Leanne Wood to lead Plaid

  • Wales
Leanne Wood was considered the outsider when the leadership race began Credit: Plaid Cymru

Leanne Wood has been named the new leader of Plaid Cymru. She won 55 per cent of the vote. Elin Jones, who was also in the running, came second with 41 per cent. The least popular candidate, Lord Elis-Thomas, was knocked out in the first round of counting.

Wood will be the first female head of the party. She takes over from Ieuan Wyn Jones, who stood down after Plaid fell into third place in last May's Asssembly elections. She's an avowed republican who's boycotted visits by the Queen in the past. She's strongly pro-independence, and was the only candidate from a non-Welsh-speaking background.