Leanne Wood calls to rally female voters

With three days to go until polling day, Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood will today urge women to make their voices heard on Thursday.

Ms Wood will reiterate her view to make politics more inclusive, in a speech at Aberystwyth University today.

She is expected to say: “Millions of women did not vote in the last UK general election. Since then, women have been hit hardest by the austerity agenda that all the old Westminster parties are signed up to and committed to continuing.”

The Plaid Cymru leader will say she is “proud” to be among the women who have “shaken up the Westminster boys club” throughout this election campaign.

“To all women voters I ask you to cast your vote so that women’s voices aren’t just a feature of an election campaign but a permanent part of politics after it,” she will say.

Aberystwyth, which is in the Ceredigion constituency previously represented by the Liberal Democrats, is one of the marginal seats that her party aim to win, after having won it in the Welsh Assembly elections in 2011.

The visit will mark Ms Wood’s second to the constituency in less than a month, as she reaches out to young voters at this crucial stage in the campaign.

“To young people in Wales I implore you, make your voices heard,” she is expected to say. “The old way is out and it is up to you to shape the new politics for the new Wales.

“Plaid Cymru is committed to our youthful democracy including and celebrating the youth of our country.

“We need your vision, your idealism, and your energy.”