Leaders Speeches Videos

When Community Energy Wales published our manifesto for the upcoming Senedd elections back in September 2025, we asked all the political parties in Wales to respond.

Four did. We followed up those responses with an invite to each party leader, to give a key note speech in the constituency in which they are standing, at a venue hosted by one of our community members.

The manifesto, which was drafted after an in-depth crowdsourcing process with our members, outlines a suite of policy proposals that implemented together, will create the conditions for community energy and community ownership to flourish.

There are countless reasons to support the creation of “energy communities”, which are popular in many other European countries, all outlined in the manifesto here:
https://communityenergy.wales/...

As a sector, we were keen to hear from the political parties what they would do in government to help create the conditions to enable energy communities to thrive.

Community Energy Wales members and supporters would like to understand what they parties plan to do to support community ownership of energy assets, so that they can make an informed choice when voting in the Senedd elections.

We organised four keynote speech events.

Anthony Slaughter from the Wales Green Party was hosted by Gwyrdd Bangla Cymru in Caerdydd.

Rhun ap Iorwerth for Plaid Cymru was hosted by Ynni Ogwen in Bethesda.

Jane Dodds for the Welsh Liberal Democrats was hosted by Awel Aman Tawe in Cwmgors.

Huw Irranca-Davies was hosted by the Arts Factory in Maerdy.

The party leaders were asked to speak to the following points:

1. Respond to each of the policy proposals in the CEW manifesto as a package of measures to be introduced by the next Welsh government

2. Outline their views and concerns about nature and climate breakdown and explain what measures they will introduce in the next government to improve biodiversity and stem or reverse species loss.

3. Explain what they will do to create the conditions to help & support communities to build a bank of community owned assets - what is the community wealth building plan?

Community Energy Wales members and supporters are invited to view the speeches, share them and use them as a basis for discussion with local candidates ahead of the election.

Here is Anthony Slaughter from the Green Party's speech:

Here is Rhun ap Iorwerth from Plaid Cymru's speech:

Here is Huw Irranca-Davies from the Labour Party's speech:

Here is Dodds from the Liberal Democrats' speech: