Elin Jones to stand down as Llywydd in 2026
The woman in charge of keeping order in the Welsh Parliament has said she will give up the job after the next Senedd election.
Elin Jones has been Llywydd since 2016 but has said it was time for "a new pair of eyes" to keep politicians in check.
She said she was pleased to have set in train the plans to increase membership of the Senedd from 60 to 96 from May 2026.
Jones said she hoped to be a member of that parliament and was looking forward to being a backbencher.
Don't say blanket 20mph limit, Senedd boss rules
GB News removed from Welsh Parliament televisions
Jones was elected to the first Assembly as it then was in 1999, as the Plaid Cymru member for Ceredigion, a seat she has represented since.
She was the minister for rural affairs during the Labour-Plaid Cymru coalition, before becoming Llywydd in 2016.
The Llywydd's job is to act as the Welsh Parliament's figurehead and referee in the chamber.
Jones feels next year's Senedd election was a good time to hand over.
"I will by this time next year, have served as Llywydd for 10 years", she said.
"I think that's more than enough time for somebody to be elected as Llywydd in this place and it's time for a new pair of eyes watching what the people do in this chamber."
She added she was proud of her work in lobbying for more members for a body which has accrued more powers since 1999.
The Senedd's chamber has now closed for renovation work to accommodate the additional members when they start next year.
"And on that note, I can conclude my time as Llywydd, pass on the reins so I will not be putting my name forward to be Llywydd in May of next year, and it'll be one of the other 96."
More politicians future proof Senedd - Elin Jones
Elin Jones seeks re-election as presiding officer
Elin Jones backs youth parliament
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
38 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Plans for Loch Lomond Flamingo Land resort stalled
The Scottish government has stalled plans for a controversial holiday park at Loch Lomond. Ministers had previously been set to give permission for the development, overturning the national park authority which said it did not comply with environmental and nature conservation policies. Theme park operator Flamingo Land believed it would be given the go-ahead to build a £40m resort called Lomond Banks, featuring a waterpark, monorail, hotel and restaurants. The Scottish government's Minister for Public Finance, Ivan McKee, has now said he will recall the plans because "the development raises issues of national significance in view of its potential impact on Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park". He said: "This means that the appeal should be determined at a national level." McKee has previously resisted calls for ministers to intervene in the decision to allow the plans to go forward. Loch Lomond Flamingo Land resort set for approval Loch Lomond Flamingo Land resort rejected by park authority What is happening with Flamingo Land at Loch Lomond? The original proposal sparked protests and was initially rejected last September by Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park authority, who said it did not comply with environmental and nature conservation policies. But that was appealed to the Scottish government reporter, who last month said they intended to grant permission - subject to a legal agreement between Flamingo Land and the park. Government reporters consider the vast majority of appeals, appointed by ministers to make a decision on their behalf. However some of these are "recalled" by ministers who will then make the final decision themselves. When the Scottish government reporter announced in May the intention to back the plans, development director for Lomond Banks Jim Paterson said it was a "real milestone moment" which had been "a long time in the making". But Scottish Greens MSP Ross Greer, who has been a long-standing critic of the plan, said the development would cause "irreversible damage" and the decision was an "anti-democratic outrage". Following Ivan McKee's 's latest announcement, Greer said it was "the right move". He added: "The evidence of the damage it would do to one of Scotland's most iconic locations is overwhelming. "Once ministers consider the flood risk, loss of ancient woodland, hundreds of additional cars which would be brought onto notoriously congested roads and the litany of other devastating impacts it would have, I am sure they will reject the mega-resort application and finally end this decade-long saga." The decision comes ahead of a vote in the Scottish Parliament on the issue, led by Scottish Labour. The party's deputy leader Jackie Baillie welcomed McKee's decision to recall plan, saying: "It shouldn't have taken the fear of a defeat in Parliament to force them to reach this decision. "The SNP has ignored concerns time and time again – from politicians across the chamber and from local campaigners." The Balloch and Haldane Community Council previously said it was "deeply disappointed" in the decision to approve park plans. The group said this "contradicts the expressed will of the community". A spokesperson added: "This is not just a bad planning decision, it is a fundamental failure of democracy and policy. "This decision rides roughshod over the principles of community empowerment, environmental protection, and democratic accountability. Flamingo Land first submitted plans for the site in 2018, but withdrew them the following year after a wave of negative reaction. It submitted updated plans in 2020, insisting the proposal would be a "major step away" from its other resorts, including a theme park and zoo in Yorkshire. But the Loch Lomond park authority board ruled that the updated scheme still conflicted with both regional and national environmental policies. Stuart Pearce, "director of place" for the park authority, previously said the plans created "unacceptable risk" of flooding of the River Leven. More than 174,000 people signed a petition against the project. The Flamingo Land resort in North Yorkshire has been operating since 1959, initially as a zoo. The name comes from a colony of the brightly coloured birds that were among the first animals on the site at Kirby Misperton. By the 1970s, the zoo was losing money, and the attraction was revamped as a "day out" experience with a growing focus on amusement rides. The Yorkshire site continues to have exotic animals, and there is also a large holiday village with static caravans and lodges.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
