Plaid leadership contest become fractious.

The Wasting Mule reports that 

Plaid Cymru MP Jonathan Edwards has launched an astonishing attack on his party leader Leanne Wood, accusing her of showing no leadership over Brexit and leaving the party’s parliamentary group to its own device
 

They claim 

 It is understood that Ms Wood was angered by comments made by Mr Edwards in support of a proposal from Conservative backbencher Anna Soubry that a cross-party government of “sensible” politicians including Plaid and the SNP should be formed to ensure the UK remains in the Single Market and the Customs Union.

It seems strange that Mr Edwards complains about  lack of direction and then about appearing being told his support for a "National" Government is a no no.

Mr Edwards, who managed Ms Wood's leadership election campaign in 2012, was quoted on the website as saying: "

I am afraid that Leanne has shown no leadership in relation to Brexit since the referendum result. As MPs, we have been left to our own devices in Westminster void of any direction by the leader.
"We are faced with an unprecedented situation where the best-case scenario from the UK government's point of view is a hard Brexit and the worst-case scenario would involve a no-deal crash-out with the worst Brexit conceivable that would be cataclysmic for the Welsh economy.
"It's vitally important that Plaid shows national leadership at this crucial time, but Leanne doesn't seem to have any sense of how important it is.
"We have to be prepared to seize the initiative and work with those who will help deliver our objectives. The idea put forward by Anna Soubry would involve all parties. Clearly the Tories would have to be involved for mathematical reasons. This is not the time for tribalism.

"Leanne seems more concerned about the niche issues that interest her, but what Wales needs in this desperate crisis is real leadership."

It seems strange that Mr Edwards complains about  lack of direction and then about appearing being told his support for a unlikely "National Government"is a no no.


This has been a bad week for Leanne with news that  one of Plaid Cymru's most senior figures, Dafydd Wigley, has backed Rhun ap Iorwerth to take over from her and become the party's next leader.

Dafydd Wigley says the Anglesey AM has the ability to ease tensions within the Plaid Assembly group and to reach out beyond the party's traditional areas of support. 

There were some who backed Leanne last time maybe seeing her as  a caretaker   leader  until the Pri(n)ce ober the water in the shape of Adam Price could enter the Assembly.

Whatever as we face the highly real possibility of a General Election in the Autumn the prospect of  an increasingly hostile Plaid leadership contest could prove lastingly damaging.

There are  at the moment 11 Paid AM's (if you include Neil McEvoy who is suspended).

With three candidates  who ever wins may have only a short time to pull the party together  for the next election. If the contest becomes asit appears to be even more fractious, the party could be in serious trouble,