Llyr Gruffydd Explained

Llŷr Gruffydd
Honorific-Suffix:MS
Office:Leader of Plaid Cymru
Deputy:Rhun ap Iorwerth
Siân Gwenllian
Status:Acting
Term Start:16 May 2023
Term End:16 June 2023
Predecessor:Adam Price
Successor:Rhun ap Iorwerth
Office1:Member of the Senedd
for North Wales
Term Start1:6 May 2011
Predecessor1:Janet Ryder
Birth Name:Llŷr Huws Gruffydd
Birth Date:25 September 1970
Party:Plaid Cymru
Education:Aberystwyth University (BA)

Llŷr Huws Gruffydd, (born 25 September 1970) is a Welsh Plaid Cymru politician, serving as a Member of the Senedd (MS) for the North Wales region since 2011. He acted as interim leader of Plaid Cymru from 16 May to 16 June 2023.

Education and early career

Gruffydd attended Bro Myrddin Welsh Comprehensive School and Aberystwyth University where he graduated with a BA degree in Welsh.[1]

He began his working career as a youth worker, then worked for Wales Youth Agency and the Council for Wales of Voluntary Youth Services and then as a project manager for an economic development company. Gruffydd has also been a Management Consultant for the National Trust in Wales.[2]

Political Career

Local Politics

He was a Carmarthen Town Councillor, and Mayor of the Town from 2001-2002.[3]

National Politics

Gruffydd stood for the Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire UK Parliament constituency at the 2001 general election, coming third,[4] and for the Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire Welsh Assembly constituency at the 2003 Assembly elections, coming second.[5] He then stood for Clwyd West seat at the 2010 General Election, but was not elected.[6]

He has served as a Member of the Senedd (MS) for the North Wales region since 2011.[7] In the 2011 Senedd election, he was returned as one of the four members of the Senedd for the North Wales region, being the first placed candidate on the Plaid Cymru list.[8]

In October 2018, Llyr Gruffydd took on the Plaid Cymru role for the environment and rural affairs.[9]

Gruffydd is Plaid Cymru's spokesperson on finance and local government and he is also the chair of the Senedd committee on climate change, environment and infrastructure, and a member of the committee for scrutiny of the First Minister; committee for culture, communications, welsh language, sport and international relations, and the Llywydd's committee.[10] He also chairs the cross-party group on horseracing, as well as being a member of cross-party groups on mental health, North Wales, public transport, renewable and low carbon energy, rural growth, shooting and conservation, small shops, sport and tourism.

Interim Leadership of Plaid Cymru

On 11 May 2023 he was nominated as the interim leader of Plaid Cymru following the resignation of Adam Price.[11] He served as Plaid Cymru's interim leader from 16 May until 16 June, when Rhun ap Iorwerth was elected unopposed as the new party leader.[12] [13]

During his leadership, Gruffydd maintained the co-operation agreement between Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru. He was also critical of the party's inaction on misconduct within the party, which led to Price's resignation and his interim leadership.[14]

Personal life

Llyr Gruffydd was born and raised in Carmarthenshire and now lives close to Ruthin in Denbighshire.[15]

He is the father of four children.[16]

External links

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: Alumni at the Senedd. Aberystwyth University. 2020-05-14.
  2. Web site: Llyr Gruffydd MS . 2023-05-25 . senedd.wales . en-GB.
  3. Web site: Town Council History . 16 May 2024 . Carmarthen Town Council.
  4. Web site: BBC NEWS VOTE 2001 RESULTS & CONSTITUENCIES Carmarthen West & Pembrokeshire South . 2024-05-16 . news.bbc.co.uk.
  5. Web site: BBC NEWS VOTE 2003 Carmarthen West & Pembrokeshire South . 2024-05-16 . news.bbc.co.uk.
  6. Web site: BBC News Election 2010 Constituency Clwyd West . 2024-05-16 . news.bbc.co.uk.
  7. Web site: Llyr Gruffydd MS . 2023-05-25 . senedd.wales . en-GB.
  8. Web site: Election results for North Wales – National Assembly for Wales Regional Elections 2011. National Assembly for Wales. 8 April 2015.
  9. News: 2018-10-19 . New Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price names frontbench team . en-GB . BBC News . 2023-05-25.
  10. Web site: Plaid Cymru appoints Llyr Gruffydd as interim leader after Adam Price's resignation . 2023-05-25 . Sky News . en.
  11. Web site: 2023-05-11 . Plaid Cymru appoints Llyr Gruffydd interim leader . 2023-05-11 . bbc.co.uk.
  12. Web site: Plaid Cymru : Adam Price to formally resign as leader in the Senedd, so what happens next? . 16 May 2023 . ITV Wales.
  13. News: 16 June 2023. Plaid Cymru: Rhun ap Iorwerth takes over as party leader. .
  14. News: 2023-05-13 . Plaid Cymru should have acted on misconduct - Gruffydd . 2024-05-16 . BBC News . en-GB.
  15. Web site: Jones . Branwen . 2023-05-11 . Plaid Cymru names new acting leader . 2023-05-25 . WalesOnline . en.
  16. Web site: About Llyr . 2023-05-25 . Llyr Gruffydd MS (Eng) . en.