| Honorific prefix | The Right Honourable |
|---|---|
| Office | Cabinet Minister for Finance |
| Term start | 13 May 2026 |
| First minister | Rhun ap Iorwerth |
| Predecessor | Mark Drakeford |
| Office 1 | Llywydd of the Senedd |
| Deputy 1 | Ann Jones David Rees |
| Term start 1 | 11 May 2016 |
| Term end 1 | 12 May 2026 |
| Predecessor 1 | Rosemary Butler |
| Successor 1 | Huw Irranca-Davies |
| Office 2 | Deputy Leader of Plaid Cymru |
| Leader 2 | Leanne Wood |
| Term start 2 | 17 July 2012 |
| Term end 2 | 11 May 2016 |
| Predecessor 2 | Helen Mary Jones |
| Successor 2 | Siân Gwenllian Rhun ap Iorwerth |
| Office 3 | Minister for Rural Affairs |
| Term start 3 | 19 July 2007 |
| Term end 3 | 11 May 2011 |
| First minister 3 | Rhodri Morgan Carwyn Jones |
| Predecessor 3 | Carwyn Jones |
| Successor 3 | Lesley Griffiths |
| Office 4 | Member of the Senedd |
| Constituency 4 | Ceredigion (1999–2026) Ceredigion Penfro (2026–present) |
| Term start 4 | 6 May 1999 |
| Predecessor 4 | Position established |
| Birth date | 1 September 1966 (age 60) |
| Birth place | Lampeter, Wales |
| Party | Plaid Cymru |
| Alma mater | Cardiff University, Aberystwyth University |
Elin Jones (born 1 September 1966) is a Welsh politician who has served as the Cabinet Minister for Finance since 2026. A member of Plaid Cymru, Jones was the Llywydd of the Senedd from 2016 to 2026 and has been a Member of the Senedd (MS) since its establishment in 1999, representing Ceredigion until 2026, and Ceredigion Penfro since May 2026.[1][2] Along with Lynne Neagle, Jones is the joint longest serving member of the Senedd, serving since 1999.
Background
Jones attended Llanwnnen Primary School and Lampeter Comprehensive. She graduated from University of Wales, Cardiff with a BSc in Economics and took a post-graduate MSc in Agricultural Economics at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth in 1989.[3] Previously she was employed as an Economic Development officer for the Development Board for Rural Wales. She is a former Shadow Environment, Planning and Countryside Minister.[4]
Jones speaks Welsh and English. She is also a former director of Radio Ceredigion and of Wes Glei Cyf, a television production company.[4]
Political career
Elin Jones served on Aberystwyth Town Council from 1992 to 1999 and was the youngest-ever Mayor of Aberystwyth from 1997 to 1998.[5][6] She was the National Chair of Plaid Cymru between 2000 and 2002.[7]
National Assembly for Wales
In the first Assembly elections in 1999 Elin Jones was elected as Assembly Member for Ceredigion and served as Shadow Economic Development Minister during the Assembly's first term. Following the Assembly election in 2003, she retained this portfolio until 2006 when she became Shadow Minister for Environment, Planning & Countryside. On 9 July 2007 the One Wales government was formed and Elin Jones was made Minister for Rural Affairs. Elin Jones continued in this position until Plaid Cymru left Government at the 2011 elections.[4] Her record was criticized by George Monbiot in his 2013 book Feral.[8]
In the fourth Assembly she became Plaid's health spokesperson and unsuccessfully contested the leadership election following the resignation of Ieuan Wyn Jones.[9]
Llywydd
In the fifth Assembly she beat fellow Plaid Cymru AM Dafydd Elis-Thomas to become Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales by 34 votes to his 25.[10] She is also Llywydd of the Welsh Youth Parliament
In June 2021, Jones attempted to ban Members of the Senedd from displaying flags in their offices during video calls.[11]
In the 2026 Senedd election, following reforms of the Senedd electoral system, Jones was elected as candidate in the newly established Ceredigion Penfro constituency.[2][12]
Following the election, she stepped down as Llywydd and was appointed Cabinet Minister for Finance in the new ap Iorwerth government.[13]
References
- ^ Jones, James Barry & Osmond, John (2001). Inclusive Government and Party Management: The National Assembly for Wales and the Work of Its Committees. Institute of Welsh Affairs. p. 183. ISBN 9781871726695. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
- ^ Mosalski, Ruth (2026-05-08). "Wales' Senedd Election results 2026 in full as new political map of Wales unveiled". Wales Online. Retrieved 2026-05-11.
- ^ "Alumni at the Senedd". Aberystwyth University. 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
- ^ "Member Profile – Elin Jones MS". National Assembly for Wales. Archived 2020-10-24 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2018-02-06.
- ^ Forgrave, Andrew (2011-04-13). "Elin Jones: What you need to know". North Wales Live. Archived 2019-08-24 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
- ^ "People of the Senedd – Rt. Hon. Elin Jones MS". Senedd.Wales. Archived 2026-03-14 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-05-11.
- ^ "Plaid Cymru runner-up Elin Jones named deputy group leader". BBC News. 2012-07-17. Archived 2018-08-18 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
- ^ Monbiot, George (2015-11-09). "Allowing scallop dredging in 'strictly protected' dolphin reserves is madness | George Monbiot". the Guardian. Retrieved 2018-02-06.
- ^ "Plaid Cymru elect Leanne Wood as new leader". BBC News. 2012-03-15. Archived 2016-08-12 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ "Welsh Assembly chooses Elin Jones as presiding officer". BBC News. 2016-05-11. Archived 2016-07-21 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ "No more flags on video calls, Welsh Parliament members told". 23 June 2021. Archived 2021-06-23 at the Wayback Machine. – via www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ Betteley, Chris (16 May 2025). "Plaid announce Ceredigion Penfro candidates for 2026 Senedd elections". Cambrian News. Archived 2025-05-16 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ Deans, David (13 May 2026). "Rhun ap Iorwerth reveals ministerial team, promising 'new era' for Wales". BBC News. Retrieved 14 May 2026.