Plaid Cymru leadership: Adam Price backs Leanne Wood

Leanne Wood and Elin Jones both received support for their leadership bids

Former Plaid Cymru MP Adam Price has declared his support for Leanne Wood in the party's leadership contest.

Mr Price praised her "commitment and consistency" towards a radical vision for Wales.

Arfon MP Hywel Williams has announced his backing for Ceredigion AM Elin Jones, who he called "an intelligent and challenging politician".

Ex-party leader Lord Elis Thomas and Mid and West Wales AM Simon Thomas are also standing.

Mr Price said he had known South Wales Central assembly member Ms Wood for more than 20 years.

He said: "I've seen Leanne has grown as a politician and the way she has been a bridge builder.

"We're going to need that in this party if we're going to build momentum.

"We call ourselves the party of Wales. If we are to be that party then we have to speak with a voice that resonates across Wales and Leanne can do that."

Ms Wood also has the support of assembly members Bethan Jenkins and Lindsay Whittle, as well as the MP for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr Jonathan Edwards.

Stand down

Meanwhile, Mr Williams said he would be backing former rural affairs minister Ms Jones whom he described as an "intelligent and challenging politician".

Ms Jones is also being supported by the party's former chief executive Dafydd Trystan, former AMs Dai Lloyd and Nerys Evans, and current AMs Llyr Huws Gruffydd (North Wales) and Jocelyn Davies (South East Wales).

The winner, elected by the alternative vote system, will be named in March.

Ieuan Wyn Jones, who has led the party since 2000, announced his intention to stand down after last May's disappointing assembly election result.