To the extent that the British media’s political coverage ever veers far from Westminster, all eyes are currently on Scotland. In the wake of the Neverendum on Scottish independence and its leadership election, the potential meltdown of Scottish Labour in the general election is massive not only in Scotland: it is the biggest factor in the outcome […]
Posts Tagged ‘Plaid Cymru’
Navigating to Welsh unity against austerity
Oct 26th, 2012 by Gordon Gibson.The call was for ‘Plan B’ but unity was the dominant theme at Compass Wales’ panel debate in Cardiff this week. A fine array of speakers, led by Guardian columnist, John Harris, came together to debate Compass’s ‘Plan B’, their alternative to austerity. Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood, the Green Party’s Anthony Slaughter and John […]
Labour and the 2015 progressive majority
Aug 20th, 2012 by Carl Packman.Though we have about 1000 days until the next election, Plaid Cymru have offered the Labour party a deal by way of a strategy should we find ourselves with a hung parliament in 2015. Jonathan Edwards, MP for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr and a key advisor to Plaid Cymru’s leader Leanne Wood, said: “We would […]
Leanne Wood’s win is a victory for the Left
Mar 18th, 2012 by Darren Williams.Leanne Wood, the left candidate, founder member of the cross-party Celyn editorial team and occasional Labour Briefing contributor, has won Plaid Cymru’s leadership election. The South Wales Central Assembly Member secured 55% of the vote over her main rival, Elin Jones, on the second ballot, after former leader, Lord Dafydd Elis Thomas had been eliminated. Her […]
Leanne Wood elected leader of Plaid Cymru – a new challenge for Labour
Mar 15th, 2012 by Jon Lansman.Leanne Wood has been elected leader of Plaid Cymru with 3,326 votes compared to runner-up Elin Jones’s 2,494. Leanne is a socialist and a republican as well as a nationalist, and will unquestionably lead Plaid to the Left. In doing so she will pose a new challenge to Carwen Jones, Welsh First Minister, and Welsh […]
Mark Serwotka backs Leanne Wood for Plaid leadership
Feb 21st, 2012 by Newsdesk.Plaid’s Leanne Wood has received the backing of Mark Serwotka, General Secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), who called her “one of the most outstanding politicians in Wales.” Leanne Wood has been a consistent supporter of picket lines and union rallies over the years in defence of pay and conditions for public sector workers […]
What would a Leanne Wood victory mean for Labour
Feb 2nd, 2012 by Andy Newman.Leanne Wood’s campaign to become leader of Plaid goes from strength to strength, now gaining the endorsement of Dafydd Iwan, former president of the party, and a renowned Welsh-language musician. Iwan’s support is significant as it bridges the gap between the traditionalist Welsh speaking foundations of Plaid’s support in the West and North of the country with the left-wing republicanism […]
Could Leanne Wood enable Plaid to challenge Labour in Wales like the SNP has in Scotland?
Jan 26th, 2012 by Jon Lansman.Nominations closed today in the race for the leadership of Plaid Cymru with Leanne Wood emerging as the 4-5 favourite according to online bookmaker Paddy Power. She faces three of her fellow assembly members in the contest — former MP and now AM for Mid and West Wales, Simon Thomas, another former MP and leader in the 1980s, […]
Leanne Wood – an independent leadership
Jan 6th, 2012 by Gordon Gibson.It was standing room only at the Pick and Shovel Club in Ammanford for the formal launch of Leanne Wood’s campaign for the leadership of Plaid Cymru, in the first week of the year. The former miners’ club provided a solid Welsh working class reference point for Wood’s own political background, and she recalled impressions […]
Isn’t a Labour-Plaid Cymru coalition right for Wales, whatever happens?
May 5th, 2011 by Jon Lansman.In Wales, the latest YouGov poll for ITV Wales, puts Labour on course for a majority of two. Although this is very tight and the Labour lead has slipped a little, this would be a spectacular win for Labour. However, some senior figures in Welsh Labour are known privately to favour a coalition with Plaid […]