Only Plaid Cymru can beat Reform, says Rhun ap Iorwerth
PA MediaPlaid Cymru's leader Rhun ap Iorwerth claims only his party can win more seats than Reform UK at next week's Senedd election.
Describing the election as a "two-horse race", ap Iorwerth said that "one party has to be bigger than Reform".
Polling has consistently suggested that Plaid and Reform are vying to be the largest party in Wales' parliament after the 7 May vote.
All politicians will be elected via a proportional voting system designed to ensure that the number of Members of the Senedd (MSs) returned from each party broadly reflects its electoral support.
Speaking to BBC Wales as part of a series of interviews with senior party figures ahead of the election, ap Iorwerth said: "What I have to make sure is that Plaid Cymru is that largest party after this election.
"I am doing everything I can in these last few days to make it clear to people how important it is that Plaid Cymru does beat Reform.
"One party has to be bigger than Reform - it can only be Plaid Cymru."
Part of ap Iorwerth's messaging is aimed at avoiding a controversial situation where Reform emerges as the largest party after the election, but is then prevented from forming the next Welsh government by the Senedd's left-wing parties.
Former Labour first minister Mark Drakeford said recently that the left-wing parties would team up to block Reform in the event it wins the largest number of seats.
Reform's Welsh leader Dan Thomas has already warned of a potential post-election "stitch-up" to prevent his party from governing.
Asked about that, ap Iorwerth repeated: "We have to make sure that one party is bigger than Reform, that can only be Plaid Cymru.
"That's a compelling tactical message, but I want people to make a positive decision to vote Plaid Cymru too."
During his interview ap Iorwerth also guaranteed that public sector workers in Wales would receive an annual pay rise if his party is in power after the election.
In recent days Welsh Labour leader and current First Minister Eluned Morgan has claimed Plaid would have to freeze wages in order to fund its policies, including a pledge to roll out free child care for all children aged between nine months and four years.
Asked if public sector workers would get a pay increase each year under a Plaid government, ap Iorwerth replied: "Yes... We know what the sums are, and we have, as you would imagine, taken into account the need to make sure that we look after our workforce."
