LEANNE ‘I’LL QUIT PLAID’ THREAT
LEANNE Wood has made an unprecedented public declaration that she will resign as leader of Plaid Cymru if she fails to become First Minister after the next National Assembly election in 2021.
On the day that she submitted her nomination papers for a further twoyear term as leader, she acknowledged during an interview with BBC Wales that there was “a minority” of people in the party who wanted to go “in a different direction”.
She said she would welcome a leadership challenge now “to some extent”. Potential rivals have until July 4 to submit nomination papers of their own, but as yet none of her colleagues have said they will do so.
Ms Wood said there had been “open and honest discussions” between Plaid AMs, but she would not go into detail about the discussions.
She added: “If I’m not First Minister after that election in 2021, I will walk away.
“I will be putting all my effort and focus into ensuring that election is a strong one for Plaid Cymru and we can come out of there in government.”
She said: “But I will be First Minister.”
Ms Wood has published on her website a series of pledges, including one to review the party’s policy on nuclear power. As part of her proposal to “refresh” her leadership, she called for a review of the party’s policy towards nuclear power, including “a full appraisal of the effects that Wylfa B and Hinckley Point could have on the communities and economy of Ynys Môn and Gwynedd and the south east”.
The pledge adds: “Special attention will be paid to potential damage that nuclear development could cause to health, the Welsh language as well as our natural environment and overstretched infrastructure.” Ms Wood confirmed to the BBC that she was not personally in favour of the Wylfa Newydd power station on Anglesey – a position not shared by local AM Rhun ap Iorwerth, a potential future leader of the party.
Other pledges involve delivering “a pathway to real independence” by setting up a members-led forum to look at “how we end our social, political and economic dependence on Westminster”. She also wants to ensure that the roles of women and marginalised groups are expanded in the party, stating: “I will make sure our politics and elected representatives can properly reflect the diversity which makes up Welsh communities. Plaid Cymru believes we are all united in one Wales and our selection processes should reflect that.”
She said she would “seek to lead Plaid Cymru into the 2021 election and form a Welsh Government that will deliver for the people of Wales. I will not do a deal with any party that stands opposed to our principles, values and policies.”
This means there would be no place for Tory Ministers in a Plaid-led government, although there was potential for the Conservatives to back a minority administration led by her in return for spending commitments.
She would “continue to push the case for Wales to have an open and job-protecting relationship with our European neighbours and to bring back the powers from Westminster that were recently ‘grabbed’ as part of the Brexit process.”
A party spokeswoman said Ms Wood would not quit as an AM if she won a seat but failed to be elected FM.