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Plaid Cymru Annual Conference

Members of Plaid Cymru are meeting in Aberystwyth for the party's annual conference.

Live updates

Plaid Cymru elect new party chair

Plaid Cymru have elected a new party chairman at their conference in Aberystwyth.Dr Dafydd Trystan Davies, a former chief executive of the party, will succeed Helen Mary Jones.

I’m delighted to have been elected chair of Plaid Cymru. My aim is to build on the strong foundations left by my predecessor, Helen Mary Jones.

These are exciting times for Plaid Cymru and I intend to play my part in preparing the party as we head towards the National Assembly for Wales elections in 2016.

As chair I’ve a very important role to play as a voice for members in the party, bringing together the volunteers across the country and linking them into the elected members and the professional staff of the party.

As chair, I’m keen to engage with our young members, ensure a higher percentage of women candidates representing the Party and to attract people from all backgrounds to Plaid Cymru. I also want to hear from those who are interesting in contributing to Plaid Cymru, whether or not they are party members.

– Dafydd Trystan Davies, newly elected Plaid Cymru chairman

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Plaid leader pledges rent controls and sugary drink levy

Plaid pledge to cut business rates

Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood is expected to unveil a new policy commitment to cut business rates for small businesses in Wales. In her speech to the party's conference in Aberystwyth she's due to say that a Plaid-led Welsh government would cut rates for firms with a rateable value below £15,000.

She's expected to say:

The Party of Wales’ proposals to cut these rates will improve cash flow for small businesses and will hopefully enable them to not only survive but to grow and prosper, securing or even expanding job numbers.

Supporting small businesses and the thousands of people employed in them is a key priority for Plaid Cymru. We have demonstrated this with our budget deal on apprenticeships which was specifically tailored for small-to-medium sized enterprises.

It is sadly the case that many of our high streets have become ghost towns, characterised by empty and boarded up shops. The business rates policy of the Party of Wales will go a considerable way to breathing new life into our ailing town centres and local economies.

– Leanne Wood, Plaid Cymru leader

Plaid Cymru conference begins

Members of Plaid Cymru are gathering in Aberystwyth for their party's annual conference. Delegates' minds will be focussed on next year's European elections with the party unveiling its campaign slogan - 'Wales First!'

Party chiefs say the conference also marks an opening-up of decision-making with individual members able to vote on motions directly for the first time rather than through branch and constituency representatives.

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