# Leanne Wood

Leanne Wood (born 13 December 1971) is a Welsh politician who served as the leader of Plaid Cymru from March 2012 to September 2018, and has served as Member of the National Assembly (AM) for Rhondda since 2016.

## Quotes
### 2012

* We may be a small party and a small country but we can stand tall if we stand together and if we stand up for our principles. Real independence means collectively lifting our people out of poverty leaving no-one behind, building a future based on hope not on fear.
** Plaid Cymru elect Leanne Wood as new leader, BBC News, 15 March 2012
* I believe in equality. I think steps should be taken to reduce the imbalance we have in society, so I favour the redistribution of wealth for example. But what I do say is that the bar is quite low. What's considered to be radical politics today was seen as mainstream 20 years ago. Plaid Cymru is a left party and I would argue that the views that I hold reflect the views of the members of Plaid Cymru.
** Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood in 'real independence' call, BBC News, 23 March 2012

### 2013

* Within Plaid Cymru, we have a strong internal democracy which reflects how much we rely on the party membership as a grassroots body. The side effect of this is that measures to promote women are not always at their strongest, but must be balanced out with local party control. Over the years we have also seen that this is true outside of Plaid Cymru as well, as tensions between local party democracy and central party machines have been apparent in other parties.
** Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood: Legislate for more women AMs, BBC News, 24 February 2013

### 2014

* [Only Plaid Cymru can] further the Welsh national interest at the heart of Europe... More than one in 10 jobs are directly dependent on our membership of the EU - that's 150,000 reasons to vote Plaid Cymru.
** Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood's call to reject 'Europhobia', BBC News, 7 March 2014
* Do not forget what is at stake at this election. Do not forget all that will be put at risk if dangerous right-wing isolationist Europhobia is victorious. Our businesses rely on £5bn worth of trade with our EU partners every year. Our country has benefited from investment in our infrastructure and communities, with more on the horizon. More than one in 10 jobs are directly dependent on our membership of the EU - that's 150,000 reasons to vote Plaid Cymru in this May's election.
** Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood's call to reject 'Europhobia', BBC News, 7 March 2014

### 2016

* The EU is too important to be discarded
** EU 'too important to be discarded', says Leanne Wood BBC News (10 January 2016)
* First minister, last night you participated in the first major public debate on the future for Wales within the European Union. You went head-to-head with the voice of the far right. Do you think your performance helped or hindered the Welsh campaign on the EU?
** UKIP condemns Leanne Wood's 'far right' Farage jibe BBC News (12 January 2016)
* It is not possible in 2016 to simply pull up the drawbridge and retreat to an idyllic isolation. And even if it were, surely that isn't the kind of country we want Wales to be. [I want a] decentralised, partnership of equals as the basis for the new Europe.
** Stay in EU to solve its problems, Plaid Cymru says BBC News (10 February 2016)
* We will continue to work together in the spirit of constructive collaboration to promote the benefits of EU membership for Wales and to campaign for Remain
** Osborne: Brexit will put 20,000 Welsh jobs at risk BBC News (23 May 2016)
* Leaving the EU would risk our hard-won gains including rights at the workplace, access for businesses to the single market and would diminish our contribution to global challenges such as climate change and conflict resolution.
** Osborne: Brexit will put 20,000 Welsh jobs at risk BBC News (23 May 2016)
* I've been quite surprised by how so many people have been able to be persuaded around this question of fear of immigration. We've got a week now to try to persuade as many people as possible that it is in Wales' best interests to Remain as a part of the European Union.
** EU referendum: Leave campaign's strength surprises Wood BBC News (16 June 2016)
* The Welsh Government should develop and prepare an official Welsh negotiating position for EU withdrawal
** Leanne Wood: 'Assembly should approve Brexit plan', BBC News, 4 July 2016
* Brexit provides an opportunity for the nations to take more power and responsibility from the UK. The referendum result shows how Westminster rule has left many communities behind. It should in no way be interpreted as a vote to centralise more power in London. No self-respecting country should be timid or ashamed of governing itself. It's disheartening to see such a negative attitude from some in Welsh politics.
** Voters would reject devolution now, says Andrew RT Davies BBC News (28 August 2016)
* We know that with the uncertainties arising from the decision to leave the EU, the Welsh Government now needs to look at alternative ways of improving the economies of areas in Wales that have been left behind by successive UK and Welsh Governments. We propose that this work is started in the areas that are set to lose out the most from the changes to the structural funds that will occur as a result of the decision leave the EU.
** Plaid Cymru calls for regional development agencies BBC News (12 September 2016)
* I fear we've ended up in this situation because of irresponsible politicians trying to use rhetoric against immigration in order to make political points, for example for Brexit. But we've opened a can of worms now and we are potentially in quite a dangerous situation.
** Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood's call to 'reclaim politics' BBC News (21 October 2016)
* Plaid Cymru accepts the referendum result
** UK must keep EU free movement, says Plaid's Leanne Wood BBC News (22 October 2016)
* Questions of immigration and the single market were not on the ballot paper at the EU referendum. I've been speaking to a number of key players in the Welsh economy and they're all telling me that tariffs and being outside the EU's regulatory regime would be damaging to them.
** UK must keep EU free movement, says Plaid's Leanne Wood BBC News (22 October 2016)
* Wales voted Leave, but it does not mean that the Welsh government should sit back and let Brexit take its course
** Brexit: Plaid Cymru launches campaign for answers BBC News (7 November 2016)
* [The High Court ruling] should not be seen as an opportunity to overturn the result. It gives an opportunity for the 48% of voters who backed Remain to have an input and pursue a soft Brexit.
** Brexit: Plaid Cymru launches campaign for answers BBC News (7 November 2016)
* Our exit from the EU will be one of the most pivotal moments in our history and it is vital that both governments get it right.
** Brexit: Plaid Cymru launches campaign for answers BBC News (7 November 2016)
* I've got quite a thick skin... but I don't think we should just accept threats of rape or shootings
** Twitter: Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood suffered 'vile' abuse, BBC News, 20 November 2016
* We have to recognise the vote and people voted to leave. So what we do now is discuss the best kind of Brexit possible for Wales; the least worst option, if you like.
** Post-Brexit immigration curbs 'a real risk to Wales' BBC News (11 December 2016)
* Now, that [the Norwegian model] would enable us to retain an element of freedom of movement
** Post-Brexit immigration curbs 'a real risk to Wales' BBC News (11 December 2016)

