Plaid Cymru has forged a brand of inclusive nationalism. That's why it beat Reform in Wales | Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett

"For the first time ever, Wales now has a progressive majority that is not dependent on Labour. Polls had put Plaid and Reform UK neck and neck. In the run-up to the election, some of my Welsh friends were panicking. They were relieved that Reform came second. I was never convinced that Reform's brand of essentially English ethno-nationalism was ever going to triumph in Wales."

"Days before the vote, a Muslim woman on a rail replacement bus from Cardiff to Newport was allegedly told by a racist to speak English, only for another passenger to point out that she was speaking Welsh. That such overlapping identities could exist was beyond credulity to some at the time. Yet in the May elections, voters made a clear statement against the sort of politics that demands that a stranger on a bus speak English, just as they did in the Caerphilly byelection last year."

"Plaid Cymru despite being a nationalist party represents a diverse and inclusive Wales that is forging ahead with its own idea of national identity against a rising tide of rightwing populism. You don't have to be a Welsh speaker to be part of the project. Plaid won even in areas with historically low numbers of Welsh speakers, such as Ebbw Vale."

"It wasn't always like this. Plaid used to represent more of what you'd call a classic nationalism: one predicated on quite a limited idea of Welshness and rooted in English colonial attempts to eradicate the language and culture. That history is important to so many of us, particularly the impact of second homes on small rural Welsh communities which continues to exacerbate the housin"

Plaid Cymru won the Senedd, giving Wales a progressive majority not dependent on Labour. Polling had suggested a close contest with Reform UK, but voters rejected politics that demand a stranger speak English. A prior incident around the Brexit referendum involved a Muslim woman being told to speak English on a bus, while another passenger pointed out she was speaking Welsh. In subsequent elections, voters made similar statements against that kind of politics. Plaid Cymru represents a diverse, inclusive Wales and supports a national identity that does not require Welsh language fluency. Plaid also won in areas with historically low numbers of Welsh speakers, including Ebbw Vale. The party has shifted from earlier, narrower nationalism tied to colonial efforts to eradicate Welsh language and culture.

Read at www.theguardian.com