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Rhun ap Iorwerth

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The Right Honourable
Rhun ap Iorwerth
MS
BERJAYA
Official portrait, 2026
First Minister of Wales
Incumbent
Assumed office
12 May 2026
MonarchCharles III
DeputySioned Williams
Preceded byEluned Morgan
Leader of Plaid Cymru
Incumbent
Assumed office
16 June 2023
PresidentDafydd Wigley
DeputyDelyth Jewell
Preceded byLlyr Gruffydd
Member of the Senedd
Incumbent
Assumed office
7 May 2026
ConstituencyBangor Conwy Môn
In office
1 August 2013 – 8 April 2026
Preceded byIeuan Wyn Jones
Succeeded byConstituency dissolved
ConstituencyYnys Môn
Opposition positions
Shadow Minister for Health
In office
25 May 2016 – 14 October 2016
PresidentDafydd Wigley
LeaderLeanne Wood
Preceded byDarren Millar
Succeeded byAngela Burns
Frontbench positions
Deputy Leader of Plaid Cymru
In office
2018 – 16 June 2023
Serving with Siân Gwenllian
PresidentDafydd Wigley
LeaderAdam Price
Llyr Gruffydd
Preceded byElin Jones
Succeeded bySiân Gwenllian
Plaid Cymru Spokesperson for Health and Social Care
In office
21 May 2021 – 16 June 2023
PresidentDafydd Wigley
LeaderAdam Price
Plaid Cymru Spokesperson for Health and Finance
In office
3 February 2020 – 6 May 2021
PresidentDafydd Wigley
LeaderAdam Price
Plaid Cymru Spokesperson for Economy and Finance
In office
19 October 2018 – 3 February 2020
PresidentDafydd Wigley
LeaderAdam Price
Plaid Cymru Spokesperson for Economy, Enterprise and Transport
In office
14 January 2014 – 5 May 2016
PresidentDafydd Wigley
LeaderLeanne Wood
Personal details
BornRhun ap Iorwerth Jones
(1972-08-27) 27 August 1972 (age 53)
Tonteg, Wales
PartyPlaid Cymru
Children3
Parent
EducationCardiff University
Occupation
  • Politician
  • journalist

Rhun ap Iorwerth[a] (né Jones; born 27 August 1972) is a Welsh politician and former journalist who has served as First Minister of Wales since May 2026 and Leader of Plaid Cymru since 2023. He has served as a Member of the Senedd (MS) for Bangor Conwy Môn since 2026, and previously as the MS for Ynys Môn from 2013 to 2026.

Born in Tonteg, ap Iorwerth was raised in Anglesey and studied politics and Welsh at Cardiff University. He worked as a journalist for BBC Cymru Wales from 1994, serving as chief political correspondent, before working as a radio and television presenter. In 2013, he stepped down from broadcasting to pursue a career in politics, standing as the Plaid Cymru candidate in the Ynys Môn by-election, winning the seat and becoming an Assembly Member (AM).[b]

Re-elected in the 2016 and 2021 elections, ap Iorwerth served as Shadow Minister for Health in the Wood shadow cabinet and held several positions on the Plaid Cymru frontbench team, including Deputy Leader following defeat in the 2018 party leadership election. ap Iorwerth was elected unopposed as leader in 2023, and was nominated as First Minister of Wales following the party's victory in the 2026 Senedd election. He is the first FM to represent a party other than Welsh Labour, his appointment ending the party's uninterrupted tenure in Welsh Government since devolution in 1999.

