:2018 Plaid Cymru leadership election
{{Short description|Plaid Cymru leadership election}}{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox election
|election_name = 2018 Plaid Cymru leadership election
|country =
|flag_image =
|type = presidential
|ongoing = no
|previous_year = 2012
|next_election = 2023
|next_year = 2023
|election_date = 7 August – 28 September 2018
|1blank = First round
|2blank = Percentage
|3blank = {{nowrap|Second round}}
|4blank = Percentage
|candidate1 = Adam Price
|image1 ={{CSS image crop
|Image = Adam Price 2016 (cropped).jpg
|bSize = 160
|cWidth = 120
|cHeight = 160
|oLeft = 25
|Location = center
}}
|1data1 = 2,863
|2data1 = 49.7%
|3data1 = 3,481
|4data1 = 64.0%
|candidate2 = Rhun ap Iorwerth
|image2 = {{CSS image crop
|Image = Rhun ap Iorwerth AM (27555192223).jpg
|bSize = 160
|cWidth = 120
|cHeight = 160
|oLeft = 25
|Location = center
}}
|1data2 = 1,613
|2data2 = 28.0%
|3data2 = 1,961
|4data2 = 36.0%
|image3 = {{CSS image crop
|Image = Leanne_Wood_AM_(27555056394).jpg
|bSize = 120
|cWidth = 120
|cHeight = 160
|oLeft =
|Location = center
}}
|imagesize =
|candidate3 = Leanne Wood
|1data3 = 1,286
|2data3 = 22.3%
|3data3 = -
|4data3 = -
|title = Leader
|before_election = Leanne Wood
|after_election = Adam Price
}}
The 2018 election for the leader of the Welsh political party Plaid Cymru began on 7 August.{{cite web |url=https://www.partyof.wales/ethol_arweinydd |title=Leadership Election |author= |publisher=Plaid Cymru |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908130800/https://www.partyof.wales/ethol_arweinydd |archive-date=8 September 2018 |access-date=7 February 2020}} Voting closed at midnight on 27 September.{{cite tweet |author=Plaid Cymru |user=Plaid_Cymru |number=1045332356842827776 |date=27 September 2018 |title=Our election ends tonight. Remember that your ballot paper needs to ARRIVE back by 23.59. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207184229/https://twitter.com/Plaid_Cymru/status/1045332356842827776 |archive-date=7 February 2020 |access-date=7 February 2020}} Adam Price was declared the winner on 28 September, defeating the two other candidates.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-45656718 |title=Plaid Cymru leadership contest: Adam Price wins |author= |date=28 September 2018 |publisher=BBC News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207184456/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-45656718 |url-status=live |archive-date=7 February 2020}}
A prospective leadership election was first announced after Rhun ap Iorwerth, Assembly Member (AM) for Ynys Môn and Adam Price, AM for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, both declared their intention to challenge the incumbent leader, Leanne Wood.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-44709544 |title=Plaid Cymru leadership bids by Adam Price and Rhun ap Iorwerth |date=4 July 2018 |publisher=BBC News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207184751/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-44709544 |url-status=live |archive-date=7 February 2020 |access-date=7 February 2020}} Speculation about a leadership election arose after what were perceived to be disappointing showings in recent elections, which led some figures within the party to comment that Plaid was potentially stagnant.{{cite web |url=https://nation.cymru/2017/its-time-for-leanne-to-go/ |title=It's time for Leanne to go |date=15 June 2017 |publisher=Nation.Cymru |access-date=15 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615135012/https://nation.cymru/2017/its-time-for-leanne-to-go/ |archive-date=15 June 2018 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.itv.com/news/wales/2018-03-24/wales-plaid-cymru-conference-simon-thomas/ |title='Unite or weaken' warning at Plaid Cymru conference |last=Masters |first=Adrian |date=24 March 2018 |publisher=ITV News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207183645/https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2018-03-24/wales-plaid-cymru-conference-simon-thomas/ |url-status=live |archive-date=7 February 2020 |access-date=7 February 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-44454714 |title=Plaid Cymru's Rhun ap Iorwerth 'no plans to challenge leader' |date=12 June 2018 |publisher=BBC News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207185100/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-44454714 |url-status=live |archive-date=7 February 2020 |access-date=7 February 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://nation.cymru/2017/are-the-men-in-grey-suits-coming-for-leanne-wood/ |title=Are the men in grey suits coming for Leanne Wood? |last=Morgan Jones |first=Ifan |date=11 August 2017 |publisher=Nation.Cymru |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207185216/https://nation.cymru/opinion/are-the-men-in-grey-suits-coming-for-leanne-wood/ |url-status=live |archive-date=7 February 2020 |access-date=7 February 2020}}
Background
Leanne Wood was elected leader of Plaid Cymru in March 2012 with 57% of the vote, defeating Elin Jones and Dafydd Elis-Thomas.
