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Plaid felt powerless at general election, says Rhun ap Iorwerth Plaid Cymru 'cannot out-Corbyn Corbyn', says Simon Thomas
(35 minutes later)
Plaid Cymru felt "under siege" and "powerless" during a "challenging" general election campaign, Rhun ap Iorwerth has said. Plaid Cymru cannot "out-Corbyn" Corbyn, a senior party AM has told his party's conference.
The AM for Ynys Mon said Wales needed a "newly confident Plaid Cymru" in a speech to the party's conference in Caernarfon. Simon Thomas's comments will be seen as a call for Plaid, led by left-winger Leanne Wood, to reposition itself.
His comments came after party leader Leanne Wood said Plaid's election performance was "remarkable". The end of Plaid Cymru's co-operation agreement with Labour was a chance for a "new start" for the party, Mr Thomas said.
Plaid won an extra seat - in Ceredigion - in June but saw its vote share fall. Earlier Rhun ap Iorwerth said the party had felt "powerless" during the general election campaign.
The party's spokesman on health said: "The snap election this year was challenging. It was difficult seeing Wales following British, or to be more specific English, voting patterns. At the conference in Caernarfon, Mr Thomas said Plaid was right to strike a deal with Labour after last year's assembly election. The deal, known as the Compact, had brought stability to the Welsh Government, he said.
"Two party politics dominating, a feeling we were under siege, powerless sometimes," said Mr ap Iorwerth. But now that the agreement had ceased, the AM for Mid and West Wales said: "This can be a new start for Plaid Cymru."
"But remember in the middle of that, a young man from Lampeter was elected, the youngest Plaid Cymru MP ever and the party again reaching it's highest ever level or MPs. "Where do we go? There's no point out-Corbyning Corbyn. Our future is making Wales' future," Mr Thomas told the conference.
Mr Thomas said Plaid should "stand firm on solid nationalist ground".
In a speech, Mr ap Iorwerth told party delegates: "The snap election this year was challenging. It was difficult seeing Wales following British, or to be more specific English, voting patterns.
"Two-party politics dominating, a feeling we were under siege, powerless sometimes," said the AM for Ynys Mon.
"But remember in the middle of that, a young man from Lampeter was elected, the youngest Plaid Cymru MP ever and the party again reaching its highest ever level or MPs."
He added: "A newly confident Wales needs a newly confident Plaid Cymru."He added: "A newly confident Wales needs a newly confident Plaid Cymru."
Meanwhile, Ms Wood said a total of £30m should be spent protecting firms from possible damage from Brexit over the next two years.Meanwhile, Ms Wood said a total of £30m should be spent protecting firms from possible damage from Brexit over the next two years.
The party leader, who will address Plaid's annual conference in Caernarfon later, said the Brexit Preparedness Fund could help "mitigate any Brexit shock". The party leader, who will address the conference at 1400 BST, said the Brexit Preparedness Fund could help "mitigate any Brexit shock".
Mainly small to medium-sized firms (SMEs) should get specialised help and financial assistance, she said.Mainly small to medium-sized firms (SMEs) should get specialised help and financial assistance, she said.
Plaid have already agreed a £5m scheme in a budget deal with Labour ministers.Plaid have already agreed a £5m scheme in a budget deal with Labour ministers.
Ms Wood warned that if UK-EU trade talks failed, and Welsh ministers had "no plan" to deal with the consequences, "Welsh nationhood" was at risk.Ms Wood warned that if UK-EU trade talks failed, and Welsh ministers had "no plan" to deal with the consequences, "Welsh nationhood" was at risk.
"One such measure is a Brexit Preparedness Fund designed to help businesses evaluate their exposure to Brexit and then receive specialist advice and financial assistance," she said."One such measure is a Brexit Preparedness Fund designed to help businesses evaluate their exposure to Brexit and then receive specialist advice and financial assistance," she said.
Brexit 'should be ratified'Brexit 'should be ratified'
In an interview with BBC Radio Wales, Ms Wood said the final outcome of the negotiations should be ratified by either a referendum or a vote of AMs.In an interview with BBC Radio Wales, Ms Wood said the final outcome of the negotiations should be ratified by either a referendum or a vote of AMs.
She told the Good Morning Wales programme: "Whatever deal is finally agreed, whether it is a deal or it isn't a deal, I think it should be ratified either by people in a referendum or by people's representatives in the Welsh Parliament.She told the Good Morning Wales programme: "Whatever deal is finally agreed, whether it is a deal or it isn't a deal, I think it should be ratified either by people in a referendum or by people's representatives in the Welsh Parliament.
"If there is a deal that is going to be damaging and risky then people deserve to have a say and endorse or not that deal.""If there is a deal that is going to be damaging and risky then people deserve to have a say and endorse or not that deal."
The Rhondda AM has insisted she will lead the party at the next assembly election in 2021 and that she has the backing of the membership.The Rhondda AM has insisted she will lead the party at the next assembly election in 2021 and that she has the backing of the membership.
She said she was "quite pleased with the result" of the general election, which saw the party's number of MPs rise from three to four.She said she was "quite pleased with the result" of the general election, which saw the party's number of MPs rise from three to four.
Her comments follows reports of disquiet among some Plaid Cymru AMs over whether she should lead the party for another four years.Her comments follows reports of disquiet among some Plaid Cymru AMs over whether she should lead the party for another four years.
Plaid lost 14 deposits and its vote share fell in June's general election, but it won an extra parliamentary seat meaning it now has four MPs at Westminster.Plaid lost 14 deposits and its vote share fell in June's general election, but it won an extra parliamentary seat meaning it now has four MPs at Westminster.