Early life

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ap Iorwerth was born in Tonteg, Rhondda Cynon Taf on 27 August 1972 to Gwyneth and Edward Morus Jones [cy], both teachers and Welsh language campaigners; his sister, Awen Iorwerth, is an orthopaedic surgeon.[2][3] On his birth certificate, ap Iorwerth's surname was recorded as Jones, against the wishes of his parents to name him ap Iorwerth. The literal English meaning of his name is Rhun, son of Iorwerth. The name follows the Welsh patronymic naming system, which was common in Wales until anglicisation during the Tudor period.[3]

ap Iorwerth grew up in Meirionnydd and, from the age of five, Anglesey. He attended Ysgol Gynradd Llandegfan, where his father was headteacher, and Ysgol David Hughes before going on to study politics and Welsh at Cardiff University.[2][4] He has said that as a teenager, he briefly considered a career as a veterinarian and chose his A-levels accordingly, but later changed his mind and pursued a career in journalism.[4] During his twenties, ap Iorwerth worked in a bar in Parma, Italy, alongside his future wife whilst she was a student at the University of Parma in the Erasmus Programme.[5][6]

He has described music as a key part of his childhood; his father a composer. He set up a radio studio in his home and, at the age of 14, was a reporter on a children's news programme.[3] He developed an interest in politics during the 1987 general election, during Ieuan Wyn Jones' campaign as a candidate for Ynys Môn.[4]

Broadcasting career

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In 1994, ap Iorwerth began working as a political journalist for BBC Cymru Wales, for some time in Westminster, returning to Wales following the 1997 Welsh devolution referendum. In 2001, he became the chief political correspondent at BBC Cymru Wales, a position he held for five years before moving to presenting roles. He presented several television and radio programmes, including S4C's Newyddion and Dragon's Eye.[2][7][8]

Political career

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In 2013, ap Iorwerth stepped down from his role in the BBC to run as the Plaid Cymru candidate in the Ynys Môn by-election, which was triggered by the June resignation of Ieuan Wyn Jones, the former seat holder.[3][9][10] During the campaign, Welsh Labour sought to publicize his support of the construction of the Wylfa nuclear power station, in contradiction to Plaid Cymru's policy in opposition to nuclear power. A Plaid Cymru blogger faced disiplinary action within the party after attacking ap Iorwerth for his position on the power station's construction.[11] During his candidacy, suggestions were made within Plaid Cymru that he could serve as a future party leader, to which he found "somehow amusing" considering his status as a newcomer.[4]

Senedd (2013–present)

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On 1 August, he won the by-election with 12,601 votes and a vote share of 58.24%, a majority of 9,166 over Labour.[10][12] The result was Plaid Cymru's fifth victory in a National Assembly election. On 2 August, ap Iorwerth was sworn in as the Assembly Member (AM) for Ynys Môn,[b] and arrived at the Senedd building accompanied by his wife and three children, cheered by Plaid Cymru supporters.[4][10] The result caused Labour to lose their status as the majority in the Senedd.[11]

BERJAYA
Official portrait of ap Iorwerth as an Assembly Member, 2016

In the 2016 National Assembly for Wales election, ap Iorwerth was re-elected as the AM for Ynys Môn with 13,788 votes and a vote share of 54.8%.[13] Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood appointed him into her shadow cabinet as Shadow Minister for Health.[14] In the 2021 Senedd election, he was re-elected as the Member of the Senedd (MS) for Ynys Môn with 15,506 votes and a vote share of 55.9%.[15]

ap Iorwerth has held several positions on the Plaid Cymru frontbench team. In a 2014 reshuffle of the frontbench ahead of the 2016 National Assembly election, he was appointed as the economy, enterprise and transport spokesman by Leader of Plaid Cymru Leanne Wood.[16][17] In 2018, he was appointed by Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price as economy and finance spokesperson, the frontbench position formerly held by Price,[18] and was then moved to health and finance in a 2020 reshuffle.[19] Following the 2021 Senedd election, he was made health and social care spokesperson.[20] In 2022, he announced his candidacy as Plaid Cymru's prospective parliamentary candidate for Ynys Môn in the 2024 general election, but was replaced by Llinos Medi.[21][22]

Leadership of Plaid Cymru (2013–present)

