Politics has all the time been unforgiving, however by no means extra so than now.
So, talking to the person who’s getting ready to energy in Wales, raises the query of whether or not he’s actually prepared for what’s he’s taking over.
Plaid Cymru chief Rhun ap Iorwerth is a former journalist so he is aware of find out how to current himself, however a lot larger challenges are coming, and quick.
At subsequent Might’s Senedd elections, he’s narrowly on target to change into first minister, in accordance with present polls.
Picture:Mr ap Iorwerth visits native companies on Ystrad Mynach excessive avenue. Pic: PA
However earlier than that he faces the identical battle as leaders throughout the UK – find out how to beat Reform, who’re working his social gathering very shut.
It’s not clear he has a unique technique to every other politician, as he condemns their politics as divisive and tries as an alternative to current a optimistic imaginative and prescient of unity and extra public spending.
Perhaps he has a greater probability than most although as he can a minimum of level the finger of blame firmly elsewhere – Westminster.
That results in his second massive drawback of find out how to get something from a Labour prime minister if you lead an opposition social gathering.
In his convention speech he criticised Welsh Labour chief Eluned Morgan for being unable to affect Sir Keir Starmer.
If he does change into first minister he should stroll the troublesome line of fostering a privately productive relationship whereas nonetheless criticising in public.
Looming over all of that is the query of Welsh independence.
It has been the social gathering’s driving drive for a century however it’s now been shelved for a minimum of one time period in workplace.
Mr ap Iorwerth says it’s as a result of they should lay the groundwork, have a session on the method and convey the general public with them.
The reality is that the Welsh financial system is so reliant on the remainder of the UK that separation can be troublesome, to say the least.
Determining find out how to preserve pursuing their core goal whereas acknowledging that actuality might change into corrosive.
Having stated all that, he has a way of momentum and goal that many different politicians are missing, pushed by a powerful sense of Welsh id.
If he does recover from the road in Might, it is going to be this sense that propels him, and he might want to draw on it repeatedly as he faces the robust instances forward.
