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Ieuan Wyn Jones to stand down as Ynys Mon AM | Ieuan Wyn Jones to stand down as Ynys Mon AM |
(35 minutes later) | |
The former leader of Plaid Cymru, Ieuan Wyn Jones, has confirmed he is to stand down from his Ynys Mon seat, triggering a by-election. | |
He announced on Tuesday that he was leaving the Welsh assembly to lead the new Menai Science Park. | |
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 as leader 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's 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 led the party between 2000 and 2012, before he was succeeded by Ms Wood. | |
He stood down as Plaid's leader after the party's disappointing showing at the 2011 assembly election. | |
The party was 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. | 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. | "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. | "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." | "I really do think that in a sense he's a kind of giant of Welsh politics over the last 20 years." |