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Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood message to candidates over nuclear energy Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood backs Anglesey party on nuclear position
(about 3 hours later)
By Carl Roberts Presenter, Sunday Politics WalesBy Carl Roberts Presenter, Sunday Politics Wales
The leader of Plaid Cymru expects candidates in next year's council election on Anglesey to make clear the party's opposition to nuclear energy. The leader of Plaid Cymru has clarified the party's position on nuclear power and how it relates to Anglesey.
The island's nuclear station Wylfa is due to end production by 2014. Leanne Wood said although the party's policy is against building new nuclear power stations, Plaid would work to create jobs on the island.
Leanne Wood said Plaid will work to create jobs on the island but preferred renewable technologies over nuclear. The island's nuclear station Wylfa is due to end production by 2014 but there are hopes of a new station.
It's a different position than that taken by ex-party leader and local AM Ieuan Wyn Jones, who supports a new nuclear station Wylfa B. Ms Wood said the party had always given local party representatives "the right to make up their own minds".
Welsh Secretary David Jones also says a future for Wylfa is "critical" to the economy.
Hundreds of jobs would be created at a new station as part of the Horizon energy project, which is the subject of French and Chinese investment interest.Hundreds of jobs would be created at a new station as part of the Horizon energy project, which is the subject of French and Chinese investment interest.
The existing reactor, which started producing electricity in 1971, will close by 2014.The existing reactor, which started producing electricity in 1971, will close by 2014.
Plaid Cymru opposes the building of a new nuclear power station in Wales, although Ynys Mon AM Ieuan Wyn Jones supports efforts to secure a new power station on the island. Plaid opposes the building of a new nuclear power station in Wales, although Ynys Mon AM Ieuan Wyn Jones, the former party leader, supports efforts to secure a new power station on the island.
Ms Wood, who succeeded Mr Jones six months ago, has been a long time opponent of nuclear power.
But Plaid's nuclear policy has brought difficulties for the party in its strongholds in north west Wales, where jobs in the nuclear industry have been important for the local economy.
Voters on Anglesey go to the polls next May after council elections were postponed for a year after the Welsh government appointed commissioners to run it.Voters on Anglesey go to the polls next May after council elections were postponed for a year after the Welsh government appointed commissioners to run it.
Plaid Cymru candidates have been given instructions from their party leader. Ms Wood told BBC Sunday Politics Wales: "I'll be telling those candidates in that election to make sure that they communicate Plaid Cymru's clear message with their voters, which is about doing everything we can at local government level, working with the assembly and also at Westminster level to create as many possible jobs as possible on that island".
"I'll be telling those candidates in that election to make sure that they communicate Plaid Cymru's clear message with their voters, which is about doing everything we can at local government level, working with the assembly and also at Westminster level to create as many possible jobs as possible on that island," said Ms Wood told the Sunday Politics Wales programme. She later said that this did not mean candidates needed to campaign on the party's national nuclear policy but on supporting local jobs on Anglesey.
'Hope and opportunity' "It is disappointing that I have to make my position clear on this when I mentioned support for training so local people can be equipped with the skills needed to undertake these jobs if the go ahead is given," she said.
However, if a new station is built at Wylfa Ms Wood said Plaid councillors on the island would lobby to ensure "the jobs created there go to local people and that the local people there have the skills to be able to do those jobs". "The party's has always had concerns about nuclear power. The party has always been opposed to the construction of new power stations on new sites.
"However we have always given local party representatives in Ynys Mon and Meirionydd the right to make up their own minds on questions like extending existing reactors, decommissioning and on new stations on existing sites, balancing the party's environmental concerns with the question of jobs.
"We are a decentralised party and we have pledged to do everything to support the creation of local jobs should there be a decision to build a new nuclear power station on Anglesey and I will do everything possible to support Ieuan Wyn Jones and our local Plaid Cymru candidates who are working tirelessly for the people of Ynys Mon."
Earlier this month, Ms Wood delivered her first leader's speech at conference and promised a "green new deal" to stimulate the Welsh economy.Earlier this month, Ms Wood delivered her first leader's speech at conference and promised a "green new deal" to stimulate the Welsh economy.
Ms Wood told supporters in Brecon the party would "aim to provide skills, work, hope and opportunity" for young people.Ms Wood told supporters in Brecon the party would "aim to provide skills, work, hope and opportunity" for young people.
She also said a Plaid government would establish new national bodies to invest in green energy and boost innovation and enterprise.She also said a Plaid government would establish new national bodies to invest in green energy and boost innovation and enterprise.
On the Sunday Politics programme, Ms Wood responded to the news she was captured on video swearing an oath to Welsh republicanism at an event in a Cardiff wine bar on the day the Queen attended the Senedd to officially open the Assembly in June 2011. Welsh Secretary David Jones also says a future for Wylfa is "critical" to the economy.
The South Wales Central AM boycotted the visit and later that evening attended an event organised by a nationalist group called Balchder Cymru (Pride of Wales).
"That was a piece of political theatre designed to highlight some antiquated legislation around the law of treason. I think I've learned my lesson and I won't be performing in political theatre again," she said.
The Sunday Politics is on BBC1 Wales at 11:00 BST on Sunday.