WELSH nationalist leader Rhun ap Iorwerth promised that his government would introduce a weekly payment to tackle child poverty in Wales as he addressed Plaid Cymru’s spring conference today.

“There’s a lot that Wales can be proud of,” he said. “But there remains a national stain, an indelible mark on communities the length and breadth of our country and that’s poverty, and child poverty in particular.

“It’s unforgivable that so many of our children go without the basics.

“The record of successive Welsh Labour governments, coupled with the deep austerity of Conservative UK governments is nothing short of shameful,” he said.

Mr ap Iorwerth pointed to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation analysis which revealed Scotland as the only part of Britain where child poverty rates are projected to fall by 2029.

“I can announce today that a Plaid Cymru government will begin the process of implementing a child payment in Wales,” he said.

“A weekly direct benefit to support those who need it the most.”

Mr ap Iorwerth said the Cynnal payment — Welsh for support or maintain — will sustain families and support communities.

It is understood the payment will be £10 per week and will be trialled initially before it is rolled out more widely.

Mr ap Iorwerth criticised Welsh Labour for failing to stand up to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s Westminster government and its Tory Mark II austerity.

He spoke about Welsh Labour leaders like Rhodri Morgan and Mark Drakeford, who acknowledged that Scotland is treated better than Wales because of the threat of independence and Northern Ireland because of the Troubles.

The Plaid leader threatened Welsh independence and said if he were elected First Minister next May he would put Sir Keir “on notice that the relationship will change because our destination demands it.”

First Minister Eluned Morgan hit back, saying Plaid’s big plan for Wales was to threaten independence if they didn’t get their way.

“Independence that would see neighbour pitted against neighbour, debt rising, bills soaring and plunging Wales into chaos,” Ms Morgan said.

The Plaid Cymru leader has his sights firmly on becoming First Minister despite his party running neck-and-neck with Labour and Reform in the polls.

Mr ap Iorwerth barely mentioned the Welsh Conservatives in his speech, but spent time criticising Reform and comparing Nigel Farage to US President Donald Trump.

He added: “While Labour’s failures feed Reform’s fear-mongering, we are here to offer hope and an end to Labour-led rule in Wales after 26 years.”