Leanne Wood ousted as Plaid Cymru chief after Adam Price wins leadership contest
2 min read
Adam Price has been elected the new leader of Plaid Cymru after Leanne Wood was sensationally dumped by the party.
The former MP defeated Ms Wood and Rhun ap Iorwerth to claim the top job.
Embarrassingly, Ms Wood - who had been in charge since 2012 and gained UK-wide recognition after taking part in the 2015 general election leaders' debates - lost in the first round of voting.
In the second round, Mr Price saw off Mr Ap Iorwerth by 3,481 votes to 1,961.
Plaid Cymru members can call for a change of leader every two years, but it was the first time Ms Woods had been challenged.
Mr Price served as MP for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr AM from 2001 until 2010, and is now the area's Welsh Assembly Member.
Speaking after he was unveiled, the new leader called on more people to join the party, saying an independent Wales was not a “far-off, unachievable aspiration” but a “firm, near-term realisable goal”.
“Our time has come and with it, positive, dynamic, permanent change to Wales and its politics," he told party members.
“I’m fully aware of the scale of the challenge we face. We all know the road ahead won’t be easy. We know the institutional, psychological barriers that are in our path.
“All members must dig deep and each of us must grab a shovel.
Mr Price went on to cite Barack Obama when he said the mantra of the party should be: “Yes Wales can”.
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