Five Plaid Cymru members miss Queen's opening of Welsh assembly

Leader Ieuan Wyn Jones cites family commitments while four others boycott visit of Queen
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Queen Elizabeth opens the fourth Welsh assembly, from which five Plaid Cymru AMs were absent
The Queen opening the fourth Welsh assembly, from which five Plaid Cymru AMs were absent. The assembly has additional powers following a referendum in March. Photograph: Matt Cardy/Getty Images

Almost half of Plaid Cymru's assembly members were absent when the Queen officially opened the fourth Welsh national assembly on Tuesday.

The leader of the nationalists, , stayed away because of "family commitments" while four of his party decided to actively boycott the visit by the Queen to the Senedd. Six other members did attend.

Leanne Wood, the party's spokeswoman on housing and regeneration, said she would spend the day talking to businesses in Bridgend in south Wales about how they are coping with the economic downturn.

In a blog headlined Boycotting Mrs Windsor, Wood said she supported the abolition of the monarchy. She argued: "In the modern Wales people should not be subjects, we should be citizens. The monarchy represents a hereditary class system which perpetuates inequality. The royals are an unaccountable, privileged elite.

"The income they can expect to make from the crown estates land in Wales in future years is money that could be well used by the cash-strapped Welsh government. Since I want her gone, I'll be elsewhere when she comes to open our Senedd."

The fourth assembly will be able to make laws in 20 policy areas, including education, health and the environment, without seeking permission first from the UK parliament, following the referendum in March.

Addressing members in the Senedd, the Queen said the opening of the new assembly "marks a significant development in the history of devolution in Wales".

She added: "You are now entrusted with the authority to make laws in all matters contained within the 20 subjects devolved to the assembly and, for the first time, you will be passing assembly acts. The performance of the assembly in discharging these new responsibilities will be closely scrutinised here in Wales and elsewhere."

Labour, which won 30 of the 60 assembly seats, has decided to govern alone rather than in partnership with one of the other parties. Its leader and first minister, Carwyn Jones, said: "Today marks a new chapter for Wales. The historic vote on law making powers means that for the first time this institution will be able to introduce laws on devolved subjects without first needing to seek the powers from the UK arliament.

"However, this new Welsh government will not create legislation for the sake of it. These are challenging times and our focus will be to work tirelessly to improve public services in Wales and create opportunities for everyone. It is our job to protect the interests of our people and stand up for Wales."

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