Rhun ap Iorwerth was born in Tonteg, Rhondda Cynon Taf, to Edward Morus and Gwyneth (née Humphreys) Jones.[2] Born Rhun ap Iorwerth Jones,[3] his name is Welsh for 'Rhun, the son of Iorwerth', a name commonly anglicised as Edward.[4] He uses ap Iorwerth as his surname.[5]
He was brought up in Meirionydd and then Anglesey from age five.[6] Both ap Iorwerth's parents were teachers and Welsh language campaigners.[6] His father was a primary school headteacher who composed various songs and musicals for children and young people,[2][7] including Cwm-Rhyd-y-Rhosyn, a collaboration with Dafydd Iwan.[8] Ap Iorwerth has an older sister, Awen Iorwerth, an orthopaedic surgeon.[9]
He attended Ysgol Rhyd-y-Main, Dolgellau, for a short period, before moving to Anglesey and attending Ysgol Gynradd Llandegfan (Llandegfan Primary School), followed by secondary education at Ysgol David Hughes, Menai Bridge.[6] He then studied politics and Welsh at Cardiff University, and graduated in 1993.[6][10]
After living in both Cardiff and London, ap Iorwerth lives in Anglesey with his wife and has three children.[2]
Career
In 1994, ap Iorwerth joined BBC Cymru Wales, and worked as a journalist at BBC Westminster. Returning to Wales after the 1997 devolution referendum, he became BBC Wales's Chief Political Correspondent in 2001, a post he held for five years, before moving into presenting roles. He has been presenter of The Politics Show Wales, Dragon's Eye, ampm, BBC Radio Wales's Good Morning Wales, BBC Radio Cymru's Post Cyntaf breakfast news programme, the weekly political discussion programme Dau o'r Bae, and the BBC's main evening news programme for S4CNewyddion. He has also been a regular correspondent for BBC Network news, featuring on all BBC News channels. Outside news, he has presented numerous series for S4C, including its coverage of the National Eisteddfod, Y Rhufeiniaid ('The Romans'), and the arts series Pethe.[11]
On 20 June 2013, the former Plaid Cymru leader Ieuan Wyn Jones resigned from the Welsh Assembly seat of Ynys Môn in order to take a post leading the new Menai Science Park,[13][14] triggering a by-election in the constituency.[15] In June 2013, BBC Cymru Wales announced that ap Iorwerth had stepped down from his role as a news presenter to pursue a Plaid Cymru nomination for the by-election.[16]
The by-election provoked a local debate, in which Wylfa Nuclear Power Station became a key issue. The by-election was seen as key – had Welsh Labour won then they would have had an outright majority in the Assembly with 31 out of the 60 seats. The election on 1 August 2013 saw ap Iorwerth gain 12,601 votes, over the second-placed candidate Tal Michael (Labour), on a turnout of 42.45%.[17][18]
In January 2014, he was appointed as Plaid Cymru's spokesperson on Economy and Enterprise,[19][20] which also included Transport.[21] Ap Iorwerth held his seat in 2016.[22] Shortly after those elections, he was appointed as Shadow Minister for Health, as Plaid Cymru had become the second largest party.[23] In October 2016 this ceased to be a shadow cabinet role, as Plaid ceased to be the second largest party.[24] He unsuccessfully ran for the leadership of Plaid Cymru in 2018, losing to Adam Price. He was later appointed as joint deputy leader,[25] and as Plaid Spokesperson for Economy and Finance.[26][27] He also took responsibility for the Plaid Health portfolio in February 2020.[28] In May 2021, he was reshuffled to just the Health and Social Care portfolio.[29]
In March 2023, as Plaid Cymru's spokesperson on health and care, ap Iorwerth called for a public inquiry into Betsi Cadwaladr health board failures and repeatedly called to replace Betsi with smaller health boards.[32]
In May 2023, ap Iorwerth announced he was running to become leader of Plaid Cymru.[33] He was elected unopposed.[34]
On 17 March 2024, ap Iorwerth announced an early conclusion to the co-operation agreement between Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru, stating "I remain deeply concerned that the First Minister [Vaughan Gething] has failed to pay back the £200,000 donation to his leadership campaign from a company convicted of environmental offences, and believe it demonstrates a significant lack of judgment".[35]
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