Rhun ap Iorwerth

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Rhun ap Iorwerth

MS
Rhun ap Iorwerth AM (27555192223).jpg
Rhun ap Iorwerth in 2016
Deputy Leader of Plaid Cymru
Assumed office
23 October 2018
Serving with Siân Gwenllian
LeaderAdam Price
Preceded byElin Jones (2016)
Member of the Senedd
for Ynys Môn
Assumed office
2 August 2013
Preceded byIeuan Wyn Jones
Majority9,166 (37.8%)
Personal details
Born (1972-08-27) 27 August 1972 (age 49)
Tonteg, Pontypridd, Wales
Political partyPlaid Cymru
Children3[1]
ResidenceLlangristiolus, Ynys Môn
ProfessionJournalist
Websitewww.rhunapiorwerth.cymru Edit this at Wikidata

Rhun ap Iorwerth (born 27 August 1972) is a Welsh journalist and politician serving as the Deputy Leader of Plaid Cymru since 2018.[2] He has been the Member of the Senedd (MS) for Ynys Môn since 2013.[3]

Early and personal life[]

Born in Tonteg, he was educated at Ysgol Rhyd-y-Main and Ysgol Gynradd Llandegfan before going to Ysgol David Hughes in Menai Bridge.[4] He studied politics and Welsh at Cardiff University.

He is married with three children,[1] he and his family reside on the island of Anglesey.[5]

Career[]

In 1994, he 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, and arts series Pethe.[6]

In January 2012, he was announced as one of the patrons of the Cronfa Betsi Fund, the charitable arm of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.[7]

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 in order to take a post leading the new Menai Science Park,[8][9] triggering a by-election in the constituency.[10]

After gaining special dispensation from the Plaid national executive committee (as a serving political journalist, he could not nominally be a member of a political party and Plaid Cymru rules stipulated that candidates had to have been a member for 12 months), he was accepted as a nominee, and immediately stepped down from his role at BBC Cymru Wales on 26 June.[11]

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 for the first time. 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%.[12][13] Ap Iorwerth held his seat in 2016 and in 2018 unsuccessfully ran for the leadership of Plaid Cymru. He was later appointed as joint deputy leader.[2]

Ap Iorwerth has served as Plaid Cymru's spokesperson (Shadow Minister) for Economy and Transport and currently serves as their Shadow Minister for Health and Finance.

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "Rhun ap Iorwerth visits Anglesey care homes". Plaid Cymru. 1 July 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b Masters, Adrian (23 October 2018). "New Plaid Cymru leader @Adamprice has appointed two deputies: @siangwenfelin and @RhunapIorwerth".
  3. ^ Vaughan Roderick (1 January 1970). "BBC News – Plaid's Anglesey win 'energising' for party, says Rhun ap Iorwerth". BBC.co.uk. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  4. ^ Elgan Hearn (30 November 2011). "Ysgol David Hughes hold a school "hawl i holi" meeting with local politicians". Daily Post. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  5. ^ Rhun ap Iorwerth (23 June 2013). "Rhun ap Iorwerth Ynys Môn". Rhunapiorwerth.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  6. ^ "About Me". Rhun ap Iorwerth. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  7. ^ "Cronfa Betsi Fund launched". Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. 9 February 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  8. ^ "Presiding Officer accepts resignation of Ieuan Wyn Jones". Assemblywales.org. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  9. ^ "BBC News – Ieuan Wyn Jones to stand down as AM with immediate effect". Bbc.co.uk. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  10. ^ "Ynys Mon by-election set for 1 August". BBC News. 26 June 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  11. ^ "BBC presenter Rhun ap Iorwerth seeks Plaid nomination". BBC Wales. 26 June 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  12. ^ "Plaid's Anglesey win 'energising' for party, says Rhun ap Iorwerth". BBC Wales. 2 August 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  13. ^ "Plaid candidate Rhun ap Iorwerth wins by a landslide in Anglesey by-election". WalesOnline.co.uk. 2 August 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2013.

External links[]

Senedd
Preceded by
Ieuan Wyn Jones 		Member of the Senedd for Ynys Môn
2013–present 		Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by
Darren Millar 		Shadow Minister for Health and Social Care
2016 – present 		Incumbent
Retrieved from ""