The Llywydd has paid tribute to the “Senedd’s founding father” following the death of the parliament’s first Presiding Officer, Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas, announced today, Friday 7 February 2025.
Lord Elis-Thomas was the Presiding Officer for the then National Assembly for Wales and was elected to serve in the role for three terms, from 1999 to 2011.
An instrumental player in the establishment of devolution, Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas led the brand-new Assembly through the first 12 years of its existence. His steady leadership during this time put the Assembly on course to becoming the parliament it is today.
The Llywydd of the Senedd, Rt Hon Elin Jones MS said:
“It is hard to imagine Welsh political life without Dafydd Elis-Thomas. Since the early 1970s he has been omnipresent, having served in the House of Commons, the House of Lords and our Senedd.
“As the Senedd’s first Presiding Officer, he was keen to establish a modern democracy from the start, learning from other Parliaments what to do, and what not to do. He became the keeper of the Welsh constitution but was always prepared to think outside the box.
"When he became the National Assembly’s Presiding Officer in 1999, he was exactly the right person, in the right place at the right time. He brought parliamentary experience to the job, but with an innovating vision. He was not prepared to replicate 19th century traditions, but rather to create a 21st century digital, inclusive parliament.
“He can rightly be called our Senedd’s founding father. We mourn his loss and hold his family and friends in our thoughts and prayers.”
Flags will fly at half-mast outside the Senedd building in tribute.
Biography
Lord Elis-Thomas became one of the few politicians to represent constituents at both Westminster and Cardiff Bay. He was leader of Plaid Cymru from 1984 to 1991, during which he represented the constituency of Meirionnydd and then Meirionnydd Nant Conwy as a Member of Parliament. With the dawn of devolution, he was elected to the new National Assembly for Wales in 1999, first representing Meirionnydd Nant Conwy, and then Dwyfor Meirionnydd until 2021. As an Independent member, in 2017 he was appointed to serve as a Welsh Government Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport.
During a five-decade career in public life, he contributed to the work of numerous public bodies dedicated to the arts, language and the environment and was Chairman of the Welsh Language Board between 1994 and 1999. In 1992, he was made a life peer, as Baron Elis-Thomas.
