New statistics have revealed that Plaid MPs were the hardest working Welsh MPs in the Westminster parliament in 2016 asking more questions and making more speeches than their Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat opponents.

The figures from the House of Commons Library also show Plaid Cymru MPs spoke on average 163 times in 2016, significantly more than Labour and Tory MPs at 128 and 119 respectively, and the sole Liberal Democrat at just 96.

Carmarthen East and Dinefwr MP Jonathan Edwards gave the second largest number of parliamentary contributions of Wales’ 40 MPs, contributing 215 times, with a further 78 parliamentary questions tabled to UK Government Ministers.

Plaid representatives also submitted more written questions on average than the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats combined.

The Conservative party was narrowly ahead of Plaid Cymru on voting record, although Plaid Cymru MPs do not vote on legislation that isn’t applicable in Wales.

Responding to the figures, Jonathan Edwards MP said:"These figures show clearly that Plaid Cymru is standing up for Wales against the Westminster establishment. We are by far the most active of all the Welsh MPs.

"We are in Parliament to represent our constituents and to hold the Westminster government to account. We're not here to sit on our hands and obediently accept whatever Westminster does. We will always speak up for Wales and we will never vote for anything that is against the interests of the people we represent.

"While the Labour Party might be the so-called 'official opposition', it is clear that Plaid Cymru is providing the real opposition to this right-wing Tory Westminster government.

"Whether it is on matters of national importance such as the Wales Bill or the steel industry, or on more locally important matters such as agriculture, we are all well used to standing up next to empty Labour benches, fighting for the interests of our constituents and we will continue to do so."