Plaid Cymru elect Leanne Wood as new leader (From BBC)

Wales needs 'real independence', says Leanne Wood

Leanne Wood has been named the new leader of Plaid Cymru.

Ms Wood won 55% of the vote, ahead of Elin Jones who came second with 41%.

Lord Elis-Thomas was knocked out in the first round of counting as the least popular candidate, and the votes of supporters were redistributed according to their second preferences.

Ms Wood, who is currently learning to speak Welsh, said she would be a "forward looking, positive and constructive" leader.
'Stand tall'
Speaking after the result was announced in Cardiff on Thursday, she paid tribute to her rival candidates and thanked the young party members who campaigned on her behalf.

Ms Wood is the ninth Plaid leader and first woman to hold the job

"The young members are our future - they are an inspiration and source of hope for all of us," she said.

"We may be a small party and a small country but we can stand tall if we stand together and stand up for our principles."

Ms Wood inherits the leadership of the third largest party in the Welsh assembly behind the Labour government and Conservative opposition.

Aged 40, she is the ninth leader in Plaid Cymru's 87-year history and the first woman to lead the party. Her election means Plaid now has female leader, chief executive, president and chair.

In the first round of voting, Ms Wood won 2,879 votes to Ms Jones's 1,884 and Lord Elis-Thomas with 1,278.

In the second and decisive round, Ms Wood beat Ms Jones by 3,326 votes to 2,494.