2012 Plaid Cymru leadership election

2012 Plaid Cymru leadership election
← 2003 3 January 2012 (2012-01-03) – 15 March 2012 (2012-03-15) 2018 →
 
Candidate Leanne Wood Elin Jones Dafydd Elis-Thomas
First round 2,879 1,884 1,278
Percentage 47.7% 31.2% 21.1%
Second round 3,326 2,494 —
Percentage 57.1% 42.9% —
Leader before election

Ieuan Wyn Jones

 Elected Leader

Leanne Wood

The 2012 Plaid leadership election was held following the resignation of Ieuan Wyn Jones following the 2011 Assembly Elections. Following the election Jones originally stated that he would resign in the first half of the Assembly term.[1] Nominations officially opened on 3 January 2012.

The leadership was fought by former Agriculture Minister Elin Jones, former party leader Dafydd Elis-Thomas and backbencher Leanne Wood.[2] Simon Thomas declared his intention to run, but later withdrew in favour of Elin Jones.[3]

The Guardian reported that 7,863 members were entitled to vote, which was an increase in membership of 23% over the preceding four-month period.[4]

Leanne Wood was declared leader on 15 March 2012,[5] taking over as leader the day after.

  1. ^ Ieuan Wyn Jones to stand down as Plaid Cymru leader BBC News, 13 May 2011
  2. ^ Plaid to name new leader from Lord Elis-Thomas, Elin Jones, and Leanne Wood BBC News, 15 March 2011
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference WO was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Plaid Cymru membership increases by 23% The Guardian, 27 January 2012
  5. ^ Plaid Cymru elect Leanne Wood as new leader BBC News, 15 March 2012