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In 2023, an internal report found "bullying, harassment and misogyny" within Plaid Cymru, leading to the resignation of Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price, with Llyr Gruffydd succeeding as interim leader. ap Iorwerth ran as a candidate in the subsequent leadership election.[2][23][24][25] He had previously ran as a candidate for leadership in the 2018 election, defeated by Adam Price,[3][8] after which he was appointed as joint-deputy leader of Plaid Cymru alongside Siân Gwenllian.[26][27] On 16 July, ap Iorwerth was elected as leader unopposed, vowing to make the party one "where everyone feels safe and supported and empowered to play their parts."[2][23][24][25]

In 2024, he ended the co-operational agreement between Plaid Cymru and Welsh Labour, following concerns regarding Welsh labour leader First Minister Vaughan Gething. The concerns included allegations of perjury against Gething, his dismissal of Minister for Social Partnership Hannah Blythyn, and his failure to repay a £200,000 campaign donation. ap Iorwerth described the factors as demonstrating "a significant lack of judgement". Gething said following the withdrawal: "we are disappointed Plaid Cymru has decided to walk away from their opportunity to deliver for the people of Wales".[28] [29][30]

As leader, he had been described by the BBC as having a more "confrontational" approach to the Welsh Labour government.[2]

Premiership as First Minister (2026–present)

[edit]

Appointment

[edit]
BERJAYA
ap Iorwerth following his election as First Minister of Wales
BERJAYA
ap Iorwerth meeting Prime Minister Andy Burnham in 2026

In January 2026, after opinion polls suggested Plaid Cymru would win the most seats in the 2026 Senedd election, but not manage to win enough seats for a majority, Rhun ap Iorwerth said he preferred to form a minority government than a coalition government.[31] In the 2026 Senedd election on 7 May, ap Iorwerth was re-elected to the Senedd, with a seat in the newly formed Bangor Conwy Môn constituency,[32][33] with his party becoming the largest party in the Senedd with 43 seats, however like the opinion polls predicted, they didn't reach the 49 seats needed for a majority.[34] ap Iorwerth confirmed that Plaid Cymru would seek to form a minority government, and that his party preferred a "cooperative approach" to a coalition.[35]

ap Iorwerth was elected by the Senedd to succeed Eluned Morgan as First minister of Wales on 12 May 2026. He was elected by 44 MSs: 42 members of his party Plaid Cymru (not including the non-voting Deputy Llywydd Kerry Ferguson) and the two members of the Green Party. All 34 Reform UK MSs voted for their Welsh Leader Dan Thomas, and the 7 Welsh Conservative MSs voted for their Leader Darren Millar, with Labour MSs, and sole Liberal Democrat MS Jane Dodds, abstaining from the vote.[36] ap Iorwerth was officially sworn in as First Minister later the same day by High Court Justice Mary Stacey.[36][37] He is the first First Minister to come from a party other than Welsh Labour.[38]

International relations

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Ireland
[edit]

ap Iorwerth made his first foreign visit as First Minister to Ireland on 24 June 2026, where he met President Catherine Connolly at Áras an Uachtaráin. He also attended the sixth Ireland-Wales Forum where he met the Irish Government's foreign affairs minister, Helen McEntee. During the meeting, the two governments agreed to closer ties between the two nations, and discussed the possibility of a future collaboration between the nations regarding renewable energy projects in the Irish Sea. In an interview with RTÉ News: Six One, ap Iorwerth stated that he was leading a pro-Europe government, and that his government wanted "as close a relationship with Europe as possible", and a "stronger relationship than ever" with Ireland.[39]

Political positions

[edit]
BERJAYA
ap Iorwerth speaking in the Senedd debating chamber in 2024

ap Iorwerth has identified himself as being an environmentalist, internationalist and republican.[40][41][42]

European Union

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ap Iorwerth supports a re-accession of the United Kingdom into the European Union, single market and customs union, and has described Brexit as "the greatest act of economic self-sabotage in modern history".[5]

Health care

[edit]

In 2023, as Plaid Cymru Spokesperson for Health and Social Care, he called for a public inquiry into the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and for the health board to be replaced with smaller boards.[43]

