Elin Jones

For other people of a similar name, see Ellen Jones (disambiguation).

Elin Jones (born 1 September 1966), PC ^[1] MS is a Welsh politician who has served as the Llywydd of the Senedd since 2016. A member of Plaid Cymru, Jones has been the Member of the Senedd (MS) for Ceredigion since 1999.^[2]

The Right Honourable Elin Jones MS
Jones in 2021
Llywydd of the Senedd
Incumbent
Assumed office 11 May 2016
Deputy	Ann Jones David Rees
Preceded by	Rosemary Butler
Deputy Leader of Plaid Cymru
In office 17 July 2012 – 11 May 2016
Leader	Leanne Wood
Preceded by	Helen Mary Jones
Succeeded by	Siân Gwenllian Rhun ap Iorwerth
Minister for Rural Affairs
In office 19 July 2007 – 11 May 2011
First Minister	Rhodri Morgan Carwyn Jones
Preceded by	Carwyn Jones
Succeeded by	Lesley Griffiths
Member of the Senedd for Ceredigion
Incumbent
Assumed office 6 May 1999
Preceded by	Constituency established
Majority	12,145 (39.5%)
Personal details
Born	(1966-09-01) 1 September 1966 (age 58) Lampeter, Wales
Political party	Plaid Cymru
Alma mater	Cardiff University, Aberystwyth University

Background

Jones 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 in 1989.^[3] 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.^[4]

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.^[4]

Political career

Elin Jones served on Aberystwyth Town Council from 1992 to 1999 and was the youngest-ever Mayor of Aberystwyth from 1997 to 1998.^[5][6] She was the National Chair of Plaid Cymru between 2000 and 2002.^[7]

National Assembly for Wales

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.^[4] Her record was criticized by George Monbiot in his 2013 book Feral.^[8]

In the fourth Assembly she became Plaid's health spokesperson and unsuccessfully contested the leadership election following the resignation of Ieuan Wyn Jones.^[9]

Llywydd

In the fifth Assembly she beat fellow Plaid Cymru AM Dafydd Elis-Thomas to become Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales by 34 votes to his 25.^[10] She is also Llywydd of the Welsh Youth Parliament

In June 2021, Jones attempted to ban Members of the Senedd from displaying flags in their offices.^[11]

In the 2026 Senedd election, she will be a candidate in the Ceredigion Penfro constituency.^[12]