Elin Jones
 |
Elin Jones | |
|---|---|
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| Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales | |
| Assumed office 11 May 2016 | |
| Deputy | Ann Jones |
| Preceded by | Rosemary Butler |
| Assembly Commissioner | |
| In office 9 June 2007 – 18 September 2007 | |
| First Minister | Rhodri Morgan |
| Preceded by | New Assembly |
| Member of the Welsh Assembly for Ceredigion | |
| Assumed office 6 May 1999 | |
| Preceded by | New Assembly |
| Majority | 2,408 (8.2%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 September 1966 Lampeter |
| Political party | Plaid Cymru |
| Alma mater | Cardiff University, Aberystwyth University |
Elin Jones AM (born 1 September 1966), is a Welsh politician, born in Lampeter, who has represented Ceredigion for Plaid Cymru as a Member of the National Assembly for Wales since 1999, and has been its Presiding Officer since 2016.[1]
Background
She attended Llanwnnen Primary School and Lampeter Comprehensive. She graduated from University of Wales, Cardiff with a BSc in Economics and took a post-graduate MSc in Agricultural Economics at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. Previously she was employed as an Economic Development officer for the Development Board for Rural Wales. She is a former Shadow Environment, Planning and Countryside Minister.[2]
Elin Jones speaks Welsh and English. She is also a former director of Radio Ceredigion and of Wes Glei Cyf, a television production company. She lives in Aberaeron and enjoys music, film, reading and formerly sang with the Welsh singing group Cwlwm.[2]
Political career
Elin Jones served on Aberystwyth Town Council from 1992 - 1999 and was the youngest-ever Mayor of Aberystwyth from 1997 to 1998. She was the National Chair of Plaid Cymru between 2000 and 2002.
In the first Assembly elections in 1999 Elin Jones was elected as Assembly Member for Ceredigion and served as Shadow Economic Development Minister during the Assembly’s first term. Following the Assembly election in 2003, she retained this portfolio until 2006 when she became Shadow Minister for Environment, Planning & Countryside. On 9 July 2007 the One Wales government was formed and Elin Jones was made Minister for Rural Affairs. Elin Jones continued in this position until Plaid Cymru left Government at the 2011 elections.[2] Her record was criticized by George Monbiot in his 2013 book Feral.[3]
In the fourth Assembly she became Plaid's health spokesperson and unsuccessfully contested the leadership election following the resignation of Ieuan Wyn Jones.[4]
In the fifth Assembly she beat fellow Plaid Cymru AM Dafydd Elis-Thomas to become Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales by 35 votes to his 25.[5]
References
- ^ Jones, James Barry; Osmond, John (2001). Inclusive Government and Party Management: The National Assembly for Wales and the Work of Its Committees. Institute of Welsh Affairs. p. 183. ISBN 9781871726695. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
- ^ a b c "Member Profile". National Assembly for Wales. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
- ^ Monbiot, George (9 November 2015). "Allowing scallop dredging in 'strictly protected' dolphin reserves is madness | George Monbiot". the Guardian. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
- ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-17381377
- ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-36256040
External links
Offices held
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
- 1966 births
- Living people
- Councillors in Wales
- Alumni of Cardiff University
- Alumni of Aberystwyth University
- Members of the Welsh Assembly Government
- Mayors of places in Wales
- Plaid Cymru Members of the National Assembly for Wales
- Plaid Cymru politicians
- Wales AMs 1999–2003
- Wales AMs 2003–07
- Wales AMs 2007–11
- Wales AMs 2011–16
- Welsh-speaking politicians
- Women mayors of places in Wales
- Female members of the National Assembly for Wales
- Presiding Officers of the National Assembly for Wales
- 20th-century women politicians
- Women members of the Welsh Assembly Government
- People from Ceredigion
- Government ministers
- Welsh politicians
- People from Lampeter