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Ieuan Wyn Jones to stand down as Ynys Mon AM Ieuan Wyn Jones to stand down as Ynys Mon AM
(about 1 hour later)
The former leader of Plaid Cymru, Ieuan Wyn Jones, is to stand down from his Ynys Mon seat, triggering a by-election, BBC Wales understands.The former leader of Plaid Cymru, Ieuan Wyn Jones, is to stand down from his Ynys Mon seat, triggering a by-election, BBC Wales understands.
He is expected to announce on Tuesday that he is leaving the Welsh assembly for a new career away from politics.He is expected to announce on Tuesday that he is leaving the Welsh assembly for a new career away from politics.
Mr Jones has been an AM since 1999 and was deputy first minister in the One Wales coalition government with Labour after the 2007 assembly election.Mr Jones has been an AM since 1999 and was deputy first minister in the One Wales coalition government with Labour after the 2007 assembly election.
The Anglesey AM was replaced by Leanne Wood in March last year. The Anglesey AM was replaced as leader by Leanne Wood in March last year.
Reacting to Mr Jones' decision to stand down, Plaid Cymru's leader Ms Wood tweeted: "A big thanks for all you have done for Plaid Cymru and for Wales over 26 years."Reacting to Mr Jones' decision to stand down, Plaid Cymru's leader Ms Wood tweeted: "A big thanks for all you have done for Plaid Cymru and for Wales over 26 years."
Mr Jones stood down as Plaid Cymru leader after the party's disappointing showing at the 2011 assembly election.Mr Jones stood down as Plaid Cymru leader after the party's disappointing showing at the 2011 assembly election.
They were widely seen as having failed to capitalise on their period as junior coalition partners.They were widely seen as having failed to capitalise on their period as junior coalition partners.
Born in 1949, solicitor Mr Jones served as an MP from 1987 to 2001.Born in 1949, solicitor Mr Jones served as an MP from 1987 to 2001.
He was elected in 1999 as AM for Ynys Mon.He was elected in 1999 as AM for Ynys Mon.
The former Plaid Cymru MP and AM Cynog Dafis described Mr Jones as a giant of Welsh politics and said the Anglesey AM left an "enormously significant record" behind him.
"I think his contribution to Plaid Cymru and to Welsh politics generally has been enormous," said Mr Dafis on BBC Radio Wales.
"He was absolutely crucial, I believe, in getting a 'yes' vote in that 1997 referendum (and) in setting up the Plaid Cymru contribution to the campaign.
"I really do think that in a sense he's a kind of giant of Welsh politics over the last 20 years."
Daran Hill, a political consultant with Positive Politics, described Mr Jones as a "quiet, shrewd and intelligent politician whose words were always worth listening to".Daran Hill, a political consultant with Positive Politics, described Mr Jones as a "quiet, shrewd and intelligent politician whose words were always worth listening to".
'Decorum'
Speaking on BBC Radio Wales, Mr Hill said the decision had not completely surprised him.Speaking on BBC Radio Wales, Mr Hill said the decision had not completely surprised him.
"In one way it doesn't because today was an internal deadline within Plaid Cymru for sitting assembly constituency members to indicate whether or not they'd wish to fight at the next assembly election," Mr Hill said."In one way it doesn't because today was an internal deadline within Plaid Cymru for sitting assembly constituency members to indicate whether or not they'd wish to fight at the next assembly election," Mr Hill said.
'Decorum'
"The bit that surprises pretty much everyone is the fact that it looks pretty likely that Ieuan's going to call a by-election.""The bit that surprises pretty much everyone is the fact that it looks pretty likely that Ieuan's going to call a by-election."
He said Mr Jones was going to need a good reason because Angelsey was not an easy seat to fight and "it's not normally the done thing".He said Mr Jones was going to need a good reason because Angelsey was not an easy seat to fight and "it's not normally the done thing".
But Mr Hill said Mr Jones had not caused any headaches for his party since standing down as leader.But Mr Hill said Mr Jones had not caused any headaches for his party since standing down as leader.
"The interesting thing about Ieuan, I guess, is that since he stopped being the leader he's been a model former leader in terms of the silence of decorum with which he's conducted himself. He's not caused his party any headaches or problems," added Mr Hill."The interesting thing about Ieuan, I guess, is that since he stopped being the leader he's been a model former leader in terms of the silence of decorum with which he's conducted himself. He's not caused his party any headaches or problems," added Mr Hill.
"Therefore I don't imagine he would have taken this decision, which is to call a by-election by resigning, without a very good reason indeed.""Therefore I don't imagine he would have taken this decision, which is to call a by-election by resigning, without a very good reason indeed."
But he said if the AM had triggered a by-election unnecessarily then it might damage his legacy within the party.But he said if the AM had triggered a by-election unnecessarily then it might damage his legacy within the party.
As for the future, Mr Hill said Mr Jones might take a seat in the House of Lords.As for the future, Mr Hill said Mr Jones might take a seat in the House of Lords.
Mr Jones was chair of Plaid Cymru between 1980 and 1982 and 1990 to 1992, and was the party's campaigns director in 1999. Mr Jones led the party between 2000 and 2012, before he was succeeded by Leanne Wood.
Mr Jones went on to lead the party between 2000 and 2012, before Leanne Wood took over.
He became a member of the National Eisteddfod Gorsedd in 2001 and a fellow of the University of Wales, Bangor, last year.He became a member of the National Eisteddfod Gorsedd in 2001 and a fellow of the University of Wales, Bangor, last year.