Wood best for Wales but party should reject EU

Of the three candidates Leanne Wood clearly stood out.

Lord Dafydd Ellis Thomas had long ago lost any claim to his former left credentials, even before he debased himself during the Queen's visit to the National Assembly when he was presiding officer.

I was interested to learn that Ms Wood lived in the village of Penygraig in the Rhondda - a village synonymous with the late great Annie Powell who was the councillor for the Communist Party for that ward for many years.

She was also the mayor of the Rhondda as well as the Communist Party candidate for the parliamentary constituency, for which she never lost her deposit in the many campaigns she waged on behalf of the party .

Naturally one wishes Ms Wood well as she is clearly the best candidate of the three who put their names and programme before their party electorate.

There are, however, many contradictions in Plaid Cymru for her to overcome, not least its slavish belief in the European Union, which most progressive people can clearly see it for what it truly is.

There can be little doubt that if Ms Wood is able to push her party to the left, many political opportunities could open up not only for Plaid but for an advance of the whole of the left in Wales.

Ken Thomas
Swansea