Dafydd Elis-Thomas
Encyclopedia
Dafydd Elis Elis-Thomas, Baron Elis-Thomas, PC, AM, (born 18 October 1946) is a Welsh
politician
and was the Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales
until 2011. He is a member of the House of Lords
, a former leader of Plaid Cymru
, and, since 2004, a privy counsellor.
, Carmarthenshire
and brought up in the Llandysul
area of Ceredigion
, and in Llanrwst
in the Conwy Valley.
In 1970, he married Elen M. Williams and had three sons. They later divorced, and from the mid-1980s until 1992 his partner was Marjorie Thompson
, the chairwoman of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
(CND). In 1993, he married Mair Parry Jones, who is head of the translation department at the National Assembly. He currently lives in Llandaff
in Cardiff
(when working at the National Assembly) and Betws-y-Coed
(in the Aberconwy constituency).
between 1994 and 1999, and is a former member of the Arts Council of Wales
and the British Film Institute
where he was Chairman of Screen between 1992 and 1999. He was also a director and vice-chairman of Cynefin Environmental Ltd. between 1992 and 1999. A former university lecturer
, he has also been the president of Bangor University
since 2000, as well as currently being a member of the governing body of the Church in Wales
.
for the Meirionnydd Westmister constituency between 1974 and 1983, initially as the "Baby of the House
", and the Meirionnydd Nant Conwy Westminster constituency
since 1983, he was made a life peer
in 1992, and changed his surname from Thomas to Elis-Thomas by deed poll
, enabling him to take the title Baron Elis-Thomas, of Nant Conwy in the County of Gwynedd.
, where he represented the Meirionnydd Nant Conwy Assembly constituency
from 1999 until the 2007 election, and then the Dwyfor Meirionnydd constituency. He also held the position of Presiding Officer
since the Assembly's inception in 1999 until 2011. Making an announcement at a Senedd
reception, he accepted the position of honorary president of anti-fascist organisation Searchlight Cymru
.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and was the Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales
Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales
The Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales is the Speaker of the National Assembly for Wales, elected by the Members of the National Assembly for Wales to chair their meetings ; to maintain order; and to protect the rights of Members.He or she also heads the Corporate Body of the...
until 2011. He is a member of the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
, a former leader of Plaid Cymru
Plaid Cymru
' is a political party in Wales. It advocates the establishment of an independent Welsh state within the European Union. was formed in 1925 and won its first seat in 1966...
, and, since 2004, a privy counsellor.
Personal
Thomas was born in the Priory Hospital in CarmarthenCarmarthen
Carmarthen is a community in, and the county town of, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is sited on the River Towy north of its mouth at Carmarthen Bay. In 2001, the population was 14,648....
, Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire is a unitary authority in the south west of Wales and one of thirteen historic counties. It is the 3rd largest in Wales. Its three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford...
and brought up in the Llandysul
Llandysul
Llandysul is a small town in the county of Ceredigion, Wales. The community of Pont Tyweli lies directly across the Teifi River in Carmarthenshire. It is in the valley of the River Teifi and is visited for its fishing and canoeing....
area of Ceredigion
Ceredigion
Ceredigion is a county and former kingdom in mid-west Wales. As Cardiganshire , it was created in 1282, and was reconstituted as a county under that name in 1996, reverting to Ceredigion a day later...
, and in Llanrwst
Llanrwst
Llanrwst is a small town and community on the A470 road and the River Conwy in Conwy County Borough, Wales. It takes its name from the 5th century to 6th century Saint Grwst, and the original parish church in Cae Llan was replaced by the 12th-century church....
in the Conwy Valley.
In 1970, he married Elen M. Williams and had three sons. They later divorced, and from the mid-1980s until 1992 his partner was Marjorie Thompson
Marjorie Thompson
Marjorie Thompson was vice-chair and chair of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament between 1983 and 1993.-References:Marjorie Thompson was vice-chair and chair of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament between 1983 and 1993....
, the chairwoman of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament is an anti-nuclear organisation that advocates unilateral nuclear disarmament by the United Kingdom, international nuclear disarmament and tighter international arms regulation through agreements such as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty...
