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Rhodri Glyn Thomas

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Rhodri Glyn Thomas
Minister for Heritage
In office
11 July 2007 – 18 July 2008
First MinisterRhodri Morgan
Preceded byNew office
Succeeded byAlun Ffred Jones
Member of the Welsh Assembly
for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr
In office
6 May 1999 – 4 April 2016
Preceded byNew Assembly
Succeeded byAdam Price
Majority8,469 (28.9%)
Personal details
Born (1953-04-11) 11 April 1953 (age 71)
Wrexham, Wales
Political partyPlaid Cymru
Alma materUniversity of Wales, Lampeter, Bangor University, Aberystwyth University

Rhodri Glyn Thomas (born 11 April 1953) is a Welsh politician. He was the Plaid Cymru National Assembly for Wales Member for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr from 1999 to 2016, when he did not re-stand for election. Following his retirement from the Assembly he was appointed President of the National Library of Wales.

Education

Thomas was born in Wrexham, Denbighshire. He attended Ysgol Bodhyfryd, Wrexham, and then Ysgol Morgan Llwyd, Wrexham before leaving for the University of Wales, Aberystwyth in 1975 to study for a BA degree in Welsh and Education in 1975.[1] After graduating, he studied for a BD degree in Theology at the University of Wales, Bangor and Bala-Bangor Theological Seminary under R. Tudur Jones. In 1991 he studied for a MTh degree at the University of Wales, Lampeter, reading American Theology although the final thesis he submitted was on the Union of Welsh Independents (Undeb yr Annibynwyr Cymraeg) role in the struggle to revive the Welsh Language in the 20th century.

Professional career

Thomas is a Minister of Religion, the director of a language consultancy, a former Chair of CND Cymru and Welsh spokesperson for the Forum of Private Business.

Political career

In 1992, Thomas fought the old Carmarthen constituency in the General Election for Plaid Cymru - Party of Wales. In the 1997 General Election he stood for Plaid Cymru in Carmarthen East & Dinefwr. In 1999 he fought the same constituency in the National Assembly Elections, winning by 6,980 votes. He was reelected in 2007 with an increased majority of over 8,000 making it the Assembly's second safest seat. Plaid Cymru entered into a coalition government with Welsh Labour in July 2007, and Rhodri Glyn Thomas was appointed as Minister for Heritage (19 July 2007), which he resigned from in 2008[2] after walking into a Cardiff pub with a lit cigar, thus breaking the law.[3]

In December 2016 Thomas announced that he would stand as a candidate for election to Carmarthenshire County Council, contesting the St Clears ward.[4] However, he was heavily defeated at the election by the sitting Independent councillor.

Wales Book Of The Year error

At the Academi 2008 Wales Book of the Year ceremony, Thomas incorrectly announced that Tom Bullough was the winner. The prize was, in fact, awarded to Dannie Abse, Thomas having read the card wrongly.[5]

References

  1. ^ "Alumni at the Senedd". Aberystwyth University. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  2. ^ "Heritage Minister Rhodri Glyn Thomas quits". walesonline.co.uk. 18 July 2008. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  3. ^ "Cigar blunder minister quits job". bbc.co.uk. 18 July 2008. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  4. ^ "Rhodri Glyn Thomas in council political comeback bid". BBC News. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  5. ^ "Wrong winner book event defended". BBC News. 3 July 2008. Retrieved 10 September 2020.


Offices held

Senedd
Preceded by
(new post)
 Assembly Member for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr
1999–2016 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by
(new post)
 Minister for Heritage
2007-2008
11 July 2007 to 18 July 2008 		Succeeded by
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