‘I was asked to step aside’ – Leanne
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 has disputed criticism of her leadership style and said Plaid should not contemplate any kind of deal with the Conservatives.
In an article for today’s Western Mail, she said: “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.”
On working with the Tories, Ms Wood 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.”
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: “It is true that some colleagues have told me they believe I should step aside, and there have been many conversations, including a discussion at the National Executive Committee, where attempts were made to get me to change my position on working in government with the Tories.
“In the weeks leading up to the contest, there were many discussions on this. I believe that is a central reason why I have been challenged for the leadership. I respect those who state openly that they have a different view; however, I believe it would be a fatal mistake both tactically and in principle to open the door to letting the Tories into government.”
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 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.
“It is not the role of the party leader to dictate to the membership who the party will or will not work with,” he said.
“But Adam has been clear: the mandate he would seek from members would be a Plaid Cymru government with no unionist – Labour or Tory – coalition partner.”
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.
“But any discussions that take place between parties could only take place after an election and any potential deal would have to be approved by the membership.”