Former Plaid Cymru leader Dafydd Elis-Thomas dies aged 78
Former Plaid Cymru leader Dafydd Elis-Thomas dies aged 78
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Dafydd Elis-Thomas, the former leader of Plaid Cymru, has died aged 78, his family has announced. Lord Elis-Thomas, who led Plaid between 1984 and 1991, died on Friday morning following a “short illness”. In a short statement, Lord Elis-Thomas’ family said he died “peacefully at his home” and requested privacy at this time. He represented the Dwyfor Meirionnydd constituency from the founding of the National Assembly – now Senedd – between 1999 to 2021 and was the first presiding officer.
He was also the MP for Meirionydd and then Meirionydd Nant Conwy between 1974 and 1992, before being appointed to the House of Lords in 1992. He left Plaid in 2016 and sat as an independent, serving in both Carwyn Jones and Mark Drakeford’s governments. Rhun ap Iorwerth, the leader of Plaid Cymru, led the tributes to Lord Elis-Thomas. He said: “Dafydd’s passing will be a huge loss to Welsh politics and the civic life of Wales.
“He was unquestionably one of the most influential figures of his generation, and as the presiding officer of the First Assembly made a priceless contribution in laying the firm foundations of devolution. “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. “Dafydd was a personal friend to my family and I, and was an influential figure during my formative years.
