2023 Plaid Cymru leadership election

The 2023 Plaid Cymru leadership election was triggered by the resignation of Adam Price as party leader on 16 May,^[1] after an internal report found the party to have a "culture of harassment, bullying and misogyny".^[2][3] Rhun ap Iorwerth became leader on 16 June 2023 unopposed.^[4]

2023 Plaid Cymru leadership election

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Candidate Rhun ap Iorwerth Popular vote Unopposed

party leader before election Adam Price Elected party leader Rhun ap Iorwerth

Background

Leanne Wood was elected leader of Plaid Cymru in 2012. The party re-elects its leaders every two years, typically unchallenged. In 2018, following growing discontent with the party's election performance, she was challenged by two members of the Welsh Assembly (now Senedd): Rhun ap Iorwerth and Adam Price. Price was elected, with ap Iorwerth coming second and Wood coming third.^[5] Price had advocated "equidistance" between Labour and the Conservatives, while Wood was seen as closer to Labour under Jeremy Corbyn and ap Iorweth as more willing to work with the Conservatives.^[6]

In the 2021 Senedd election, Plaid Cymru made a net gain of one seat to hold thirteen overall, though Wood was not re-elected. The result was considered disappointing for the party.^[7][8] The party formed a "co-operation agreement" on several areas of policy with the governing Labour Party.^[9] In March 2023, the party produced a new political strategy that would enable it to enter a coalition with Labour in the future while ruling out working with the Conservatives.^[10]

In November 2022, party figures complained that Price's leadership had developed a "toxic atmosphere" where members felt afraid to make complaints in case they faced retaliation, and that complaints were not handled effectively.^[11] High-profile incidents included the readmittance to the party of Jonathan Edwards, an MP who was cautioned by the police for domestic violence against his wife, and waiting until an external investigation to suspend Rhys ab Owen, an MS accused of breaking the code of conduct.^[11] In December, Price commissioned the former member of the Senedd Nerys Evans to write a report into the party's complaints process.^[12] The report was published in May 2023, finding a "culture of harassment, bullying and misogyny" in the party.^[13] Price apologised on behalf of Plaid Cymru, saying there had been times "whereby unacceptable behaviour has been allowed to take place or go unchallenged and that our processes and governance arrangements have been inadequate to address this".^[13] Price announced his resignation on 10 May.^[14] Llyr Gruffydd has been nominated to be interim leader while a permanent replacement is elected.^[15] Former leader Leanne Wood later confirmed that "there were historic issues and incidences especially on the sexual harassment side of things" during her leadership (2012–2018), but there wasn't a "toxic culture amongst the staff." Wood also said that the next leader should be a woman and that Plaid should avoid a coronation of an unopposed leader.^[16]

Timetable and procedure

Only members of the Plaid Cymru group in the Senedd are eligible to stand for election, with the interim leader ineligible to stand. Nominations closed on 16 June.^[17]

Winner

On 16 June 2023 Rhun ap Iorwerth became leader of Plaid Cymru after nominations closed and no other candidate put themselves forward.^[4]

Declared

On 30 May 2023, Rhun ap Iorwerth, joint deputy leader since 2018 and MS for Ynys Môn, declared that he would be running in the election.^[18]

Ineligible

The MPs Ben Lake and Liz Saville Roberts were also included in media coverage, but were ineligible to serve as leader due to not being members of the Senedd.^[19]

Declined

• Delyth Jewell, MS for South Wales East since 2019, shadow minister for climate change, energy and transport.^[20]
• Elin Jones, Llywydd of the Senedd since 2016, MS for Ceredigion since 1999.^[21]
• Heledd Fychan, MS for South Wales Central since 2021.^[22]
• Mabon ap Gwynfor, MS for Dwyfor Meirionnydd since 2021, shadow minister for agriculture, rural affairs, housing and planning.^[20]
• Siân Gwenllian, joint deputy leader since 2018, MS for Arfon since 2016.^[23]

The other eligible candidates Cefin Campbell, Luke Fletcher, Peredur Owen Griffiths and Sioned Williams^[17] also declined.^[23]

References

1. "Adam Price bows out as Plaid Cymru leader in Senedd". BBC News. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
2. Shipton, Martin (9 May 2023). "Adam Price to quit as Plaid Cymru leader". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
3. "Plaid Cymru leader quits after bullying review". BBC News. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
4. "Plaid Cymru: Rhun ap Iorwerth elected leader unopposed". 16 June 2023 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
5. "Plaid Cymru leadership contest: Adam Price wins". BBC News. 28 September 2018. from the original on 7 February 2020.
6. ap Dafydd, Aled (4 July 2018). "Plaid Cymru leadership contest - a pivotal moment". BBC News. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
7. "Adam Price isn't the 'right person' to lead Plaid Cymru, says former PCC". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
8. "Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price won't resign following election disappointment". Nation.Cymru. 12 May 2021. from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
9. Morris, Steven (22 November 2021). "Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru to cooperate on almost 50 policy areas". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
10. "Plaid Cymru members back new plan which could mean becoming junior partner in Labour Government". ITV Wales. 5 March 2023.
11. Hayward, Will (12 November 2022). "Discontent in Plaid Cymru at culture under Adam Price as issues mount". WalesOnline. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
12. "Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price to review party's complaints process amid 'toxic atmosphere' claims". ITV Wales. 15 December 2022.
13. Morris, Steven (3 May 2023). "Damning report calls on Plaid Cymru to 'detoxify' culture of harassment". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
14. Kelly, Kieran (10 May 2023). "Plaid Cymru leader quits after report finds misogyny, harassment and bullying in the party". LBC. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
15. Suleiman, Farouq (11 May 2023). "Welsh nationalist leader quits after review finds bullying in party". Reuters. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
16. Rhys Roberts, Bethan; Hargreaves, Zola (8 June 2023). "Plaid Cymru: New leader should be a woman, says Leanne Wood". BBC News. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
17. Masters, Adrian (13 May 2023). "Llŷr Gruffydd confirmed as Plaid Cymru's interim leader after Adam Price resigns". ITV Cymru Wales.
18. Lewis, Thomas (30 May 2023). "Rhun ap Iorwerth announces intention to run for Plaid Cymru leadership". North Wales Live.
19. Jones, Branwen (11 May 2023). "The contenders to succeed Adam Price as Plaid Cymru leader". WalesOnline. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
20. Masters, Adrian (1 June 2023). "Another Plaid Cymru politician rules themselves out of leadership contest". ITV News. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
21. Davies, Dylan (12 May 2023). "Ceredigion MS will not put her name forward for Plaid Cymru leadership". Cambrian News. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
22. Glyn Jones, Teleri (30 May 2023). "Rhun ap Iorwerth declares Plaid Cymru leadership bid". BBC News. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
23. Masters, Adrian (9 June 2023). "Plaid Cymru: Rhun ap Iorwerth set to become leader as rivals rule themselves out of contest". ITV Cymru Wales.