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)