(CND). In 1993, he married Mair Parry Jones, who is head of the translation department at the National Assembly. He currently lives in Llandaff
Llandaff
Llandaff is a district in the north of Cardiff, capital of Wales, having been incorporated into the city in 1922. It is the seat of the Church in Wales Bishop of Llandaff, whose diocese covers the most populous area of South Wales. Much of the district is covered by parkland known as Llandaff...
in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
(when working at the National Assembly) and Betws-y-Coed
Betws-y-Coed
Betws-y-Coed is a village and community in the Conwy valley in Conwy County Borough, Wales. It has a population of 534. The name Betws or Bettws is generally thought to be derived from the Anglo-Saxon Old English 'bed-hus' - i.e. a bead-house - a house of prayer, or oratory...
(in the Aberconwy constituency).
Professional career
He was the chairman of the Welsh Language BoardWelsh Language Board
The Welsh Language Board is a statutory body set up by the UK Government as part of the Welsh Language Act 1993. It is now an Assembly Sponsored Public Body...
between 1994 and 1999, and is a former member of the Arts Council of Wales
Arts Council of Wales
The Arts Council of Wales is a Welsh Government sponsored body, responsible for funding and developing the arts in Wales.Established by Royal Charter in 1946, as the Welsh Arts Council , when it merged with the three Welsh regional arts associations...
and the British Film Institute
British Film Institute
The British Film Institute is a charitable organisation established by Royal Charter to:-Cinemas:The BFI runs the BFI Southbank and IMAX theatre, both located on the south bank of the River Thames in London...
where he was Chairman of Screen between 1992 and 1999. He was also a director and vice-chairman of Cynefin Environmental Ltd. between 1992 and 1999. A former university lecturer
Lecturer
Lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a position at a university or similar institution, often held by academics in their early career stages, who lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...
, he has also been the president of Bangor University
Bangor University
Bangor University is a university based in the city of Bangor in the county of Gwynedd in North Wales-United Kingdom.It was officially known for most of its history as the University College of North Wales...
since 2000, as well as currently being a member of the governing body of the Church in Wales
Church in Wales
The Church in Wales is the Anglican church in Wales, composed of six dioceses.As with the primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, the Archbishop of Wales serves concurrently as one of the six diocesan bishops. The current archbishop is Barry Morgan, the Bishop of Llandaff.In contrast to the...
.
UK Parliament
Having served as Member of ParliamentMember of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for the Meirionnydd Westmister constituency between 1974 and 1983, initially as the "Baby of the House
Baby of the House
Baby of the House is the unofficial title given to the youngest member of a parliamentary house. The term is most often applied to members of the British parliament.-Australia:In Australia the term is rarely used...
", and the Meirionnydd Nant Conwy Westminster constituency
Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (UK Parliament constituency)
Meirionnydd Nant Conwy was a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
since 1983, he was made a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
in 1992, and changed his surname from Thomas to Elis-Thomas by deed poll
Deed poll
A deed poll is a legal document binding only to a single person or several persons acting jointly to express an active intention...
, enabling him to take the title Baron Elis-Thomas, of Nant Conwy in the County of Gwynedd.
National Assembly for Wales
As of 2011, Elis-Thomas is also a member of the National Assembly for WalesNational Assembly for Wales
The National Assembly for Wales is a devolved assembly with power to make legislation in Wales. The Assembly comprises 60 members, who are known as Assembly Members, or AMs...
, where he represented the Meirionnydd Nant Conwy Assembly constituency
Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (National Assembly for Wales constituency)
Meirionnydd Nant Conwy was a constituency of the National Assembly for Wales. It elected one Assembly Member by the first past the post method of election...
from 1999 until the 2007 election, and then the Dwyfor Meirionnydd constituency. He also held the position of Presiding Officer
Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales
The Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales is the Speaker of the National Assembly for Wales, elected by the Members of the National Assembly for Wales to chair their meetings ; to maintain order; and to protect the rights of Members.He or she also heads the Corporate Body of the...
since the Assembly's inception in 1999 until 2011. Making an announcement at a Senedd
Senedd
The Senedd , also known as the National Assembly building, houses the debating chamber and three committee rooms for the National Assembly for Wales in Cardiff. The Senedd building was opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 1 March 2006 and the total cost was £69.6 million, which included £49.7M in...
reception, he accepted the position of honorary president of anti-fascist organisation Searchlight Cymru
Searchlight (magazine)
Searchlight is a British anti-fascist magazine, founded in 1975 by Gerry Gable, which publishes exposés about racism, antisemitism, and fascism in the UK....
.