The Fire Brigades Union is backing Leanne Wood’s bid to become leader of Plaid Cymru.
The union has donated £500 to Leanne Wood’s campaign as the South Wales Central AM received more endorsements for her leadership bid.
Leanne is an active trade unionist who regularly supports workers’ campaigns against job cuts and to protect their pay and conditions. She is also chair of all-party PCS group in the National Assembly.
Endorsing Leanne’s leadership campaign, Cerith Griffiths, the FBU’s regional chair for Wales, said: “It is important in politics that our leaders show honesty and integrity and Leanne has shown that time and time again.
“Leanne has constantly shown clear values and her priorities are the public and the community, and she puts them in front of her own self-interest. She has the ability to connect with the communities that she works on behalf of and has developed a special relationship with the public.
“Leanne is best person in Plaid Cymru to take up the challenge to the unionist parties.”
Caernarfon-based former Cymdeithas yr Iaith Chair, Menna Machreth, said: “While I was chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith a lot of my work involved communicating with politicians in Cardiff Bay and Leanne Wood lent consistent support to our calls. She was always ready to help and Leanne went out of her way on many occasions to progress the rights agenda for the Welsh language and Welsh language communities.
“It’s an exciting prospect to have, in Leanne, a candidate who is ready to offer a vision about how Wales can develop in its own unique way and grow to be a confident nation, ensuring that the Welsh language will be an integral part of that vision.”
Academic and author Dr Daniel G Williams of the English Department at Swansea University, added: “Historically, social progress has taken place through robust argument, through standing on principle. That is the business of Plaid Cymru. I believe that under Leanne’s leadership our party can inspire people across the whole of our proud and diverse nation to engage in politics.”
Leanne Wood said: “I’m very pleased at the support given to me by the FBU and its leadership in Wales in recognition of the work I have done on the part of working people and their trades unions. I also like to thank those individuals that have publicly endorsed my leadership campaign.”
Further information on Leanne’s campaign can be found on her website at www.leannewood2012.com
