Apparently pronounced Rheen ap Yorr-werth for anyone scared of trying to say his name in public (me)

Yeah, I feel like Polanski has buoyed the greens a lot, but the downside is that he can deflate them just as easily. I didn't know Plaid were going for STV. I don't have a strong opinion on which is better, but I'm all for a more proportional system.

I think there were two factors that reduced the Green vote. Firstly the fact that the electorate and media have a two party system ingrained in them, pushing the logic that to stop x party you have to vote y. And secondly Polanski's comments on the recent stabbing in London have definitely put a lot of people off the Greens. Very bad timing and optics on his part.

It'll be interesting to see if Plaid can change the voting system again. They've promised STV in their manifesto, but I do fear this would also be confusing for the non-engaged electorate. At least it should increase support for the smaller parties on the left.

Slightly disappointed that the Greens seemed to run out of steam in the final week, but getting their first seats is still an achievement.

Regardless of the results, I was interested how proportional the results were under the new system:

Ha! I see what you mean, but it's simply "toot".

This sounds great - though are there any pronunciation clues for Tŵt? It could... easily be mispronounced.

Yeah I think people took one look and assumed it was pro reform despite the contents, lesson learned.

Judging by the votes, you probably should have put a small except or summary of the article here. It's a good article (but a horrible picture).

(visiting from c/all)

Thank you for writing this, it resonated with me, despite my never having been to Wales. One could replace the names and much of this would be spot-on analysis for Appalachia (a mountainous and largely rural region of the US, a few hours West from DC.) It seems we face many of the same challenges.

Not exactly constructive criticism, appreciate the engagement nonetheless.

Hopefully the next one interests you a little more.

A lot of woolly words and no substance. What was the point of this piece. I'd end that previous sentence with a question mark were it not for the fact that I have no interest whatsoever in an answer.

I was personally planning to vote Green, but I'll make a firm decision much closer to the time. I don't imagine my constituency will have much visible support for Reform, but I also wouldn't be surprised if we end up electing at least on MS under the new system.

We have a local by-election here later this month and while I've only seen a handful of Reform signs on display, it's still too many. As with all right wing parties they don't have any suggestions or solutions, only scapegoats, and that's something Plaid need to hammer on before the Senedd election. Make it crystal clear that no scary brown people means your wait for healthcare will triple, your kids will be in even larger classes, your pension will get ever smaller due to fewer people paying tax, etc. Absolutely drive home how self-defeating it is to vote for anyone who says we need to keep everyone out, perhaps targeting the language issue in Welsh-speaking areas as Reform would prefer to see the language forgotten. And definitely talk about the whole "the Taffs yearn for the mines" nonsense. If my granddad, a former miner, was still alive he'd probably have thumped him for even suggesting they might reopen the pits. Poor bloke died of respiratory failure from his mining career and his last years were spent struggling for breath on home oxygen.

Like the author, the only sensible solution I can see is Plaid Cymru. But read their policies and decide for yourself if you're undecided.

It's worrying and a bit surprising to see the rise in popularity of Reform in Wales in the polls, but I'm still believing/hoping right now that they wouldn't be able to form an absolute majority with an alliance, and so won't be able to do much damage.

What do you think of the new voting system and the new number of MSs?

because I have to for my kid

O_o

That's not rational. I think perhaps we're not communicating. It doesn't make sense to say you believe something is true because you have to for your kid. That's essentially saying that you don't actually believe the something is true.

I've something other than myself to take care of and plan a future for.

Yes but are you planning on swimming to Mars? Or jumping off Big Ben and floating down on an umbrella? Or giving up food and drink? Probably not because those things are completely irrational.

Surely it's better for your kid if your concrete plans are grounded in reality rather than based on fantasies about how you would like the world to be?

I believe a fair system can be brought about because I have to for my kid.

It's no longer enough to be content with mediocrity, I can't rely on coasting through this miserable life with an easy end and no regrets - I've something other than myself to take care of and plan a future for.

There's really no other option for me.

I don't follow. How did having a kid lead to you believing a fair system can be brought about?

I had a kid.

I'm in Plaid Cymru now

there was a time where I was definitely more naïve, though I suppose I never did really consider the state of affairs to be 'Fair'

But you still believe it's possible for a fair system to be brought about. What happened in your life to make you believe that?

I'll be honest I've been a political activist since I was fairly young. A good portion of that was activism under the Labour Party. I did at one point believe that the party would, if given the chance, make real political change for us socialists. Change that would be progressive.

I've since been disabused of that notion, I am no longer a member or activist of the Labour party. (I'm in Plaid Cymru now)

So in all fairness, yes there was a time where I was definitely more naïve, though I suppose I never did really consider the state of affairs to be 'Fair'.

I am sick of pretending that the system we live under is a fair democracy.

Why were they pretending in the first place? What happened in their life to make them think "the system" is, was or ever would be fair?