Plaid Cymru's plans for economic revival can lift people's "lack of hope" and end Labour's dominance in Wales, leader Leanne Wood told the Morning Star yesterday.

Job creation and the economy dominate the agenda of her party's two-day conference in Aberystwyth - the first to be open to all members.

Ms Wood said they meet in "high spirits" after seeing their "positive campaign" deliver victory in August's Assembly by-election in Anglesey.

"Our success can be credited to our constructive, positive policies of rebuilding the economy and creating jobs," she said.

"So many of the problems that Wales faces at the moment - poor health, high levels of dependency on benefits, low levels of education and lack of hope - can be attributed to the poor state of the economy."

Ms Wood is set to reveal new policy commitments aimed to "stimulate the economy" and "attack the scourge of unemployment" in her speech this afternoon.

She revealed yesterday that slashing rates for small businesses and co-operatives will be part of the party's "economic plan for the decade."

And despite doing a deal to pass the Welsh government's budget this week, Plaid's first female leader wants to break Labour's 14-year hold on power.

She said: "I really do think that Wales's problems are such now that we need to be considering how we get a government that is not Labour.

"Wales really needs a change of leadership and that's why I'll be putting all of my effort into ensuring Plaid Cymru is the biggest party after 2016 and leading that government.

"Clearly the way the assembly is made up, there must be some recognition that coalition is a likely fact of life so all options should be considered, with the exception of the Conservatives."

The left-wing AM and former probation officer also told the Star she is "hopeful we can strengthen our relationship with trade unions."

"Plaid Cymru has always been open to working with trade unions and there'll always be a warm welcome to representatives at our conference."