Plaid Cymru's Rhun ap Iorwerth: From party disarray to brink of power

Around a hundred years after Plaid Cymru was founded, and after roughly a century of Labour dominance in Wales, one political era draws to a close, and another begins.

There is a certain symmetry to the moment.

As Labour's long hold on power ends, a Plaid Cymru leader stands poised to become first minister for the first time, after a highly successful Welsh election performance.

It marks a remarkable turnaround from three years ago, when Rhun ap Iorwerth inherited a party in disarray.

A scathing report into misogyny, harassment and bullying within Plaid had forced the resignation of his predecessor, Adam Price, leaving the party facing a crisis of confidence and credibility.

So what do we know about the man expected to become Wales' seventh first minister?

Let's start with the name.

Rhun ap Iorwerth literally means Rhun, son of Iorwerth - Iorwerth being a Welsh form of Edward.

He was born in Tonteg, near Pontypridd, in south-east Wales, but grew up in the north-west of the country.

He spent his earliest years in Meirionnydd before moving to the island of Anglesey at the age of five.

His parents were steeped in Welsh culture and public life.

His father was a teacher, prominent singer and composer, and an active campaigner for Plaid Cymru, the Welsh language and Welsh culture. His mother was also a teacher and went on to become president of several organisations promoting the Welsh language.

"Politics was all around me," ap Iorwerth told the BBC's Political Thinking podcast, recalling how, as a toddler, he would amuse himself by piling up Plaid Cymru leaflets.

After studying in Cardiff, he spent two decades as a reporter and presenter with BBC Wales.

In 2013, he left broadcasting and successfully contested the Ynys Môn by-election, winning the Anglesey seat in the Senedd.

He later told Wales Online that the death of his mother, Gwyneth Morus Jones, the previous December helped push him towards politics.

"I know my mother made a huge contribution to her community and to Wales," he said. "Seeing the things said about her showed me quite clearly that I couldn't go through life without making a contribution if that was at all possible."

His first opportunity to lead Plaid Cymru came in 2018, amid rumours of attempts to oust the then leader, Leanne Wood. In a television interview, Wood said she would welcome a challenge – and she got one.

But there was another contender waiting in the wings. Adam Price had long been spoken of in hushed tones within the party as the man who could take Plaid to new heights.

In the leadership contest, Price took nearly half the vote. Ap Iorwerth finished second, with Leanne Wood third.

By late 2022, the Ynys Môn MS was considering a different move altogether – swapping Cardiff Bay for Westminster by standing to become the island's MP.

Those plans were overtaken by events.

When Price resigned the following May, ap Iorwerth quickly emerged as the obvious successor for many in the party. He was elected unopposed, at the age of 50.

Supporters pointed to his "strong communication skills" as central to his appeal – skills honed during his broadcasting career.

They were on display weekly in First Minister's Questions, where he took on three Labour leaders in turn: Mark Drakeford, Vaughan Gething and, most recently, Eluned Morgan.

Ap Iorwerth used those exchanges to position himself as a credible alternative first minister.

His core message was blunt: Labour, he argued, was "failing to stand up for Wales" and lacking ambition for the nation.

When Labour returned to power at Westminster and promised during the 2024 general election campaign that Wales would benefit from the party governing in both London and Cardiff, ap Iorwerth turned the argument on its head.

Welsh Labour's first ministers, he said, were "too cosy" with their London bosses and more concerned with avoiding embarrassment for Sir Keir Starmer than speaking up for Wales.

"My only boss is the Welsh people," became his refrain.

He has sought to present the election campaign as a moment for renewal, arguing that after decades in power Labour has run out of ideas for Wales.

There was also another, more negative, message that proved highly effective - Vote Plaid to stop Reform - pulling Labour voters in particular into the Plaid Cymru camp.

Now ap Iorwerth looks set to be the one facing weekly questions in Cardiff Bay.

A long way from piling up leaflets as a toddler.