Wood ‘was asked to stand down’
LEANNE WOOD has confirmed that fellow Plaid Cymru politicians asked her to stand down as party leader before the current leadership election was triggered.
Ms Wood is being challenged for Plaid’s top post by fellow AMs Adam Price and Rhun ap Iorwerth. None of the party’s MPs and only one of its AMs have endorsed her in the leadership campaign, but in a robust defence of her position, the Rhondda AM disputed criticism of her leadership style and said Plaid should not contemplate any kind of deal with the Conservatives.
In an article for our sister title the Western Mail, she said: “I have been determined from the beginning of this leadership election to have a positive campaign, focussed on my vision for the future of Plaid Cymru and Wales. I want to focus on a plan to see a Plaid Cymru Government in 2021, and I have said that it’s either First Minister or bust for me at the next election.
“People said I would not win the leadership in 2012, they said I could not win in the Rhondda in 2016 and they say I will not be First Minister in 2021. I didn’t believe the negativity then, and I don’t believe or accept it now.
“However, I’d like to clear up some specific points that have not always been portrayed accurately over recent weeks, so that members know where I stand.”
On Brexit, Ms Wood stated: “I do not support Brexit. I am in favour of a referendum on the final deal, as I believe the people should have the final say. I will continue to oppose the Tories’ disastrous and divisive plans every step of the way.”
On relationships with colleagues, she said: “Anonymous statements in the press recently have criticised my leadership style and my relationship with colleagues. To me, leadership is not about issuing directives to others, but empowering them to lead in their own areas and utilising the talents of everyone in our party. Leadership is collaborative.”
She added: “I had wanted to keep internal tensions out of the public eye. However, I think members deserve an explanation from me following media reports.”
On working with the Tories, she said: “I have made it clear that under my leadership, Plaid Cymru will never enter into government with the Tories. Over recent months, colleagues in the Assembly and Westminster have made statements in meetings and in media interviews that they do not agree with this stance.”
Responding to Ms Wood’s comments about working with the Tories, a spokesman for Adam Price said: “Adam has set out, publicly and privately, and in every single election hustings, that he would not entertain a coalition with either unionist party. Adam wants to turn Plaid Cymru into an election-winning machine in order to form the next Welsh Government. As leader of the party Adam would seek a single mandate from the membership which treats both Labour and the Tories the same.”
Rhun ap Iorwerth said: “I have said very clearly that in my view it would be very bad for Wales to have a further five years of Labour in government. Given that it’s proved impossible for any party to gain a majority of seats in five Assembly elections, my personal preference would be for Plaid Cymru to lead a minority government without any Conservative ministers.”