- Born:
- May 22, 1949, Denbigh, Wales (age 77)
- Political Affiliation:
- Plaid Cymru
Ieuan Wyn Jones
-
Who is Ieuan Wyn Jones?
Ieuan Wyn Jones, born in Denbigh, Wales, on May 22, 1949, is a Welsh politician prominent in Plaid Cymru (PC). He served as PC party president (2000–03; 2006–12) and as deputy first minister in the Welsh National Assembly's coalition government with the Labour Party (2007–11).
Jones, the son of a Baptist minister, studied law and was a solicitor before entering politics. He was a PC party chairman twice (1980–82 and 1990–92). In 1987, he was elected to the British House of Commons, representing the Isle of Anglesey until 2001. Jones was elected to the first National Assembly in 1999, also representing the Isle of Anglesey. He also served as PC’s campaign director, helping the party secure 17 seats. Learn more about his political career.
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What is he known for in Welsh politics?
Ieuan Wyn Jones is a Welsh politician known for his leadership roles within Plaid Cymru (PC). He served as president of the party (2000–03; 2006–12) and as deputy first minister in PC's coalition government with the Labour Party (2007–11) in the Welsh National Assembly.
Jones twice held the post of party chairman for PC (1980–82 and 1990–92), and in 1987 he was elected to a seat in the British House of Commons, representing the largely Welsh-speaking Isle of Anglesey (Ynys Môn) constituency; he held the post until 2001. In 2007, after PC gained seats in the Assembly, the party formed a coalition with the Labour Party, and Jones became deputy first minister and minister for economy and transport.
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Which political party did Ieuan Wyn Jones belong to?
Ieuan Wyn Jones was a prominent politician in Wales, notably serving as the president of the Plaid Cymru (PC) party for multiple terms (2000–03; 2006–12). He also held the position of deputy first minister in Plaid Cymru’s coalition government with the Labour Party from 2007 to 2011 in the Welsh National Assembly. Jones twice served as party chairman for PC (1980–82 and 1990–92). In 1987, he was elected to the British House of Commons, representing the Isle of Anglesey constituency until 2001. He was then elected to the National Assembly in 1999, again representing the Isle of Anglesey.
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What roles or positions has he held in government?
Ieuan Wyn Jones held multiple significant positions in Welsh government and politics. He was president of the Plaid Cymru (PC) party (2000–03; 2006–12) and deputy first minister of Plaid Cymru’s coalition government with the Labour Party (2007–11) in the Welsh National Assembly.
Jones was elected to a seat in the British House of Commons in 1987, representing the Isle of Anglesey until 2001. In 1999, he was elected to the first National Assembly, also representing the Isle of Anglesey. In the 2007 elections, after PC gained seats in the Assembly, he was appointed deputy first minister and minister for economy and transport.
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How did he impact the development of the Welsh Assembly?
Ieuan Wyn Jones had a significant impact on the development of the Welsh Assembly. As campaign director for Plaid Cymru (PC) in the 1999 election, he helped the party secure 17 of the body's 60 seats. Jones was elected to the first National Assembly in 1999, representing the Isle of Anglesey. In 2007, after PC gained three seats in the Assembly, the party formed a coalition government with the Labour Party, marking its first entrance into government. Jones was appointed deputy first minister of the new government, as well as minister of economy and transport.
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What are some key events or decisions from his political career?
Ieuan Wyn Jones served as president of the Plaid Cymru (PC) party (2000–03; 2006–12) and as deputy first minister of PC’s coalition government with the Labour Party (2007–11) in the Welsh National Assembly. Jones was elected to a seat in the British House of Commons in 1987, representing the Isle of Anglesey constituency until 2001. In 1999, he was elected to the first National Assembly, again representing the Isle of Anglesey, and served as PC’s campaign director, helping the party secure 17 seats. In 2007, PC gained three seats in the Assembly and formed a coalition government with the Labour Party. Jones was appointed deputy first minister and minister for economy and transport. He stepped down as party leader in 2012 and resigned from the Welsh Assembly in 2013.
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Ieuan Wyn Jones (born May 22, 1949, Denbigh, Wales) is a Welsh politician who served as president of the Plaid Cymru (PC) party (2000–03; 2006–12) and as deputy first minister of Plaid Cymru’s coalition government with the Labour Party (2007–11) in the Welsh National Assembly.
Jones was the son of a Baptist minister, and his childhood was spent in a Welsh-speaking area of North Wales. He studied law at Liverpool Polytechnic College and at the University of London, serving as a solicitor prior to his entrance into politics. Jones twice held the post of party chairman for PC (1980–82 and 1990–92), and in 1987 he was elected to a seat in the British House of Commons, representing the largely Welsh-speaking Isle of Anglesey (Ynys Môn) constituency; he held the post until 2001. He was elected to the first National Assembly in 1999, again representing the Isle of Anglesey. He also served as PC’s campaign director in that election, helping the party to secure 17 of the body’s 60 seats.
In 2000 Jones—who had gained a reputation for his strategic thinking, decidedly nonflashy style, and handling of the 1999 campaign—was elected by a wide margin to replace retiring Dafydd Wigley as president of PC. Three years later, when the party lost five seats to the Labour Party in the May 2003 Welsh National Assembly election, Jones announced his resignation as party president. Later that year, however, the position of party leader in the National Assembly was created as a supplement to the labour-intensive presidency. Jones took on the new position, while former folksinger Dafydd Iwan took over as party president. However, in 2006 Jones once again became head of the party after the PC approved a measure that elevated the assembly leader to the presidency.
In the 2007 elections PC gained three seats in the Assembly, bringing its total to 15. Soon after, the party made its first entrance into government, forming a coalition, One Wales Government, with the Labour Party. Jones was appointed deputy first minister of the new government, as well as minister of economy and transport. In the 2010 British general election, PC won three seats. Jones claimed the number would have been higher if the party had been allowed to participate in the leaders’ televised debates that were held prior to the election. His tenure as first deputy minister ended in 2011 after the PC lost four seats in the Welsh Assembly elections. The following year he stepped down as party leader, and in 2013 he resigned from the Welsh Assembly. In 2017 Jones ran for his old seat in the House of Commons, but he was defeated.
Jones also served as a governor of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, which promotes the growth of democratic institutions throughout the world. He wrote Europe: The Challenge for Wales (1996) and Y Llinyn Arian (1998), a biography of Welsh publisher Thomas Gee. In 2001 Jones became a member of the Eisteddfod Gorsedd, a society dedicated to the celebration and preservation of Welsh culture.