Nuclear power

[edit]

ap Iorwerth is a key supporter of the reopening of the Wylfa nuclear power station which is situated in his constituency of Bangor Conwy Môn. The position of his party is that there should be no new nuclear power plants and only the redevelopment of old ones.[44]

Welsh independence

[edit]

In 2026, ap Iorwerth said that he hoped Wales would become independent in the future but said that it would be up to "the people of Wales" to decide when it would be ready.[45]

Personal life and honours

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ap Iorwerth is married to his wife, Llinos, whom he met at Cardiff University. He has three children.[4]

Following his victory in the 2013 Ynys Môn by-election, he told WalesOnline that he was motivated to pursue a career in politics following the 2012 death of his mother Gwyneth Morus Jones.[4]

In 2025, Rhun ap Iorwerth was inducted to the Gorsedd at a ceremony during the National Eisteddfod of Wales at Wrexham.[46]

In his personal life ap Iorwerth likes to play the guitar and playing rugby for the Senedd rugby team.[47][48]

He was appointed a member of the Privy Council on 10 June 2026, entitling him to the style The Right Honourable for life.[49]

Notes

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  1. ↑ Welsh pronunciation: [r̥ɨːn ap ˈjɔrwɛrθ][1]
  2. 1 2 Prior to the Senedd and Elections (Wales) Act 2020, a member of the legislature of Wales, now known as a member of the Senedd (MS), was known as an "assembly member" (AM). From it's establishment in 1999 until the act in 2020, the legislature was known as the "National Assembly for Wales", being renamed the "Senedd".

