DEVELOPING: Plaid Pledges Groundbreaking Universal Childcare Plan in Senedd Election Bid

Breaking News: Plaid Pledges Universal Childcare Plan in Senedd Election Bid Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth has announced a groundbreaking universal childcare plan, promising at least 20 hours of free care for all families with children aged nine months to four years by 2031. The policy would be a significant shift from the current system, where help with childcare costs is only available on a limited basis. The plan aims to provide a "helping hand with the things that matter most" and would be a key part of Plaid's election bid in May. This move comes as Labour faces a challenge for its long-held position as the dominant party in Welsh politics. Plaid has been critical of Labour's leadership, with Rhun ap Iorwerth stating that "Labour's time is up". The party also accused Reform of wanting to treat the Senedd like a "plaything" to gain an electoral foothold. The universal childcare plan would be a transformative policy, providing significant support for families across Wales. However, it remains to be seen how this pledge will be received by voters and whether Plaid can successfully implement such a major change if elected. This is a developing story. We will provide further updates as more information becomes available. *This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available. Based on reporting from Bbc.*