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Ieuan Wyn Jones to stand down as Ynys Mon AM Ieuan Wyn Jones to stand down as AM to lead science park
(about 1 hour 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.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.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. An AM since 1999, Mr Jones took Plaid into government for the first time as deputy first minister in the One Wales coalition with Labour in 2007.
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." Explaining his plans, Mr Jones, who was also MP for the island for 14 years, said he was "fiercely committed to and passionate about creating a better economy for Anglesey and the north west of Wales".
Mr Jones led the party between 2000 and 2012, before he was succeeded by Ms Wood. He said: "In my maiden speech in Parliament in 1987, I said that I had been elected to put Anglesey on the political map of Wales, and I am pleased to have been able to deliver real results for the island both as an MP and AM and through my roles as leader of Plaid Cymru and as deputy first minister of Wales and economy and transport minister.
He stood down as Plaid's leader after the party's disappointing showing at the 2011 assembly election. "I would like to thank the people of Ynys Môn for their support and assistance over the last 26 years and more, and I am committed to continuing to serve their interests in the new role that I am taking up."
The party was widely seen as having failed to capitalise on their period as junior coalition partners. Reacting to Mr Jones's decision to stand down, Plaid leader Ms Wood tweeted: "A big thanks for all you have done for Plaid Cymru and for Wales over 26 years."
Born in 1949, solicitor Mr Jones served as an MP from 1987 to 2001. Later she said: "Ieuan Wyn Jones has a proud record of serving the people of Ynys Mon for 26 years. His decision to take on this new challenge of leading the science park project is a continuation of his commitment to the area."
He was elected in 1999 as AM for Ynys Mon. Born in 1949, solicitor Mr Jones led the party between 2000 and 2012.
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. 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 its period as junior coalition partners.
"I think his contribution to Plaid Cymru and to Welsh politics generally has been enormous," said Mr Dafis on BBC Radio Wales. 'Crucial'
"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. Former Plaid MP and AM Cynog Dafis said Mr Jones left an "enormously significant record" behind him.
"I think his contribution to Plaid Cymru and to Welsh politics generally has been enormous," Mr Dafis told 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.""I really do think that in a sense he's a kind of giant of Welsh politics over the last 20 years."
Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies said Mr Jones had "always been an effective assembly member and I applaud his many years of public service".
"It is fitting that this experience will be put to excellent use at the Menai Science Park," he said. "While Ieuan and I may hold different opinions politically, I wish him well in his important endeavours to increase opportunities for the people of north Wales."
Discussing his new job, Mr Jones said Anglesey and north west Wales was "a beautiful part of the world, but people need good jobs to enjoy the benefits of living and working here".
"I believe that the best contribution I can make in the next few years is lead the project to build Menai Science Park, and use the skills and expertise I have built up over many years to ensure that it plays a leading role in strengthening and broadening our economic base."
The deal for £10m of capital funding to set up a science park linked to Bangor and Aberystwyth universities was a surprise element of the budget deal agreed between the Labour Welsh government and Plaid Cymru in November 2012.
Since then there have been few public details about how the project will work in practice.
Menai Science Park will be led by Bangor University in collaboration with Aberystwyth.
As a result of the £10m for the science park and an extra £40m for apprentices, Plaid agreed to abstain on the budget vote, giving Labour a comfortable majority.
Mr Jones was the Plaid finance spokesman when the budget deal was agreed - so would have played a key role in securing the funding.
Earlier this year, Bangor University said it was seeking a "person of high prominence" in Wales to become chief executive officer of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) set up to operate the Menai Science Park.
It said the successful candidate would be "effective in business engagement, politically astute, a proven networker and quite simply a person with credibility".