### 2017

* The most important outcome for Wales from any negotiations is to be in the single market. By upping the ante on migration, Mr Corbyn and the Labour party risk giving Theresa May the political cover needed for a hard Brexit. If the speech makes rejecting the principle of freedom of movement a priority, then it will help the Tories make a case for leaving the single market, which would be disastrous for the Welsh economy. Labour, despite being the UK opposition, cannot be trusted to know what is best for the Welsh economy.
** Jeremy Corbyn risks helping case for hard Brexit, Plaid leader warns BBC News (10 January 2017)
* The challenge we all face now is ensuring that as we prepare to leave the EU we secure the best possible deal for Wales. Together, we intend to rise to that challenge.
** Brexit: Carwyn Jones and Leanne Wood to reveal Wales' plan, BBC News, 22 January 2017
* [Mr Davis was] left in no doubt over the importance of single market participation
** Brexit: PM 'closer to Welsh voters on immigration' BBC News (30 January 2017)
* While Wales may have voted to leave, no one voted to give the Tories a blank cheque to wreck the Welsh economy by dragging us out of the single market and jeopardising 200,000 jobs,
** Brexit: PM 'closer to Welsh voters on immigration' BBC News (30 January 2017)
* There are countries that are outside of the EU but inside the single market, like Norway.
** Assembly not moved on from referendum, says Andrew RT Davies BBC News (7 February 2017)
* After much consideration, I'm not standing as MP for the Rhondda. Confident that @Plaid_Cymru will have very strong candidate.
** General Election: Leanne Wood decides against MP bid, BBC News, 23 April 2017
* The National Assembly is an important institution to us a party. It is vital that the leader is in that institution.
** General Election: Leanne Wood decides against MP bid, BBC News, 23 April 2017
* There can be no greater priority for our party right now than upholding the Welsh national interest during the months ahead as the UK government begins the process of leaving the European Union.
** Leanne Wood: Voting Plaid 'only way to take control' BBC News (3 March 2017)
* Plaid Cymru believes that decisions about Wales are best made in Wales and the way in which this hard Brexit is being pursued highlights exactly why. If the UK Government's Brexit negotiation also leads to the Welsh national interest being overlooked, support will grow for greater control of our own affairs in Wales.
** Scottish independence: UK stronger together, says Jones BBC News (13 March 2017)
* Wales cannot afford to pay the price for a hard Brexit.
** Brexit could mean farming subsidies end, Carwyn Jones claims BBC News (28 March 2017)
* It's time to move on from the 2016 referendum and focus on what a good deal for Wales could look like
** Vote Plaid Cymru for successful Brexit, says Leanne Wood BBC News (14 May 2017)
* Be it on tourism, farming, higher education or jobs, we are determined to overcome the threats and seek out and seize upon the opportunities which may come with leaving the EU.
** Plaid manifesto pledge to protect Wales from 'tidal wave' BBC News (16 May 2017)
* Things have moved on. We've moved on from the referendum. We've moved on from talking about membership of the single market.
** Plaid manifesto pledge to protect Wales from 'tidal wave' BBC News (16 May 2017)
* [We have a] positive Brexit plan focused on protecting the 200,000 jobs in Wales that rely on tariff-free access to the EU single market
** Party leaders trade blows over Brexit in live TV debate BBC News (17 May 2017)
* [The] police needed to be given sufficient resources to do that job properly
** Give police cash they need, says Leanne Wood, BBC News, 25 May 2017
* I'm not Natalie, I'm Leanne
** Who is Leanne Wood? A profile of the Plaid Cymru leader, BBC News, 29 May 2017
* If you live here and you want to be Welsh then as far as we are concerned, you are Welsh and your rights will be defended by the Party of Wales
** Who is Leanne Wood? A profile of the Plaid Cymru leader, BBC News, 29 May 2017
* All forms of political violence are the same. USA, Barcelona, everywhere. They are ideology-driven & we have to understand that to stop it.
** Barcelona reaction: Leanne Wood comments spark outrage, BBC News, 18 August 2017
* What we know about the Tories is that they want to reduce the amount of money that government spends. So my fear is that Brexit will be used as an opportunity by them to reduce the amount of investment we get in Wales.
** What will Brexit mean for funding in Wales? BBC News (18 September 2017)
* If, in the worst possible scenario, we leave the European Union without a deal, people must have the opportunity to reject that disastrous outcome, either through a public vote, or through parliamentary democracy.
** Plaid Cymru needs to earn trust of voters, Leanne Wood says, BBC News, 20 October 2017
* [I ask you to] clarify whether you know of, or have access to, any UK government analysis of Brexit's impact on the Welsh economy
** Plaid seeks publication of Brexit economic impact study BBC News (6 November 2017)

