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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood to contest Rhondda in 2016 | Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood to contest Rhondda in 2016 |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood has revealed she will stand in the Labour-held Rhondda constituency at the next assembly election. | Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood has revealed she will stand in the Labour-held Rhondda constituency at the next assembly election. |
| She is a regional South Wales Central AM and candidates cannot stand on both the list and in constituencies. | She is a regional South Wales Central AM and candidates cannot stand on both the list and in constituencies. |
| But the UK government wants to change the rules, and she is expected to take advantage of that and keep her name on the regional list if the ban is lifted. | But the UK government wants to change the rules, and she is expected to take advantage of that and keep her name on the regional list if the ban is lifted. |
| The seat is held by Education Minister Leighton Andrews with a 6,739 majority. | The seat is held by Education Minister Leighton Andrews with a 6,739 majority. |
| Plaid came second to Labour in 2011. | Plaid came second to Labour in 2011. |
| Ms Wood, who is originally from Rhondda and still lives there, made the announcement in a speech to mark her first year at Plaid's helm. | Ms Wood, who is originally from Rhondda and still lives there, made the announcement in a speech to mark her first year at Plaid's helm. |
| The speech in Cardiff focused on the economy and call for the devolution of the benefits system. | The speech in Cardiff focused on the economy and call for the devolution of the benefits system. |
| But attention is likely to focus on her plans for the 2016 assembly election when she hopes to break new ground for her party in the south Wales valleys. | But attention is likely to focus on her plans for the 2016 assembly election when she hopes to break new ground for her party in the south Wales valleys. |
| Rhondda is a traditional Labour stronghold, although Plaid won it at the first assembly elections in 1999. | Rhondda is a traditional Labour stronghold, although Plaid won it at the first assembly elections in 1999. |
| Ms Wood has stood for parliament in the seat and lost to Labour twice. Her selection as a candidate will have to be approved by local party members. | |
| Her speech, which marks a year since she became Plaid's first female leader, set out economic policies to allow Wales to "thrive". | Her speech, which marks a year since she became Plaid's first female leader, set out economic policies to allow Wales to "thrive". |
| She said: "When I was elected as leader of my party I made it clear that I wanted to be judged on one issue and one issue only - the economy." | She said: "When I was elected as leader of my party I made it clear that I wanted to be judged on one issue and one issue only - the economy." |
| A party policy commission on the economy had highlighted five areas for "strategic intervention". | A party policy commission on the economy had highlighted five areas for "strategic intervention". |
| These include improving public transport, establishing a national energy agency, creating a publicly-owned Bank of Wales, devolving the welfare system and ensuring more public-sector contracts go to local businesses. | These include improving public transport, establishing a national energy agency, creating a publicly-owned Bank of Wales, devolving the welfare system and ensuring more public-sector contracts go to local businesses. |