labour government, and Plaid made reducing them a central campaign pledge. The party was careful not to raise expectations unrealistically, telling the BBC in February that the public should not expect significant improvement within the first 100 days. Instead, Plaid promised to bring waiting times "down to pre-pandemic levels" within four years.
However, in June, Health Minister Mabon ap Gwynfor stated he would eradicate two-year waits within a matter of months—a more ambitious timeline. The latest figures showed two-year waits dropped slightly by 3 per cent to just under 4,100 pathways, but the total number of patients waiting for treatment has risen for the third consecutive month. Government Efficiency Minister Dafydd Trystan Davies said the administration was laying "the foundations for success to bring down waiting lists," pointing to work on surgical hubs and a workforce plan as evidence of progress.
Why did the government lose its first supplementary budget vote?
The rejection of Plaid's supplementary budget represented a watershed moment for the minority government. The Senedd rejected the spending plans by 49 votes to 44, marking the first time a Welsh government has lost a vote on a supplementary budget. The rejected budget included £433 million in extra spending, comprising £145 million for NHS waiting lists and capacity and £55 million to accelerate funded childcare rollout.
The impasse arose because Welsh Labour demanded an additional £100 million be spent on children with additional learning needs, and the two sides failed to reach agreement. Laura McAllister, professor of politics at Cardiff University, suggested the government had been "a little naive." She stated:
If you're in that position of being a minority government, transactional relationships and goodwill between the parties is absolutely fundamental.
Since the defeat, Welsh Labour leader Ken Skates has indicated a willingness to negotiate a budget deal with Plaid, suggesting the parties may find common ground on future spending plans.
How did the government handle the summer wildfires?
The Plaid administration faced its first major incident as a devolved government when a series of significant wildfires broke out across Wales during the summer. The Welsh government came under scrutiny for its crisis management, particularly because fire services are devolved to Wales—unlike policing—placing direct responsibility on the administration.
Reform Wales criticised the time taken to bring in the army and aerial support to tackle the blazes. A government minister acknowledged that lessons needed to be learned, noting that wildfires are likely to become more frequent in future due to climate change, requiring better preparedness and response mechanisms.
What is the government's position on Westminster devolution?
Plaid Cymru campaigned on securing devolution of policing and justice, rail infrastructure, and the Crown Estate from Westminster to Cardiff. The party promised to negotiate these powers with the UK government, but political turmoil in London has complicated its efforts. First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth attempted unsuccessfully to secure a meeting with the previous prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer. However, Andy Burnham, who now holds the relevant position, held his first face-to-face meeting with ap Iorwerth in July and has promised to put devolution "front and centre" of his government.
Welsh Secretary Stephen Kinnock has struck a more cautious note, saying he is not yet "entirely convinced" by the case for additional responsibilities for the Welsh government. This suggests that while the door to devolution discussions remains open, progress may be slower than Plaid hoped.
What do ordinary Welsh people think so far?
Public opinion on the new government remains mixed. A poll published around the 100-day mark found 39 per cent of respondents thought the Plaid-led Welsh government had performed well, while 23 per cent thought it had performed badly. Conversations with voters at Collier's Adventure Farm in Nelson, Caerphilly, revealed a spectrum of views.
Raydean Thomas said:
I think they're finding their feet at the moment. Nothing that they've done has been wrong as far as I can say. I think they're thinking of things in the right way.Faye Dalgleish-McGee added:
People do rush to have an opinion a bit too quickly - let them get settled in before we start complaining.Trish Garner expressed caution about judging too soon but noted:
But I don't hear an awful lot about what they're going to do and that's my feeling.
Michael Davies said his life had not changed since Plaid took power, describing politics as the "same old story" with successive governments blaming each other and promising change that never materialises. Julie Jones acknowledged it was too soon to judge ap Iorwerth but observed that
he came in all guns blazing.
What does the government claim it has achieved?
Dafydd Trystan Davies, Government Efficiency Minister, stated that the "initial work has been completed" on the 96 actions in the party's 100-day plan. He said that in some areas the administration had "put the foundations for success in place," while in others it had "made tangible real progress that people will be able to feel already."
The Welsh government pointed to several concrete achievements during its first months, including extending free school meals to more secondary school pupils, launching a new north-south coach service, and securing a multi-year funding deal for farmers. First Minister ap Iorwerth, who was on leave until the end of the week at the 100-day mark, is due to issue a "progress report" the following week, according to government sources.
What are opposition parties saying?
Opposition parties have been critical of the government's record. Reform Wales accused Plaid of focusing too heavily on "reviews, committees and plans." Dan Thomas, Reform's Welsh leader, told BBC Wales that conditions have "just got worse" since Plaid won the election, with waiting lists having "gone up." He added:
The first minister said during the election campaign that two-year waits would be eradicated within a matter of months. We're now three months into a Plaid government and we're nowhere near seeing those waits being eradicated.
Ken Skates, leader of Welsh Labour, drew a contrast between Plaid's first 100 days and the early performance of Andy Burnham's administration. He said:
We've seen plans and processes here, discussion, a lot of talk, very little action. In contrast with Andy Burnham, we've seen some really, really big interventions that are going to make a difference to people's lives.
Darren Millar MS, Leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, said:
Plaid's first 100 days have been a disappointing series of missed opportunities to turn the page on 27 years of Labour rule in Wales.
What happens next?
First Minister ap Iorwerth is scheduled to issue a progress report on the government's 100-day programme, providing a formal assessment of what has been achieved and what remains to be done. The rollout of 12.5 hours of free childcare for two-year-olds via Flying Start is on track to be delivered by next March 2027, representing a concrete milestone for the administration.
The government will also need to navigate future budget negotiations with opposition parties, particularly Welsh Labour, which has signalled a willingness to engage in discussions. How successfully Plaid manages these relationships and delivers on its manifesto commitments will likely shape public perception of the administration as it moves beyond its first 100 days.