References

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  1. ↑ "Senedd election 2026: How do you pronounce name of Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth?". BBC News. 9 May 2026. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Who is Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth?". BBC News. 4 June 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Mosalski, Ruth (8 May 2026). "Who is Rhun ap Iorwerth, the man set to be Wales' new leader?". Wales Online. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Shipton, Martin (3 August 2013). "Rhun ap Iorwerth: My mother's death pushed me into politics". Wales Online. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  5. 1 2 Iorwerth, Rhun ap (23 June 2026). "Brexit was the 'greatest act of economic self-sabotage in modern history'". Wales Online. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  6. ↑ Cymru, Plaid (9 January 2024). "A vision for ambition: why fairness has to be both economic and social". bylines.cymru. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  7. ↑ Mansfield, Mark (30 May 2023). "Rhun ap Iorwerth confirms Plaid Cymru leadership bid". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  8. 1 2 "Plaid Cymru: What we know about new leader Rhun ap Iorwerth". BBC News. 16 June 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  9. ↑ "Anglesey: BBC presenter Rhun ap Iorwerth seeks Plaid nomination". BBC News. 23 June 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
  10. 1 2 3 "Plaid's Anglesey win 'energising' for party, says Rhun ap Iorwerth". BBC News. 2 August 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
  11. 1 2 Shipton, Martin (2 August 2013). "Plaid candidate Rhun ap Iorwerth wins by a landslide in Anglesey by-election". Wales Online. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
  12. ↑ "Ynys Môn by-election". research.senedd.wales. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
  13. ↑ "Ynys Mon - Welsh Assembly constituency - Election 2016 - BBC News". Retrieved 15 July 2026.
  14. ↑ "Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood names 'strong' shadow cabinet". BBC News. 25 May 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
  15. ↑ "Ynys Mon - Welsh Parliament constituency". BBC News. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
  16. ↑ "Leanne Wood reshuffles Plaid Cymru's assembly team". BBC News. 14 January 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
  17. ↑ Henry, Graham (14 January 2014). "Plaid Cymru announce cabinet reshuffle ahead of next general election". Wales Online. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
  18. ↑ "New Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price names frontbench team". BBC News. 19 October 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
  19. ↑ Sinclair, Tom (3 February 2020). "Reshuffle and refresh for Plaid group". Herald.Wales. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
  20. ↑ "Welsh election: New Plaid Cymru Senedd members get frontbench roles". BBC News. 21 May 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
  21. ↑ NationCymru (11 July 2022). "Plaid Cymru Senedd Member Rhun ap Iorwerth to fight for Ynys Môn seat at Westminster General Election". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
  22. ↑ Mansfield, Mark (3 October 2023). "Llinos Medi confirmed as Plaid Cymru's candidate for Ynys Môn at next general election". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
  23. 1 2 "Plaid Cymru: Rhun ap Iorwerth elected leader unopposed". BBC News. 16 June 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2026.
  24. 1 2 Price, Emily (16 June 2023). "Rhun ap Iorwerth announced as new lead of Plaid Cymru". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 17 July 2026.
  25. 1 2 Morris, Steven (9 June 2023). "Rhun ap Iorwerth set to become Plaid Cymru leader unopposed". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  26. ↑ "Plaid Cymru: Rhun ap Iorwerth due to be confirmed new leader". BBC News. 15 June 2023. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
  27. ↑ "Rhun ap Iorwerth MS". senedd.wales. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
  28. ↑ Mansfield, Mark (17 May 2024). "Plaid Cymru pulls out of Co-operation Agreement with the Welsh Government". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  29. ↑ "Vaughan Gething: Plaid Cymru ends Labour Senedd co-operation deal". BBC News. 17 May 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  30. ↑ Morris, Steven (17 May 2024). "Plaid Cymru ends cooperation deal with Labour-led Welsh government". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  31. ↑ Davies, Cemlyn (16 January 2026). "Senedd election: Plaid would take minority government over coalition". BBC News. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  32. ↑ Price, Emily (27 June 2025). "Plaid Cymru reveals candidates for new Bangor Conwy Môn and Clwyd constituencies". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  33. ↑ "Bangor Conwy Môn - Welsh Parliament constituency". BBC News. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  34. ↑ McKernan, Bethan; Morris, Steven (8 May 2026). "Plaid Cymru wins Welsh Senedd elections, ending 100 years of Labour control". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  35. ↑ Morris, Steven (10 May 2026). "Plaid Cymru leader plans minority Welsh government built on cooperation". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  36. 1 2 "Rhun ap Iorwerth elected First Minister of Wales | GOV.WALES". GOV.WALES. Archived from the original on 15 May 2026. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  37. ↑ Hale, Adam; Barker, Miriam; Senedd, with David Deans at the. "Wales election 2026: Rhun ap Iorwerth becomes first Plaid Cymru first minister". BBC News. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  38. ↑ "Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth named first minister of Wales after Labour humbled". news.sky.com. Archived from the original on 13 June 2026. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  39. ↑ O'Donnell, Dimitri (24 June 2026). "Irish and Welsh govts agree closer ties at forum". RTÉ.
  40. ↑ Hayward, Will (19 January 2026). "Scrutinising Plaid Cymru: The Rhun ap Iorwerth interview". The Will Hayward Newsletter. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  41. ↑ OldQueenTV (16 June 2024). Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth: 'I'm not an isolationist... I'm an internationalist'. Retrieved 6 July 2026 – via YouTube.
  42. ↑ Day, Joel (5 December 2023). "Welsh First Minister hopeful says 'up to people' if Wales boots royals out". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  43. ↑ Price, Emily (8 March 2023). "Plaid Cymru calls for public enquiry into Betsi Cadwaladr failures". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  44. ↑ "General election: Plaid Cymru would only back new nuclear at existing sites". www.bbc.com. 24 June 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  45. ↑ "If Plaid win in Wales, that won't mean independence - at least not yet". www.bbc.com. 21 April 2026. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  46. ↑ "Eisteddfod 2025: Cyhoeddi rhestr anrhydeddau'r Orsedd". BBC Cymru Fyw (in Welsh). 1 June 2025. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  47. ↑ "Plaid Cymru leader Rhun Ap Iorwerth on 10 things that changed his life". The National. 22 February 2026. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  48. ↑ "Who is Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth?". Sky News. Archived from the original on 12 December 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  49. ↑ "Privy Council appointments: 10 June 2026". Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street. 10 June 2026. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
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