- Cynog Dafis
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Cynog Dafis Member of the Welsh Assembly
for Mid and West WalesIn office
6 May 1999 – 1 May 2003Preceded by Constituency Created Succeeded by Helen Mary Jones Member of Parliament
forCeredigionIn office
9 April 1992 – 10 January 2000Preceded by Geraint Howells Succeeded by Simon Thomas Personal details Born 1 February 1938 Nationality Welsh Political party Plaid Cymru Spouse(s) Llinos Dafis Cynog Glyndwr Dafis (born 1 February 1938) is a Welsh politician and member of the Plaid Cymru party. He was a school teacher and researcher before entering politics.
Contents
Education
Dafis was educated at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth gaining a BA (Hons) degree in English and subsequently an M.Ed. degree[citation needed].
Political career
Dafis was a Member of Parliament for Ceredigion from 1992 until 2000, having been supported by a coalition of local Plaid Cymru and Green party activists. In 2000 he resigned as an MP to devote more time as a member of the National Assembly for Wales, to which he had been elected in 1999.
In a speech at the 2000 National Eisteddfod at Llanelli, Dafis called for a new Welsh language movement with greater powers to lobby for the Welsh language at the Assembly, UK, and EU levels.[1] Dafis felt the needs of the language were ignored during the first year of the Assembly, and that in order to ensure a dynamic growth of the Welsh language a properly resourced strategy was needed[1] In his speech Dafis encouraged other Welsh language advocacy groups to work closer together creating a more favorable climate in which using Welsh was "attractive, exciting, a source of pride and a sign of strength".[1] Additionally, Dafis pointed towards efforts in areas such as Catalonia and the Basque country as successful examples to emulate.[1]
Lord Elis-Thomas, former Plaid Cymru president, disagreed with Dafis' assessment, however. At the Urdd Eisteddfod Lord Elis-Thomas said that there was no need for another Welsh language act, claiming that there was "enough goodwill to safeguard the language's future".[2] His controversial comments prompted Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg to joined a chorus calling for his resignation as the Assembly's presiding officer.[2]
In 2002, Dafis announced he would step down from the Assembly at the 2003 elections, despite party leader Ieuan Wyn Jones having asked him not to do so. Soon after the elections in 2003, he announced his candidacy for Presidency of the party, but lost to Dafydd Iwan.
Personal life
He is married to Llinos Dafis and he has two sons and one daughter called Arthur, Rolant, and Gwenllian, currently living in Wales.
References
External links
- Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Cynog Dafis
Parliament of the United Kingdom Preceded by
Geraint HowellsMember of Parliament for Ceredigion
1992–2000Succeeded by
Simon ThomasNational Assembly for Wales Preceded by
(new post)Assembly Member for Mid and West Wales
1999 – 2003Succeeded by
Helen Mary JonesPlaid Cymru Leadership Leader Ieuan Wyn Jones (2006–present)Assembly Group Leader
(party leader since 2006)Presidents
(Party leader pre-2003)Lewis Valentine (1925–1926) · Saunders Lewis (1926–1939) · John Edward Daniel (1939–1943) · Abi Williams (1943–1945) · Gwynfor Evans (1945–1981) · Dafydd Wigley (1981–1984) · Dafydd Elis-Thomas (1984–1991) · Dafydd Wigley (1991–2000) · Ieuan Wyn Jones (2000–2003) · Dafydd Iwan (2003–2010) · Jillian Evans (2010–present)Chair
(chief executive)Phil Williams (1970–1976) · Ieuan Wyn Jones (1980–1982) Dafydd Iwan (1982–1984) · Syd Morgan (1984–1990) · Ieuan Wyn Jones (1990–1992) · John Dixon (1992–1994) · Jillian Evans (1994–1996) · Marc Phillips (1996–2000) · Elin Jones (2000–2002) · John Dixon (2002–2010) · Gwenllian Lansdown (2010–2011) · Rhuanedd Richards (2011–present)Honorary President Dafydd Wigley (2001–present)Parliamentarians Members of the Welsh Assembly Davies · Elis-Thomas · Evans · Franks · Jenkins · A. F. Jones · E Jones · G Jones · H. M. Jones · I. W. Jones · Lloyd · Ryder · Thomas · WoodMembers of the European Parliament Eurig Wyn (1999–2004) ·
FormerEurig Wyn (1999–2004)CurrentJillian Evans (1999-)History of Plaid Cymru Founders Byddin Ymreolwyr Cymru
(The Welsh Home Rule Army)Y Mudiad Cymreig
(The Welsh Movement)Other co-foundersRelated organisations Category · Website Categories:- 1938 births
- Living people
- Members of the United Kingdom Parliament for Welsh constituencies
- Plaid Cymru Members of the National Assembly for Wales
- Wales AMs 1999–2003
- Plaid Cymru MPs
- UK MPs 1992–1997
- UK MPs 1997–2001
- Welsh politicians
- Welsh-speaking people
- Bards of the Gorsedd
- People educated at Neath Grammar School for Boys
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