Rhun ap Iorwerth
MS
Official portrait, 2021
Leader of Plaid Cymru
Assumed office
16 June 2023
PresidentThe Lord Wigley
DeputySiân Gwenllian
Delyth Jewell
Preceded byAdam Price
Deputy Leader of Plaid Cymru
In office
23 October 2018 – 16 June 2023
Serving with Siân Gwenllian
LeaderAdam Price
Llyr Gruffydd (acting)
Preceded byElin Jones (2016)
Succeeded bySiân Gwenllian
Member of the Senedd
for Ynys Môn
Assumed office
2 August 2013
Preceded byIeuan Wyn Jones
Majority9,166 (37.8%)
Personal details
Born
Rhun ap Iorwerth Jones

(1972-08-27) 27 August 1972
Tonteg, Pontypridd, Wales
Political partyPlaid Cymru
Children3[1]
Residence(s)Llangristiolus, Ynys Môn
ProfessionPolitician and formerly a journalist
Websitewww.rhunapiorwerth.cymru

Rhun ap Iorwerth (né Jones; born 27 August 1972) is a Welsh journalist and politician serving as the Leader of Plaid Cymru since June 2023. He has been the Member of the Senedd (MS) for Ynys Môn since 2013.

Early and personal life

Rhun ap Iorwerth Jones was born in Tonteg, Rhondda Cynon Taf, brought up in Meirionydd and then Anglesey.[2][3]

He attended Ysgol Rhyd-y-Main, Dolgellau for a short period, before moving to Anglesey and attending Ysgol Gynradd Llandegfan (Llandegfan Primary School) followed by secondary education at Ysgol David Hughes, Menai Bridge. He then studied politics and Welsh at Cardiff University, and graduated in 1993.[4][3]

After living in both Cardiff and London, ap Iorwerth lives in Anglesey with his wife and has three children.[5]

His father Edward Morus Jones, a primary school headteacher, composed various songs and musicals for children and young people such as Cwm-Rhyd-Y-Rhosyn.[6][7]

Career

In 1994, ap Iorwerth joined BBC Cymru Wales, and worked as a journalist at BBC Westminster. Returning to Wales after the 1997 devolution referendum, he became BBC Wales' Chief Political Correspondent in 2001, a post he held for five years, before moving into presenting roles. He has been presenter of The Politics Show Wales, Dragon's Eye, ampm, BBC Radio Wales' Good Morning Wales, BBC Radio Cymru's Post Cyntaf breakfast news programme and weekly political discussion programme Dau o'r Bae, and the BBC's main evening news programme for S4C Newyddion. He has also been a regular correspondent for BBC Network news, featuring on all BBC News channels. Outside news, he has presented numerous series for S4C, including its coverage of the National Eisteddfod, Y Rhufeiniaid (the Romans), and arts series Pethe.[8]

In January 2012, ap Iorwerth was announced as one of the patrons of the Cronfa Betsi Fund, the charitable arm of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.[9]

Political career

Rhun ap Iorwerth exploring EU funding opportunities; 2014

On 20 June 2013, former Plaid Cymru leader Ieuan Wyn Jones resigned from the National Assembly for Wales seat of Ynys Môn in order to take a post leading the new Menai Science Park,[10][11] triggering a by-election in the constituency.[12]

In June 2013, BBC Cymru Wales announced that ap Iorwerth had stepped down from his news presenting role to pursue a Plaid Cymru nomination for the Welsh assembly Anglesey by-election.[13]

The by-election provoked a local debate, in which Wylfa Nuclear Power Station became a key issue. The by-election was seen as key – had Welsh Labour won then they would have had an outright majority in the Assembly with 31 out of the 60 seats. The election on 1 August 2013 saw ap Iorwerth gain 12,601 votes, over the second-placed candidate Tal Michael (Labour), on a turnout of 42.45%.[14][15] Ap Iorwerth held his seat in 2016. He unsuccessfully ran for the leadership of Plaid Cymru in 2018, losing to Adam Price. He was later appointed as joint deputy leader.[16]

Rhun ap Iorwerth's office in Llangefni

ap Iorwerth has served as Plaid Cymru's spokesperson (Shadow Minister) for Economy and Transport and in 2015 called for the South Wales Metro to be delivered on time.[17]

In July 2022, he announced his candidacy to become Plaid Cymru's prospective parliamentary candidate in Ynys Môn for the next British general election.[18] In October 2023 he was replaced as candidate by Llinos Medi.[19]

In March 2023, as Plaid Cymru's spokesperson on health and care, ap Iorwerth called for a public inquiry into Betsi Cadwaladr health board failures and repeatedly called to replace Betsi with smaller health boards.[20]

In May 2023, ap Iorwerth announced he was running to become leader of Plaid Cymru.[21] He was elected unopposed.[22]

References

  1. ↑ "Rhun ap Iorwerth visits Anglesey care homes". Plaid Cymru. 1 July 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  2. ↑ "In full: Read Adam Price and Rhun ap Iorweth's competing visions for their party". itv.com.
  3. 1 2 "The Welsh Nation - Autumn 2013 by Plaid Cymru - Issuu". issuu.com. 27 September 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  4. ↑ "Rhun ap Iorwerth MS". Senedd.Wales.
  5. ↑ Shipton, Martin (3 August 2013). "Rhun ap Iorwerth: My mother's death pushed me into politics". WalesOnline. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  6. ↑ Shipton, Martin (3 August 2013). "Rhun ap Iorwerth: My mother's death pushed me into politics". WalesOnline. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  7. ↑ "Anrhydeddu Edward Morus Jones mewn gŵyl yn yr Unol Daleithiau". newyddion.s4c.cymru (in Welsh). Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  8. ↑ "About Me". Rhun ap Iorwerth. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  9. ↑ "Cronfa Betsi Fund launched". Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. 9 February 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  10. ↑ "Presiding Officer accepts resignation of Ieuan Wyn Jones". Assemblywales.org. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  11. ↑ "Ieuan Wyn Jones to stand down as AM with immediate effect". BBC News. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  12. ↑ "Ynys Mon by-election set for 1 August". BBC News. 26 June 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  13. ↑ "BBC presenter Rhun ap Iorwerth seeks Plaid nomination". BBC Wales. 26 June 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  14. ↑ "Plaid's Anglesey win 'energising' for party, says Rhun ap Iorwerth". BBC Wales. 2 August 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  15. ↑ Shipton, Martin (2 August 2013). "Plaid candidate Rhun ap Iorwerth wins by a landslide in Anglesey by-election". WalesOnline. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  16. ↑ Masters, Adrian [@adrianmasters84] (23 October 2018). "New Plaid Cymru leader @Adamprice has appointed two deputies: @siangwenfelin and @RhunapIorwerth" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  17. ↑ "£600m South Wales Metro 'must deliver on time'". BBC News. 30 June 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  18. ↑ "Plaid Cymru Senedd Member Rhun ap Iorwerth to fight for Ynys Môn seat at Westminster General Election". Nation.Cymru. 11 July 2022. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  19. ↑ Mansfield, Mark (3 October 2023). "Llinos Medi confirmed as Plaid Cymru's candidate for Ynys Môn at next general election". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  20. ↑ "Plaid Cymru calls for public enquiry into Betsi Cadwaladr failures". Nation.Cymru. 8 March 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  21. ↑ "Rhun ap Iorwerth confirms Plaid Cymru leadership bid". Nation.Cymru. 30 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  22. ↑ Morris, Steven (9 June 2023). "Rhun ap Iorwerth set to become Plaid Cymru leader unopposed". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
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