Llwyd bids for Plaid presidency

Elfyn Llwyd, MP for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy since 1992

MP Elfyn Llwyd has announced he is to stand for the presidency of Plaid Cymru.

Mr Llwyd, 56, who represents Meirionnydd Nant Conwy, is leader of the party's three MPs.

It made a formal announcement at a news conference in Menai Bridge on Monday.

Mr Llwyd said the party had to get back to its roots and he said he would be advocating campaigning and moving away from "navel-gazing".

The roles of party president and assembly leader were split in 2003, since when Dafydd Iwan has held the presidency.

Mr Llwyd said he vigorously denied suggestions he had any animosity towards Mr Iwan but said times had changed and the party now needed a change of direction.

"It's time for the party to go back to its roots and reconnect with local communities," he said.

"We have to concentrate more on campaigning and less on internal party committees. Campaigning should be the priority and we need to move away from internal navel-gazing."

His priority, he said, would be to increase party membership and to encourage more joined-up thinking and action between various levels of the party

Traditionally, the role of Plaid leader and president had been combined.

But in 2003 they were divided, leaving Ieuan Wyn Jones as leader, Mr Iwan as president, and Mr Llwyd leader of the parliamentary party.

Mr Jones's position of assembly leader then changed to Plaid party leader.

Both party leader and president are eligible for re-election every other year.

Plaid's president is mainly in charge of the voluntary wing of the party.

Mr Iwan lost his seat on Gwynedd council in the local elections last May.

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