Adam Price has quit as leader of Plaid Cymru, the Welsh national party, which he has helmed since 2018.
The member of the Senedd for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr announced his decision on Wednesday following a review into his party’s culture.
His resignation has triggered a leadership election, which could conclude over the summer.
Meanwhile, Llyr Gruffydd MS, who represents North Wales in the Senedd, has been declared interim leader. His position will be confirmed by the party’s National Council on Saturday.
This is all you need to know about the issue at the heart of Welsh politics.
Who is Adam Price and what does Plaid Cymru stand for?
Under Mr Price’s leadership, Plaid Cymru won only 13 of the 60 seats in the Welsh Parliament and lost the key constituency of Rhondda, after having promised to hold a referendum into Welsh independence if the party won a majority.
This has been a central policy of the party as well as EU membership, as was the co-operation agreement between the government and Welsh nationalists.
However, this was a slight reduction in votes and the party came third overall — which has led Plaid to begin a power-sharing agreement with Labour, the largest party.
“We have driven the agenda for change in a way that no previous opposition party has dreamt of doing,” Mr Price wrote in his resignation letter to party chairman Marc Jones.
“The co-operation agreement was truly ground-breaking and has delivered life-changing benefits to our children, families and friends all over Wales.
“Our core driver — independence for Wales — has broken the banks of mainstream politics and now many, from all parts and all parties, believe like we do that it is a matter of when and not if.”
The 54-year-old is also known for being the first gay leader of a UK political party. He has two children.
Why has Adam Price resigned?
Diolch o galon am y negeseuon caredig dros y dyddiau diwethaf a'r holl gefnogaeth drwy gydol fy arweinyddiaeth. 🏴
— Adam Price 🏴🏳️🌈 (@Adamprice) May 10, 2023
Yn dilyn cyfarfod o Bwyllgor Gwaith Cenedlaethol @Plaid_Cymru heno, rwyf wedi anfon y llythyr hwn at Marc Jones, Cadeirydd y Blaid. pic.twitter.com/NZ2yZf1kyy
Mr Price announced his departure after a review on May 3 was released. It found a culture of harassment, bullying, and misogyny in Plaid Cymru, and that he had “failed to implement a zero-tolerance approach to sexual harassment” and that women had been “especially” let down.
Eighty-two recommendations were given to “detoxify” the party and the leader said all of these would be taken on board.
He has apologised.
Evidence from an anonymous staff survey and elected members “highlight cases of sexual harassment, bullying, and discrimination”, the report said, claiming: “These are not isolated cases”.
It is understood Mr Price’s personal behaviour is not under scrutiny but the review was about the culture in the party as a whole.
Plaid Cymru chairman Marc Jones said: “On behalf of Plaid Cymru, I want to thank Adam for his drive and vision over the past four-and-a-half years. Adam’s personal commitment to making Wales a fairer nation is a lasting legacy of which he and Plaid Cymru can be proud.”
Who might replace Adam Price as the new leader of Plaid Cymru?
As of May 11, nobody had thrown their name into the ring to be the new leader of Plaid Cymru — a role Adam Price has held since he took over from Leanne Wood in 2018.
There are candidates, however, who may put themselves forward for one of the top roles in Welsh politics. Plaid Cymru has three seats in the House of Commons, one in the House of Lords, 202 in Welsh local governments, and one Welsh police crime commissioner.
Llyr Gruffydd MS, who represents the North Wales region in the Welsh Parliament, has already been declared interim leader. He was unanimously nominated by the Plaid Cymru Senedd Group on Thursday morning, according to the party.
Liz Saville Roberts is MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd and the leader of Plaid Cymru in the House of Commons. She became the party’s first female MP in 2015 and has worked on online bullying and cyber crime as well as rape-prevention strategy.
Leanne Wood has been out of politics since 2021 and, since being ousted by Mr Price as party leader in 2015, has been critical of her successor. She stood against his plan for a second referendum and has also said the Prince of Wales title could be abolished.
Her leadership was also challenged by Rhun ap Iorwerth, who has been deputy leader alongside Siân Gwenllian since 2018. Mr Ioweth is a member of the Senedd for Ynys Môn, and Ms Gwenllian is member of the Senedd for Arfon. Both are long-time members and supporters of the party’s direction.
The party’s sole member of the House of Lords is Dafydd Wigley, a former MP who is now honorary party president. Aged 80, however, he may not wish to stand as party leader.
