Llŷr Huws Gruffydd, (born 25 September 1970) is a Welsh

Plaid Cymru Plaid Cymru ( ; , ; officially Plaid Cymru – the Party of Wales, and often referred to simply as Plaid) is a centre-left, Welsh nationalist list of political parties in Wales, political party in Wales, committed to Welsh independence from th ...

politician, serving as a

Member of the Senedd A member of the Senedd (MS; plural: ''MSs''; ; , plural: ) is a representative elected to the Senedd (Welsh Parliament; ). There are sixty members, with forty members chosen to represent individual Senedd constituency, Senedd constituencies, a ...

(MS) for the

North Wales North Wales ( ) is a Regions of Wales, region of Wales, encompassing its northernmost areas. It borders mid Wales to the south, England to the east, and the Irish Sea to the north and west. The area is highly mountainous and rural, with Snowdon ...

region since 2011. He acted as interim leader of Plaid Cymru from 16 May to 16 June 2023.

Education and early career

Gruffydd attended Bro Myrddin Welsh Comprehensive School and

Aberystwyth University Aberystwyth University () is a Public university, public Research university, research university in Aberystwyth, Wales. Aberystwyth was a founding member institution of the former federal University of Wales. The university has over 8,000 stude ...

where he graduated with a BA degree in Welsh. He began his working career as a youth worker, then worked for Wales Youth Agency and the Council for Wales of Voluntary Youth Services and then as a project manager for an economic development company. Gruffydd has also been a Management Consultant for the

National Trust The National Trust () is a heritage and nature conservation charity and membership organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Trust was founded in 1895 by Octavia Hill, Sir Robert Hunter and Hardwicke Rawnsley to "promote the ...

in Wales.

Political Career

Local Politics

He was a Carmarthen Town Councillor, and Mayor of the Town from 2001-2002.

National Politics

Gruffydd stood for the Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire UK Parliament constituency at the 2001 general election, coming third, and for the Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire Welsh Assembly constituency at the 2003 Assembly elections, coming second. He then stood for Clwyd West seat at the 2010 General Election, but was not elected. He has served as a

(MS) for the

region since 2011. In the 2011 Senedd election, he was returned as one of the four members of the Senedd for the North Wales region, being the first placed candidate on the Plaid Cymru list. In October 2018, Llyr Gruffydd took on the Plaid Cymru role for the environment and rural affairs. Gruffydd is Plaid Cymru's spokesperson on finance and local government and he is also the chair of the Senedd committee on climate change, environment and infrastructure, and a member of the committee for scrutiny of the First Minister; committee for culture, communications, welsh language, sport and international relations, and the

Llywydd The (), or Presiding Officer in English, is the speaker of the Senedd in Wales, elected by members of the Senedd to chair their meetings (plenary sessions); to maintain order; and to protect the rights of Members. The also heads the Corpor ...

's committee. He also chairs the cross-party group on horseracing, as well as being a member of cross-party groups on

mental health Mental health is often mistakenly equated with the absence of mental illness. However, mental health refers to a person's overall emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It influences how individuals think, feel, and behave, and how t ...

public transport Public transport (also known as public transit, mass transit, or simply transit) are forms of transport available to the general public. It typically uses a fixed schedule, route and charges a fixed fare. There is no rigid definition of whic ...

, renewable and low carbon energy, rural growth,

shooting Shooting is the act or process of discharging a projectile from a ranged weapon (such as a gun, bow, crossbow, slingshot, or blowpipe). Even the acts of launching flame, artillery, darts, harpoons, grenades, rockets, and guided missile ...

and conservation, small shops, sport and tourism.

Interim Leadership of Plaid Cymru

On 11 May 2023 he was nominated as the interim leader of Plaid Cymru following the resignation of

Adam Price Adam Robert Price (born 23 September 1968) is a Welsh politician who served as Leader of Plaid Cymru from September 2018 to May 2023. He has been the Member of the Senedd (MS) for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr since 2016, having previously been ...

. He served as Plaid Cymru's interim leader from 16 May until 16 June, when

Rhun ap Iorwerth Rhun ap Iorwerth (; born 27 August 1972) is a Welsh journalist and politician who has served as the Leader of Plaid Cymru since June 2023. He has been the Member of the Senedd (MS) for Ynys Môn (Senedd constituency), Ynys Môn since 2013 Ynys ...

was elected unopposed as the new party leader. During his leadership, Gruffydd maintained the co-operation agreement between

Welsh Labour Welsh Labour (), formerly known as the Labour Party in Wales (), is an autonomous section of the United Kingdom Labour Party (UK), Labour Party in Wales and the largest party in modern Welsh politics. Welsh Labour and its forebears have won a p ...

and Plaid Cymru. He was also critical of the party's inaction on misconduct within the party, which led to Price's resignation and his interim leadership.

Personal life

Llyr Gruffydd was born and raised in Carmarthenshire and now lives close to Ruthin in Denbighshire. He is the father of four children.

References

External links

Llyr Huws Gruffydd
profile at the site of Plaid Cymru official site , - 1970 births Leaders of Plaid Cymru Living people People from Ruthin Plaid Cymru members of the Senedd Wales AMs 2011–2016 Wales MSs 2021–2026 Welsh republicans Welsh-speaking politicians Mayors of Carmarthen Alumni of Aberystwyth University {{Wales-MS-stub