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Wales has 'window of opportunity', says Plaid Cymru leader Plaid Cymru 'could hold balance of power', Leanne Wood says
(35 minutes later)
Wales now has a "window of opportunity" to rebalance wealth and power in the UK, Plaid Cymru's leader is expected to tell her party's conference. Plaid Cymru MPs could hold the balance of power after next year's general election, party leader Leanne Wood has told its conference.
Leanne Wood will argue planned constitutional changes in Scotland offer Wales the chance to "at least put us on par with our neighbours". Leanne Wood said the pro-independence campaign in Scotland had helped bring about the "demise" of the "old two-party Westminster system".
Ms Wood will say Plaid, with the SNP and the Greens, could hold the balance of power after May's general election. She condemned "a cruel and damaging coalition ... a ruinous government with no mandate from the people of Wales".
She is speaking on the opening day of the two-day event in Llangollen. Ms Wood was giving her keynote speech at the two-day event in Llangollen.
With devolution high on the political agenda across the United Kingdom, Ms Wood will say she wants to "bring our government home to Wales". She told delegates on Friday that votes for Welsh and Scottish nationalists, as well as Greens, could decide who holds the balance of power following the election in May 2015.
There can be "no justification" for "Wales' nationhood being second or even third rate", she will insist. Leaving Plaid Cymru out of TV debates of the party leaders meant that "the truth will not be televised", she said.
Ms Wood will call for a substantial series of powers to be devolved, including natural resources, criminal justice, policing and "major financial" responsibilities. Plaid would build on people's hopes, not play to their fears, she added.
On the economy, the Plaid Cymru leader will say wealth needs to be distributed on the basis of "equality of treatment" for "all communities and countries" in the UK. She accused Labour of failing to stand up for Wales, claiming austerity policies at Westminster resulted in 70,000 people seeking help from food banks in Wales.
'Real alternative' Plaid Cymru is targeting the constituencies of Ceredigion and Ynys Mon between now and May, as it seeks to increase its number of MPs from the current three.
She will call for the "chatter" about the "underfunding of Wales" to end, because it is time for "some delivery".
In 2009, economist Gerald Holtham estimated the UK Treasury was underfunding the Welsh government to the tune of £300m a year.
On Tuesday, all four parties in the assembly backed a joint motion calling for Welsh and UK ministers to agree by January how much extra funding Wales needs.
Ms Wood will tell the Llangollen conference there is "every chance" of a hung parliament after the general election.
Plaid Cymru would "maximise" the opportunities for Wales that might emerge in such circumstances, if it were holding the balance of power with the Scottish National Party and the Green Party, she will say.
Ms Wood will also criticise the austerity policies of the coalition UK government, arguing it is time for a "real alternative".
Plaid is targeting the constituencies of Ceredigion and Ynys Mon between now and May, as it seeks to increase its number of MPs from the current three.
Analysis by Nick Servini, BBC Wales political editorAnalysis by Nick Servini, BBC Wales political editor
This is Plaid Cymru's first gathering since we saw the people of Scotland come close to doing what many would have thought unthinkable in their lifetime - becoming an independent nation.This is Plaid Cymru's first gathering since we saw the people of Scotland come close to doing what many would have thought unthinkable in their lifetime - becoming an independent nation.
Unsurprisingly, many Plaid members are in buoyant mood as they gather in Llangollen for their conference as they try to take advantage of the momentum that has been generated for constitutional change across the UK. Unsurprisingly, many Plaid members are in buoyant mood as they try to take advantage of the momentum that has been generated for constitutional change across the UK.
But there are difficulties, including how the party differentiates itself when so many of the other parties are supporting the roll out of further devolution.But there are difficulties, including how the party differentiates itself when so many of the other parties are supporting the roll out of further devolution.
Senior figures insist this territory belongs to them so we can expect plenty of speeches taking ownership of constitutional change.Senior figures insist this territory belongs to them so we can expect plenty of speeches taking ownership of constitutional change.
Leanne Wood's in the middle of an electoral cycle that will define her time as leader of the party.Leanne Wood's in the middle of an electoral cycle that will define her time as leader of the party.
One of the challenges she faces is to set out how extra powers are not just needed for their own sake but because they will make a difference to people's lives.One of the challenges she faces is to set out how extra powers are not just needed for their own sake but because they will make a difference to people's lives.
'Very optimistic''Very optimistic'
During the morning session, the party's economic adviser Eurfyl ap Gwilym called for the timetable for the development of Welsh devolution to "accelerate".During the morning session, the party's economic adviser Eurfyl ap Gwilym called for the timetable for the development of Welsh devolution to "accelerate".
Praising new Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb for saying "good things" on the devolution issue, Mr ap Gwilym said he was "very optimistic" about the future.Praising new Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb for saying "good things" on the devolution issue, Mr ap Gwilym said he was "very optimistic" about the future.
It was time for Wales to demand "full parity with Scotland" in the funding the Welsh government receives from the UK Treasury, he added.It was time for Wales to demand "full parity with Scotland" in the funding the Welsh government receives from the UK Treasury, he added.
Carmarthen East and Dinefwr MP Jonathan Edwards told the conference that the Scottish referendum on independence showed that the only way the "Westminster elite" would "ever take notice of Wales" was if the "people of our country support Plaid Cymru".Carmarthen East and Dinefwr MP Jonathan Edwards told the conference that the Scottish referendum on independence showed that the only way the "Westminster elite" would "ever take notice of Wales" was if the "people of our country support Plaid Cymru".
He said Plaid's political opponents would "never undermine our belief in the people of Wales".He said Plaid's political opponents would "never undermine our belief in the people of Wales".
It was time to persuade people that "Westminster is for the establishment elite: Wales can be ours", he added.It was time to persuade people that "Westminster is for the establishment elite: Wales can be ours", he added.
Meanwhile a motion calling for the voting age to be reduced to 16 has been backed by delegates.Meanwhile a motion calling for the voting age to be reduced to 16 has been backed by delegates.
Education spokesman Simon Thomas AM said: "Welsh democracy can only benefit if people of all ages are engaged in the political process."Education spokesman Simon Thomas AM said: "Welsh democracy can only benefit if people of all ages are engaged in the political process."