Leanne Wood

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Leanne Wood AM
Leanne Wood
Constituency South Wales Central
Born 1971
Rhondda, Wales
Political party Plaid Cymru

Leanne Wood, born in the Rhondda, Wales, in 1971, is a member of the National Assembly for Wales, representing the South Wales Central region for Plaid Cymru since 2003. She is a socialist. She has been the Welsh Shadow Minister for Social Justice and Regeneration since 2003.

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[edit] Background

She was a university lecturer in social work at Cardiff University prior to being elected to the Assembly in 2003. She has also worked as a support worker for Women's Aid and as a probation officer.

[edit] Political career

Leanne Wood is a former councillor and Chair of Cwm Cynon Women's Aid. Her particular areas of interest are poverty, women's issues, social services and criminal justice[citation needed].

[edit] Mrs Windsor incident

In December 2004 she was the first assembly member to be ordered out of the chamber for referring to the Queen as "Mrs Windsor" during a debate. Lord Elis-Thomas asked Ms Wood to withdraw the remark on the grounds of discourtesy. When she refused, she was ordered to leave. She later said: "I don't think I was treated fairly, I don't think it was necessary.", "I don't recognise the Queen, I called her that because that's her name." [1]

[edit] Protest against Trident nuclear deterrent

Wood was arrested on 8 January 2007 for protesting against Britain's Trident nuclear deterrent at Faslane, Scotland. [1] [2] [3] On the 23rd January 2006 Leanne was the first Welsh politician to start weekly podcasts from her website.

[edit] References

  1. ^ BBC NEWS | UK | Wales | AM expelled for 'Mrs Windsor' jibe

[edit] External links

[edit] Offices held

National Assembly for Wales
Preceded by
Pauline Jarman		 Assembly Member for South Wales Central
2003 – present		 Incumbent