Dafydd Elis-Thomas dies with moving tributes to former Plaid Cymru leader - 'huge loss' Dafydd Elis-Thomas, the former leader of Plaid Cymru, has died aged 78, his family has announced.
Elin Jones, the Welsh Parliament's Llywydd (presiding officer), said it was hard to imagine Welsh political life without Lord Elis-Thomas, calling him the Senedd's "founding father".
Liz Saville-Roberts, Plaid Cymru MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, said Lord Elis-Thomas was "a tremendous figure in the public life of Wales".
He said: "Dafydd's passing will be a huge loss to Welsh politics and the civic life of Wales.
"We remember Dafydd as a groundbreaking MP when he became the youngest member of the 1974 UK Parliament before leading Plaid Cymru with passion and distinction.
