# 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)

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## 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

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## 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.

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## 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)

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## 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)

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## Reddit Discussion

> Reddit search currently blocked by Cloudflare / Reddit bot detection. No r/Wales or r/ukpolitics data available.

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## Sources

- GOV.WALES press release
- BBC News
- Wikipedia
- Senedd website
- Nitter (X/Twitter search, 27 May 2026)