Wood praised for debate performance
Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood was widely praised for her performance in Wednesday night’s BBC Westminster Election leadership debate.
Business Insider’s political editor, Adam Bienkov, declared that Wood was the “star of the show”.
“If there is one big winner tonight it was Plaid Cymru’s leader Leanne Wood,” he said.
“She was sharp, likeable and had some of the best lines of the night.
“Her attack on UKIP’s Paul Nuttall for his refusal to pay any Brexit bill drew particular admiration, even from her rivals.
“Her performance tonight should boost Plaid’s hopes in this election.”
Total Politics also said that Leanne Wood, alongside Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron, had the “best lines” on the night.
“For many viewers, the best line of the night came from Wood,” they said. “Criticising the Ukip’s approach to Brexit negotiations, the Plaid Cymru leader launched a stinging personal attack on Paul Nuttall.”
The New Statesman declared that Leanne Wood had “sound divorce advice”.
“The lilting-accented Plaid Cymru leader was back by popular demand, and while she did her bit for Wales, her star turn was a takedown of Ukip’s Paul Nuttall,” they said.
“Fun Leanne Wood fact: she used to be a probation officer.”
The Metro was less impressed with the line, pointing to some accounts on twitter who argued that the line was sexist.
Leanne Wood had asked the UKIP leader: “Would you refuse to pay your dues if you were going through a real divorce? We all know about blokes like you.”
‘No guts’
Theresa May was seen to have had a difficult night, with opposition leaders lining up to criticise her for her absence.
SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson said that “the Prime Minister didn’t have the guts to come along”.
Green party co-leader Caroline Lucas said that “the first rule of leadership is to show up”.
“You don’t call a general election and say it is the most important election in your lifetime, and then not even be bothered to come and debate the issues at stake,” she said.
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I found it particularly interesting to look at the way the different papers/media responded. This is a feature I would like to see regularly.
if we’re being completely objective the stand out performers in what was an admittedly poorly managed debate were angus roberston and caroline lucas, but leanne had a couple of great moments – nailing nuttall on his anti immigrant rhetoric and making the quip of the nite when she challenged the hapless ukip leader over his refusal to pay a bexit ‘divorce bill’. She also rightly brought to wider attention welsh labour’s refusal to support legislation on zero hours contracts in the senedd. The tories were clearly left in a state of disarray over May’s no show.
I think that article misses her pretty great attack on Corbyn over Welsh Labour: https://youtu.be/YnAeSqjSnio?t=41m50s
I agree with Leigh Richards’ comments , and would add that without Leanne Wood’s presence in these deabtes, Wales would be invisivble, or at the very least, relegated to the sidelines. It WAS a poorly managed debate, and I came close to turning it off, the option of ‘following’ it on Twitter being more palatable.
Argh! Just noticed the typos…apologies!
Unless you (as a generalism) are a unionist and therefore a bradwr to our nation, no one can deny the fact that she is a good leader. The only leader of the only party that is prepared to defend Cymru!
I’m the complete opposite of a unionist, however I do think that questions need to be asked about her leadership. If the polls are correct we might be facing YET ANOTHER election where we stagnate/lose votes. She is far from being a vote winner in many areas of Wales. Calling people who disagree with her leadership as bradwyr is a horrible way of stifling debate and accountability
Absolutely. Saying that you are a traitor if you do not think Leanne Wood is a good leader is ridiculous. And saying only Unionists think she is a bad leader is simply incorrect- and I know many people who vote for their Plaid Cymru MP but who do not have a high opinion of her.
Oh yeah. That kind of attitude is going to win people over. Plaid need to make those people who vote Labour and prefer the Union feel inclusive in a Welsh society… all this attitude does is alienate them more towards it. Well done.