Rhun ap Iorwerth — First Minister of Wales / Plaid Cymru Leader
Rhun ap Iorwerth — First Minister of Wales / Plaid Cymru Leader
Last updated: 27 May 2026 Role: First Minister of Wales (since 12 May 2026) Constituency: Bangor Conwy Mon (previously Ynys Mon 2013-2026)
Bio
Bio
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full name | Rhun ap Iorwerth |
| Born | 27 August 1972 |
| Current office | First Minister of Wales, Leader of Plaid Cymru. Former journalist. |
Background & Career
- Both parents were teachers and Welsh language campaigners
- BBC Cymru Wales journalist from 1994. Chief Political Correspondent 2001
- Presented: Politics Show Wales, Dragon's Eye, Good Morning Wales, Newyddion
- Director of 2 companies
Political Career
- Won Ynys Mon by-election August 2013 (12,601 votes vs Labour 3,435)
- Economy spokesperson 2014, Health shadow 2016
- Ran for leader 2018 (lost to Price), became Deputy Leader
- Called for Betsi Cadwaladr public inquiry
- Elected Plaid leader unopposed June 2023
- Ended Labour co-operation deal March 2024 over Gething donation scandal
- Elected First Minister 12 May 2026 — 44 votes (42 Plaid + 2 Green). First non-Labour FM in history.
Policy Stances
- Favours minority government
- Supports Welsh independence
- Smaller health boards
- Cooperative approach
- Zero-hours contracts ban (currently facing recruitment industry lobbying to water it down)
Twitter/X Discussion
Source: Nitter search, 27 May 2026
- "Britain's largest umbrella body for recruitment firms has urged First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth to back moves aimed at watering down a law that bars employers from imposing zero hours contracts on their workers"
- Catalan-language media positive profile covering his appearance at Urdd Eisteddfod youth festival
- "I saw a great picture of Rhun ap Iorwerth in the style of the Obama 'HOPE' poster... In the interest of balance I've created one for Dan Thomas"
- "Both Rhun ap Iorwerth and John Swinney are happy to cosy up to the IRA's political wing in order to advance their shared goal of separatism" (unionist criticism)
- "Heddiw, yn @SeneddCymru mae'n Prif Weinidog, Rhun ap Iorwerth, wedi amlinellu prif flaenoriaethau @llywodraethcym ar gyfer y 100 diwrnod cyntaf" (outlined 100-day priorities in Senedd)
Reddit Discussion
Reddit search currently blocked by Cloudflare / Reddit bot detection. No r/Wales or r/ukpolitics data available.
Sources
- GOV.WALES press release
- BBC News
- Wikipedia
- Senedd website
- Nitter (X/Twitter search, 27 May 2026)