Siân Gwenllian
MS
Gwenllian in 2021
Member of the Senedd
for Arfon
Assumed office
5 May 2016
Preceded byAlun Ffred Jones
Majority8,642
Deputy Leader of Plaid Cymru
In office
23 October 2018 – 27 June 2023
Serving with Rhun ap Iorwerth (2018–2023)
LeaderAdam Price
Llyr Gruffydd (acting)
Rhun ap Iorwerth
Preceded byElin Jones (2016)
Succeeded byDelyth Jewell
Personal details
Born (1956-06-19) 19 June 1956
NationalityWelsh
Political partyPlaid Cymru
Alma materAberystwyth University
Cardiff University

Siân Gwenllian is a Welsh Plaid Cymru politician who has represented the constituency of Arfon in the Senedd since 2016.[1] She currently holds the seat with a majority of 8,642 votes.[2]

Early life and career

She was educated at Friars School, Bangor and at Aberystwyth and Cardiff universities. She was then a journalist with the BBC and HTV in Bangor before becoming a county councillor for Y Felinheli, the village where she was brought up and currently lives.[3][4]

Between 2010 and 2012 she was responsible for the authority's finance portfolio. Between 2012 and 2014 she was Cabinet Member for Education, lead on children and young people, and was deputy leader of the Council. In 2014, she was appointed Gwynedd Small Business Champion, responsible for promoting this sector of the economy in Gwynedd.[3]

Senedd career

Siân Gwenllian represents the Arfon constituency in the Welsh Parliament. She was elected for the first time in 2016, and was re-elected in 2021.

She previously held the portfolio for Local Government, the Welsh Language, Equalities and Planning in Plaid's shadow cabinet in the 5th Senedd.[5]

She was also a member of the Senedd's Committee for Children, Young People and Education, Finance Committee and the Senedd's Business Committee.[6]

In 2018, she became co-deputy leader of Plaid Cymru alongside fellow Ynys Môn AM Rhun ap Iorwerth. Upon her appointment by leader Adam Price, Siân Gwenllian stated that, "I'm proud to be a member of this group of talented and skilled individuals and look forward to working together as a collective as we move towards the project of building a New Wales".[3]

Siân was also appointed as an Senedd Commission Commissioner in November 2018 and was responsible for official languages and the delivery and transformation of services to Assembly Members.[7][8]

From 2018 to 2021, Gwenllian was Plaid Cymru's spokesperson for the Welsh Language, Education, Children and Young People and Culture. She was also the Chief Whip and Deputy Leader of Plaid Cymru's shadow cabinet until 2023.

Siân was re-elected in 2021 with a higher percentage of the vote than any other candidate throughout Wales.

Since 2021, Siân is Plaid Cymru's Lead Designated Member in the Co-operation Agreement with the Welsh Government.[9]

Personal life

Siân had four children with her husband, Dafydd but in 1999, when their youngest son was only three years old, Dafydd died of cancer. Siân brought up the four children as a single parent.

During her time at Aberystwyth University she was President of the Students' Union. She was also a Member of the Board of Governors of schools and a Member of the Community Council before becoming a County Councillor.

References

  1. ↑ "Plaid Cymru hold Arfon for Sian Gwenllian". Daily Post, 6 May 2016.
  2. ↑ "Siân Gwenllian re-elected for Arfon in Senedd Election". The Bangor Aye. 7 May 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 "Siân Gwenllian AM – Assembly Member Profile". www.assembly.wales. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  4. ↑ "Siân Gwenllian MS". The Party of Wales Arfon. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  5. ↑ "Shadow Cabinet". www.partyof.wales. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  6. ↑ "Member Profile". Welsh Parliament. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  7. ↑ "The Commissioners and their role". National Assembly for Wales. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  8. ↑ PoliticsHome.com (27 November 2018). "New appointments this week in UK politics, the civil service and public affairs". PoliticsHome.com. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  9. ↑ The Co-operation Agreement, gov.wales, 21 June 2023
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