PLAID leader Leanne Wood called yesterday for a new law that would force Westminster to distribute Britain’s wealth equally as part of a “democratic economy.”

Ms Wood said a “legal duty” should be placed on government ministers to stop them lavishing vast sums of taxpayers’ cash on the “London city state black hole.”

The big idea of her 45-minute conference speech would mean Wales, Scotland and England’s poorest regions would receive the same investment level per-head as London.

The proud Welsh valleys politician said it would move Britain “away from dependence on financial services and back to industry.

“A democratic economy would mean investment is targeted to areas and sectors in most need of growth,” said Plaid’s most left-wing leader.

“No-one will be left behind or excluded from Plaid Cymru’s democratic economy.”

In a clear bid to beat Labour leader Ed Miliband’s pay pledge, Ms Wood committed her party to press for a living wage for all workers by 2020.

She said: “We want Wales to be a beacon of economic fairness.

“A high-value, high-quality investment location where good working conditions make good business sense.”

Ms Wood used her final conference speech ahead of May’s general election to go on the attack against the “Westminster elite.”

She slammed the Con-Dem coalition as a “ruinous government with no mandate from the people of Wales,” arguing too that Labour are “fully paid-up members of the austerity brigade.”

The Welsh Assembly Member insisted a hung Parliament would allow Plaid MPs to deliver their plans for a legal duty and living wage.

And she told around 200 activists that: “Things will only change in Wales when Plaid Cymru has the full might of Wales behind us.”

Despite independence being defeated in Scotland, Plaid’s leader predicted that Wales will become an independent country in “years not decades.”

Turning to international affairs, Ms Wood ruled out her party’s MPs voting for new wars.

“We cannot bomb our way to a peaceful outcome,” she said.

Ms Wood’s passionate and upbeat conference speech was unexpectedly interrupted when the fire alarm went off three-quarters of the way through.

“Well, that’s never happened before,” she said.

lukejames@peoples-press.com