Under Plaid Cymru's constitution, the leader is subject to re-election every two years, but this is usually uncontested.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-42669304|title=Wood would 'welcome' leadership challenge|date=15 June 2018|publisher=BBC News}} The window for any leadership challenge closed on 4 July 2018, when Wood was challenged by two of her Assembly colleagues.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-44483312|title=Plaid AMs call for challenge to Wood|first=Aled ap|last=Dafydd|date=14 June 2018|publisher=BBC News}} Wood submitted her nomination papers in June 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/plaid-cymru-ams-call-leadership-14786405|title=Plaid Cymru AMs call for leadership challenge against Leanne Wood|first=Ruth|last=Mosalski|date=14 June 2018}}
Wood admitted that she was preparing to resign following Plaid's results in the 2017 general election until the result in Ceredigion came through showing a Plaid Cymru gain.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-40802239|title=Did Leanne Wood consider resigning?|date=2 August 2017|publisher=BBC News}} During the summer of 2017, Rhun ap Iorwerth publicly announced that it would be 'very probable' that he would stand when a vacancy arose.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-40860953|title=AM 'would consider' Plaid leadership|date=8 August 2017|publisher=BBC News}} On 13 June 2018 Wood stated that she would resign as leader in 2021 if she failed to become First Minister.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-44466301|title=Wood to quit if not first Plaid FM|date=13 June 2018|publisher=BBC News}} She had previously stated that she would welcome any challenge to her leadership. On 14 June it was revealed that a letter had been circulated by AMs Llyr Huws Gruffydd, Siân Gwenllian and Elin Jones, asking colleagues to consider putting their names forward.{{cite web|author=Aled ap Dafydd |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-44483312 |title=Three Plaid Cymru AMs call for challenge to Leanne Wood |publisher=BBC News |date=2018-06-14 |access-date=2018-07-02}} The Carmarthenshire Plaid council group wrote to encourage Adam Price to stand against Wood.{{Cite news|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/plaid-cymru-ams-call-leadership-14786405|title=Plaid Cymru AMs call for leadership challenge against Leanne Wood|last=Mosalski|first=Ruth|date=2018-06-14|work=walesonline|access-date=2018-06-17}}
On 26 June former MP Elfyn Llwyd said in a BBC Radio Cymru podcast that "[Plaid Cymru has] been standing still for five to seven years now and perhaps that suggests that it's time to change the team."{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-44602200|title=Plaid Cymru needs new leadership and direction, ex-MP says|date=26 June 2018|publisher=BBC News}} On 1 July 2018, fifty-three (out of about 200) of Plaid Cymru's principal Councillors wrote to pledge their allegiance to Leanne Wood ahead of any potential leadership challenge.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-44669105 |title=Plaid Cymru councillors pledge support to Leanne Wood |publisher=BBC News |date=2018-07-01 |access-date=2018-07-02}}
Campaign
On 4 July 2018, both Rhun ap Iorwerth and Adam Price formally announced that they would be challenging Wood for the party leadership. Wood reaffirmed her plan to stand as a candidate in the ensuing election. Whilst Wood is seen as ideologically close to Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, ap Iorwerth is considered more willing to work with the Conservative Party, while Price has advocated "equidistance", advocating for Plaid Cymru to position itself equally between the Labour Party and the Conservative Party.{{cite web|author=Aled ap Dafydd |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-44709548 |title=Plaid Cymru leadership contest - a pivotal moment |publisher=BBC News |date=2018-07-04 |access-date=2018-07-05}}
Wood ruled out making any sort of deal with the Conservatives after the 2021 assembly election, while Adam Price ruled out a coalition deal with either the Conservative Party or the Labour Party.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-45472229|title=Plaid's Wood rejects centre ground|last=Dafydd|first=Aled ap|date=2018-09-10|work=BBC News|access-date=2018-09-12|language=en-GB}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-45483297|title=Coalition off the table, says Plaid AM|last=Dafydd|first=Aled ap|date=2018-09-11|work=BBC News|access-date=2018-09-12|language=en-GB}}
Price proposed changing the name of the party to the "New Wales Party", and set out a timeline for Welsh independence by 2030.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-45085084|title=Call for Plaid Cymru to change its name|date=2018-08-06|work=BBC News|access-date=2018-08-14|language=en-GB}}
The candidates disagreed about Wylfa Newydd, a proposed nuclear power station on Anglesey. Adam Price opposed it, describing it as "incompatible with independence", whilst ap Iorwerth, who represents the area in the Assembly, supported the scheme. Wood said that the party would review its energy policies if she were to be re-elected.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-45329200|title=Plaid's 'nuclear compromise must change'|date=2018-08-28|work=BBC News|access-date=2018-08-29|language=en-GB}}
In July, Price proposed increasing income tax by 1p to fund education.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-44915619|title=Plaid AM backs 1p tax rise for education|date=2018-07-22|work=BBC News|access-date=2018-09-01|language=en-GB}} In August, he proposed reducing all income tax rates by 9p as well as abolishing business rates and council tax.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-45367710|title=Tax cut plan by Plaid leadership hopeful|date=2018-08-31|work=BBC News|access-date=2018-09-01|language=en-GB}} He said that this second proposal would be funded by a 3% land value tax levied on non-agricultural land.
Ap Iorwerth proposed a new infrastructure commission, and increasing the proportion of government procurement spending inside Wales.
Hustings
Hustings were held across Wales during the campaign period in September. The location and dates were as follows:
- 4 September – Pontypridd
- 5 September – Neath
- 6 September – Blackwood
- 8 September – Carmarthen
- 10 September – Bangor
- 11 September – Llangollen
- 12 September – Porthmadog
- 17 September – Aberystwyth
Candidates
Results
The winner was declared on 28 September.
| class="wikitable" | |||||
| rowspan="2" |Candidate
! colspan="2" |First round ! colspan="3" |Second round | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes
!% !Transfers !Votes !% | |||||
| Adam Price | 2,863 | 49.7% | {{increase}} 618 | 3,481 | 64.0 |
| Rhun ap Iorwerth | 1,613 | 28.0% | {{increase}} 348 | 1,961 | 36.0 |
| Leanne Wood | 1,286 | 22.3% | colspan="2" | | ||
| colspan="2" |Total||5,762||966||5,442||100 |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20180908130800/https://www.partyof.wales/ethol_arweinydd Election information (English)]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20180908164350/https://www.plaid.cymru/ethol_arweinydd Election information (Welsh)]
{{Plaid Cymru}}
{{2018 United Kingdom party elections}}