Dafydd Elis-Thomas

Dafydd Elis Elis-Thomas, Baron Elis-Thomas, (born October 18th 1946) is a Welsh politician, representing the Dwyfor Meirionnydd constituency in the National Assembly for Wales. He is a member of the House of Lords, a former leader of Plaid Cymru, and, since 2004, a privy counsellor.

Political Career

Thomas served as Member of Parliament for the Meirionnydd constituency between 1974 and 1983 and the Meirionnydd Nant Conwy constituency from 1983 to 1992. He was made a life peer in 1992, and changed his surname from Thomas to Elis-Thomas by deed poll, enabling him to take the title Baron Elis-Thomas, of Nant Conwy in the County of Gwynedd.

Elis-Thomas was elected to the newly established National Assembly for Wales in 1999, representing the Meirionnydd Nant Conwy constituency until the 2007 election, and then the Dwyfor Meirionnydd constituency. He also held the position of Presiding Officer since the Assembly's inception in 1999 until 2011. Elis-Thomas was Plaid Cymru's spokesperson for Environment, Energy and Planning from 2011, transferring to Rural Affairs, Fisheries and Food in 2012. Elis-Thomas is Honorary President of the anti-fascist organisation Searchlight Cymru.

Notable Work

He was the chairman of the Welsh Language Board between 1994 and 1999, and is a former member of the Arts Council of Wales and the British Film Institute where he was Chairman of Screen between 1992 and 1999. He was also a director and vice-chairman of Cynefin Environmental Ltd. between 1992 and 1999. A former university lecturer, he has also been the president of Bangor University since 2000, as well as currently being a member of the governing body of the Church in Wales.

External Links

Parliamentary Website for the UK House of Lords Welsh Assembly Profile