Topic summary
Rhun ap Iorwerth
27 August 1972
- (father)
- Politician
- journalist
Rhun ap Iorwerth (born 27 August 1972) is a Welsh politician and former broadcaster who has served as First Minister of Wales since 2026 and Leader of Plaid Cymru since 2023. He has served as a Member of the Senedd (MS) for Bangor Conwy Môn, previously Ynys Môn, since 2013.
Born in Tonteg, ap Iorwerth was raised in Anglesey and studied politics and Welsh at Cardiff University. He worked as a journalist for BBC Cymru Wales from 1994, serving as chief political correspondent, before working as a radio and television presenter. In 2013, he stepped down from broadcasting to pursue a career in politics, standing as the Plaid Cymru candidate in the Ynys Môn by-election, winning the seat and becoming an Assembly Member (AM).
Re-elected in the 2016 and 2021elections, ap Iorwerth served as Shadow Minister for Health in the Wood shadow cabinet and held several positions on the Plaid Cymru frontbench team, including Deputy Leader following defeat in the 2018 party leadership election. Ap Iorwerth was elected unopposed as leader in 2023, and was nominated as First Minister of Wales following the party's victory in the 2026 Senedd election. He is the first FM to represent a party other than Welsh Labour or the Co-operative Party, his appointment ending the party's uninterrupted tenure in Welsh Government since devolution in 1999.