UK Government ‘betraying Wales' over rail funding, Plaid leader says
Plaid Cymru has called for the First Minister of Wales to condemn the UK government for 'betraying Wales' on rail funding. Rhun ap Iorwerth, leader of Plaid, criticised the UK Labour Government for reclassifying the £6.6 billion Oxford to Cambridge line to an England and Wales project. The designation means Wales will not receive the additional rail funding it would get if branded an England-only project. Mr ap Iorwerth called on Eluned Morgan, the Welsh Labour First Minister, to condemn the reclassification. Baroness Morgan agreed Wales was not getting its fair share but said she was expecting to see positive changes in the UK Government's spending review on Wednesday. Mr ap Iorwerth's comments come following reports that revealed the project had originally been listed as England-only from 2020 to 2024. The Treasury told the BBC the classification was a 'publishing error' and insisted it was always considered an England and Wales development. Speaking First Minister's Questions in the Senedd on Tuesday, Mr ap Iorwerth said: 'We were getting our share until Labour actively moved the goalposts. 'Labour went out of its way to make sure Wales wouldn't get the money when the big spending really began.' He added: 'She should be joining me in condemning the UK Labour Government for betraying Wales. Will she?' Mr ap Iorwerth argued the reclassification was a 'new HS2 scandal' – a rail project that has been controversial in Wales. Despite none of the track being laid in the country, it was also designated an England and Wales project by the last UK Conservative government. Plaid has said this designation cost Wales £3.9 billion in funding. Responding to Mr Iorwerth, Baroness Morgan said: 'I've learned to expect nothing but constant negativity from the Plaid Cymru leader. 'I've been clear and I've been consistent when it comes to rail funding that we have not been getting our fair share of funding, in a position that the Tories left us with for over a decade. 'The difference between the Tories and the UK Labour Government is that they've recognised that injustice. 'I don't know what's going to be in the spending review, but the one thing I do know is that if Labour gave Wales a total land of milk and honey, Plaid Cymru would still find fault.' Baroness Morgan added they were 'expecting something positive from the spending review', but the Welsh government would have to keep on making the case for a fair share of funding. In January, the UK government admitted Welsh railways had been underfunded, with spending at 'low levels' in recent years. However, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander did not announce any additional funding at the time.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Obituary: Milwaukee Courier founder Jerrel Jones, pioneer in local journalism, dies at 85
Milwaukee journalism pioneer and visionary, Jerrel Jones, 85, founder of the weekly newspaper, the Milwaukee Courier and owner of WNOV radio station, has died according to a statement from the family. 'He was a mentor, a pioneer, and a beacon of strength,' Mary Ellen Jones, daughter and general manager of WNOV, said in a statement. Jones led Courier Communications Corp., which included the newspaper for 61 years. The Courier was founded in 1964 during the Civil Rights movement and desegregation in Milwaukee's schools. In 1972, Courier Communications bought WNOV, with Jones as the majority stakeholder, making it the first Black owned radio station in Wisconsin and one of 30 in the United States, according to the station's website. In 2013, Courier Communications bought the Madison Times, a Black newspaper in Madison. In a statement Mayor Cavalier Johnson said: "Milwaukee has lost a titan of local media with the passing of Jerrel W. Jones. His leadership of both the Milwaukee Courier newspaper and WNOV radio provided important outlets for news, entertainment and information. Jerrel was an engaged owner and community leader. His family, friends and colleagues have my condolences." A special tribute edition of the Milwaukee Courier is planned for the end of July and community members are invited to share a reflection of Jones. The Courier is the oldest continuously publishing Black newspaper in Wisconsin and has been a force in politics, culture and community since its first edition. Jones gave it the slogan "the newspaper you can trust" and it was a key source of information and commentary for Milwaukee's Black community. And Jones held politicians to account, even those whose campaigns he helped support financially. One of those was Democratic state Sen. Gary George, who represented part of the northside of Milwaukee at the time. In 2003, Jones supported then-Gov. Jim Doyle's efforts to expand casino gambling in the state that would have benefited Potawatomi Casino, and one of the major advertisers for the Courier and major employer in the Black community. However George voted against it. Jones was furious after the vote and the Courier wrote an editorial lambasting George saying he "has had the opportunity to represent his loyal supporters for a long time. It is time that he must go. His actions, votes and leadership are clearly in question." Jones went even further, launching a recall against George in March that year. "I backed Gary for 20 years. I've taken a lot of crap from Gary over those 20 years," Jones said in an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in 2003. "I've never even heard of a recall effort where we recall our own. this is the first time and, hopefully, the last time." Jones led the recall effort gathering 15,000 signatures, nearly more than double what was needed to launch a recall and a month before the deadline, according to a Journal Sentinel story. Roughly seven months later George lost his recall election to Spencer Coggs. This story will be updated. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Obituary: Jerrel Jones founded Milwaukee Courier founder, owned WNOV
