I joined Plaid Cymru the Party of Wales in 1978 because I believed that it was the only party that had the policies to improve areas like the Rhondda where I live. After over twenty years as an active member I am certain that we are the only party that has the policies to improve the everyday lives of the people throughout Wales, promote sustainable development, tackle the problems of poverty, unemployment and disadvantage, and encourage and develop the talents of our people.

People put their trust in us last year by electing Plaid Cymru the Party of Wales representatives at community, county, national and European level. I see our task as twofold: to ensure that we are an effective and well organised party which can deliver on our promises and to increase our support everywhere so we gain more seats in the UK general election, win control of more local authorities and be elected as the next government of Wales.

To do all this we need teamwork, both within the party and throughout Wales. That means strong and effective partnerships between the party members, councillors, AMs, MPs and MEPs.

It needs an all-Wales approach. Communities across the country have much more in common than anything that divides us. Dafydd Wigley succeeded in getting that message across to people who had not previously supported Plaid Cymru the Party of Wales. We have to build on that success.

We also have to play our part in shaping the future of Wales in Europe. The whole political context is changing. The European Union could, in the next few years, comprise 27 Member States with new structures and with a different relationship between countries. That debate is on-going and decisions will be made in December. The constitutional debate within the party is taking place against that backdrop and will be influenced by developments in Europe.

Our policy for Wales is a parliament with the powers necessary to improve the lives of the people and, particularly, to tackle the problems of poverty and disadvantage. That means a parliament which can pass laws and control taxation. We will continue our dialogue with the people of Wales to shape that future.

I am standing as President because I have the experience and the enthusiasm to do the job. The party is in a new situation. The Leader of the National Assembly group will undoubtedly be the day-to-day political leader: the future First Secretary. But I see the party President fulfilling a wider role.

A major part of the job will be working with all sections of the party to ensure that we are as effective as possible, and that our message is clearly put across to all the people.

Plaid Cymru the Party of Wales can also offer a different kind of politics. We are not just about elections. I want community campaigns to involve more people in politics - particularly young people.

As this is an election for party president and the other candidates so far declared are National Assembly members, I want to give the members of Plaid Cymru the Party of Wales a choice: whether they wish to see the National Assembly leader becoming the leader of the party in every sense, or whether they want the work to be shared between different people.

As an MEP the whole of Wales is my constituency. I travel to all parts of the country and work with people in all areas now. I also have the experience as a former Chair of the party, a councillor and an executive member which gives me a good understanding of how the party works and how it can move forward. I believe that I could be President of Plaid Cymru for all of Wales.

Diwedd/Ends.