### 2018

* If the prime minister wants to stay in so many EU institutions, why leave the single market which she admitted will put barriers in place over trade?
** Brexit speech by Theresa May criticised by first minister Carwyn Jones BBC News (2 March 2018)
* I am seeing more misogyny now than I have ever seen in my political life. This seems to be a phenomena of today. It seems to come out online, on social media, but it seems to be reflecting something else that is going on in society.
** Leanne Wood: Abuse aimed at women 'worse than ever', BBC News, 30 May 2018
* Labour is pursuing a Brexit that aligns more with the Conservatives than the white paper co-authored with Plaid Cymru
** Unions Brexit campaign decision 'mistake', claims Wood BBC News (19 June 2018)
* A lack of confidence is a barrier. I've lost count of the times I have felt uncomfortable when Welsh speakers turn to English because of me. But more than anything, I feel angry. Angry that I have lost something so valuable - something I deserve to have and something my grandfather had.
** Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood 'angry' over her lack of Welsh, BBC News, 9 August 2018
* Nuclear power has been a difficult issue for Plaid Cymru. We are opposed to nuclear power but have been forced to weigh concerns against the need to attract well-paid jobs to our rural areas. These concerns have created a compromise position of not opposing the replacement of existing nuclear plants. This has pitched people with concerns about the language and environment against each other.
** Plaid's nuclear compromise should change, says Leanne Wood, BBC News, 28 August 2018
* We still have a socialist leading Plaid Cymru, we still have independence as one of our priority areas. The question of social justice and inequality are still going to remain important aspects of Plaid Cymru's core message. I think the election of Adam Price means that people want to continue with a large element of what I put forward.
** Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood: I don't take leadership loss personally, BBC News, 3 October 2018
* There is no such thing as a niche issue in Wales
** No-one in Wales is niche, says Plaid's Leanne Wood to critics, BBC News, 6 October 2018

### 2019

* [I have concerns] about the democratic implications of another [EU] vote
** Leanne Wood: 'Democracy' concerns over second EU referendum BBC News (11 August 2019)
* I don't think that we should just embark upon these questions lightly because people will rightly ask what is the point of voting again in any future referendum or indeed election. So, there is a real concern about democracy but also there's a concern about democracy if we do crash out of the European Union and it's not just a concern for democracy, it's also a concern for the economy, for the future for young people, for a whole raft of economic issues.
** Leanne Wood: 'Democracy' concerns over second EU referendum BBC News (11 August 2019)

## External links

* Personal website