People of the Senedd

Dafydd Elis-Thomas MS

Dafydd Elis-Thomas MS

Not affiliated to a Political Group

Dwyfor Meirionnydd

Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism

Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism

The contact details provided are for Dafydd Elis-Thomas in their role as an Member of the Senedd, and should be used if you wish to contact them in this role. If you wish to contact Dafydd Elis-Thomas in their entirely separate role as a Minister in the Welsh Government please use the Ministerial contact details on the Welsh Government’s website: http://gov.wales/about/cabinet/writingtoministers/?lang=en 

Welsh Government First Point of Contact Centre:  0300 0604400 

My Senedd Activities

More information and calendar events

Detailed information: Dafydd Elis-Thomas MS

Biography

Dafydd Elis-Thomas was a Member of the National Assembly for Wales between May 1999 and April 2021. This was his biography at the time he left.

Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism

Key interests and achievements

Dafydd Elis-Thomas enjoys the recreations of hill walking and jogging from the family cottage near Betws y Coed. Dafydd Elis-Thomas is also active in the Church in Wales.

Personal history

Dafydd Elis-Thomas has lived most of his life in the Snowdonia National Park.

Professional background

He is a former researcher and teacher in adult and higher education.

Political history

He was elected by his colleagues as ‘Llywydd’ or Presiding Officer of the National Assembly in 1999, 2003 and 2007, and has led improvements and reforms in the Assembly’s ways of working.

These include an accessible Petitions Committee, and new clear standing orders, and a ‘Vote 2011’ campaign to encourage registration especially among new younger voters. He also introduced a new law to ensure AM’s pay and staff conditions are decided by an independent Remuneration Board, and a strong Independent Commissioner for Standards for AMs to promote the best quality of public life.

During the Fourth Assembly (2011 – 2016), Dafydd was a member of the National Assembly’s Business and Enterprise Committee, and a member of the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee.

Chair, Environment and Sustainability Committee (June 2011 - March 2014)

Chair, Future Landscapes Wales Working Group (October 2015 - December 2017)

In October 2016, Dafydd left Plaid Cymru and became an Independent Assembly Member.

Register of Interests

Register of Interests – Fifth Senedd (PDF, 3.25MB)

Register of Interests – Fourth Assembly (PDF, 850kb)

Register of Interests – Third Assembly (PDF, 490kb)

Register of Interests – Second Assembly (PDF, 361kb)

Register of Interests – First Assembly (PDF, 268kb)

Terms of office

  1. 05/07/1999 -
  2. 05/02/2003 - 05/02/2007
  3. 05/04/2007 -
  4. 05/06/2011 - 04/05/2016
  5. 05/06/2016 -

Elections

Media Assets

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Calendar events: Dafydd Elis-Thomas MS