Eurfyl ap Gwilym
Encyclopedia
Eurfyl ap Gwilym is a Welsh
politician of Plaid Cymru
, and Deputy Chairman of the Principality Building Society
.
He was educated at Ardwyn Grammar School and at King's College London
(BSc, PhD).
, Wales' biggest mutual society. He is also a director of Nemo Personal Finance Ltd and Loan Link Ltd and Chairman of the Trustees of the Society's Pension Scheme. His other directorships include Director of iSOFT Group plc, NCC Group plc and Pure Wafer plc.
since 1963. He is an economics
expert who is a longstanding adviser to Plaid Cymru
, and who has become the first candidate from the party to formally announce his candidacy for a peerage
. Plaid recently dropped its opposition to sending members to the House of Lords
in response to constitutional changes that give the second chamber the power to veto law-making proposals put forward by the National Assembly for Wales
.
Businessman Eurfyl ap Gwilym, who costed last year’s Plaid election manifesto
and is a former national chairman of the party, will be a candidate for a seat in the Lords.
For many years he has advocated a revision of the Barnett formula
, which determines how much money Wales receives from the Treasury
. He argues that if a new formula based on need was introduced, Wales would be entitled to hundreds of millions of pounds extra a year.
Dr ap Gwilym's public profile rose further after an interview with Jeremy Paxman
on the BBC
current affairs programme, Newsnight
. In the interview Dr ap Gwilym challenged Paxman on a variety of economic figures, telling him to "do your homework" when those figures weren't readily available. A recording of the interview received over 50,000 hits on YouTube
within the first few days of release and a Facebook group set up in deference to Dr ap Gwilym received over 1,200 supporters in the same period.
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 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 Deputy Chairman of the Principality Building Society
Principality Building Society
Principality is a Welsh building society based in Cardiff, the capital of Wales. With assets of just under £6bn it is the largest building society in Wales and the seventh largest in the United Kingdom. Principality Building Society is mutual, which means it is owned by its members rather than...
.
He was educated at Ardwyn Grammar School and at King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
(BSc, PhD).
Professional career
Dr ap Gwilym is a Deputy Chairman of the Principality Building SocietyPrincipality Building Society
Principality is a Welsh building society based in Cardiff, the capital of Wales. With assets of just under £6bn it is the largest building society in Wales and the seventh largest in the United Kingdom. Principality Building Society is mutual, which means it is owned by its members rather than...
, Wales' biggest mutual society. He is also a director of Nemo Personal Finance Ltd and Loan Link Ltd and Chairman of the Trustees of the Society's Pension Scheme. His other directorships include Director of iSOFT Group plc, NCC Group plc and Pure Wafer plc.
Political career
Dr ap Gwilym has been a member of Plaid CymruPlaid 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...
since 1963. He is an economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
expert who is a longstanding adviser to 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 who has become the first candidate from the party to formally announce his candidacy for a peerage
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
. Plaid recently dropped its opposition to sending members to 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....
in response to constitutional changes that give the second chamber the power to veto law-making proposals put forward by the National Assembly for Wales
National 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...
.
Businessman Eurfyl ap Gwilym, who costed last year’s Plaid election manifesto
Manifesto
A manifesto is a public declaration of principles and intentions, often political in nature. Manifestos relating to religious belief are generally referred to as creeds. Manifestos may also be life stance-related.-Etymology:...
and is a former national chairman of the party, will be a candidate for a seat in the Lords.
For many years he has advocated a revision of the Barnett formula
Barnett formula
The Barnett formula is a mechanism used by The Treasury in the United Kingdom to adjust the amounts of public expenditure allocated to Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales automatically to reflect changes in spending levels allocated to public services in England, England and Wales or Great...
, which determines how much money Wales receives from the Treasury
Treasury
A treasury is either*A government department related to finance and taxation.*A place where currency or precious items is/are kept....
. He argues that if a new formula based on need was introduced, Wales would be entitled to hundreds of millions of pounds extra a year.
Dr ap Gwilym's public profile rose further after an interview with Jeremy Paxman
Jeremy Paxman
Jeremy Dickson Paxman is a British journalist, author and television presenter. He has worked for the BBC since 1977. He is noted for a forthright and abrasive interviewing style, particularly when interrogating politicians...
on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
current affairs programme, Newsnight
Newsnight
Newsnight is a BBC Television current affairs programme noted for its in-depth analysis and often robust cross-examination of senior politicians. Jeremy Paxman has been its main presenter for over two decades....
. In the interview Dr ap Gwilym challenged Paxman on a variety of economic figures, telling him to "do your homework" when those figures weren't readily available. A recording of the interview received over 50,000 hits on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
within the first few days of release and a Facebook group set up in deference to Dr ap Gwilym received over 1,200 supporters in the same period.