'No such thing as a niche issue' - Leanne Wood vows to fight for minority rights despite criticism from her own party

Leanne Wood is used her first conference speech since being ousted as Plaid Cymru leader to hit back at some of the criticism she received during the leadership election campaign.

In her speech she said that there's 'no such thing as a niche issue in Wales' and that campaigning for the rights of trans people and the rights of women to be free from violence is 'central' to Plaid's cause.

Her comments formed a direct response to remarks made by the Plaid MP Jonathan Edwards in an interview with Wales Online in July.

The MP for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr said in that interview, 'Leanne seems more concerned about the niche issues that interest her, but what Wales needs in this desperate [Brexit] crisis is real leadership.'

In her speech to the party's conference in Cardigan, the AM for the Rhondda said campaigning on those issues is part and parcel of Plaid's long-term ambition for Wales to be independent.

When I interviewed her last week, Leanne Wood said she has no intention of leaving politics and that she would seek to use her high public profile to continue to work in and campaign for communities across Wales.

She's had a similar message for her party: