Rhodri Glyn Thomas

Infobox Politician
name=Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM


birth_date =birth date and age|1953|4|11
birth_place = flagicon|Wales Wrexham, Wales
office = Assembly Member
constituency= Carmarthen East and Dinefwr
term_start =1999
term_end =
predecessor = (new post)
successor = (incumbent)
office2 = Minister for Heritage
term_start2= 2007
term_end2 = 2008
predecessor2 = (new post)
successor2 = Alun Ffred Jones
office3 =
term_start3 =
term_end3 =
primeminister3 =
predecessor3 =
successor3 =
office4 =
term_start4 =
term_end4 =
primeminister4 =
predecessor4 =
successor4 =
party = Plaid Cymru

Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM (born 11 April 1953 in Wrexham, Denbighshire) is a Welsh politician. He has been the Plaid Cymru National Assembly for Wales Member for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr since 1999.

Education

Thomas attended Ysgol Bodhyfryd, Wrexham, and then Ysgol Morgan Llwyd, Wrexham before leaving for the University of Wales, Aberystwyth in 1975 to study for a degree in Welsh. After graduating in 1978, he studied for a BD degree in Theology at the University of Wales, Bangor and Bala-Bangor Theological Seminary under R. Tudur Jones. In 1991 he studied for a MTh degree at the University of Wales, Lampeter, reading American Theology although the final thesis he submitted was on the Union of Welsh Independents (Undeb yr Annibynwyr Cymraeg) role in the struggle to revive the Welsh Language in the 20th century.

Professional career

Minister of Religion . Director of a language consultancy. Former Chair of CND Cymru. Welsh spokesperson for the Forum of Private Business.

Political career

In 1992, Thomas fought the old Carmarthen constituency in the General Election for Plaid Cymru - Party of Wales. In the 1997 General Election he stood for Plaid Cymru in Carmarthen East & Dinefwr. In 1999 he fought the same constituency in the National Assembly Elections, winning by 6,980 votes. He was reelected in 2007 with an increased majority of over 8,000 making it the Assembly's second safest seat. Plaid Cymru entered into a coalition government with Welsh Labour in July 2007, and Rhodri Glyn Thomas was appointed as Minister for Heritage (19 July 2007), which he resigned from in 2008, over a gaffe.

Wales Book Of The Year Controversy

There was controversy at the Academi 2008 Wales Book of the Year ceremony when Thomas incorrectly announced that Tom Bullough was the winner. The prize was, in fact, awarded to Dannie Abse, Thomas having read the card wrongly.

Cigar Controversy

In July 2008 Thomas is reported to have walked into a Cardiff pub with a lit cigar, thus breaking the law. Following this he has resigned his job from the Welsh Cabinet. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/7514458.stm]

External links

* [http://www.rhodriglynthomas.org/ Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM Website]
* [http://www.rhodriglynthomas.org/blog/ Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM Blog]
* [http://www.plaidcymru.org/ Plaid Cymru - the Party of Wales Website]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/7514458.stm]

Offices held

References

[http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2008/07/02/tribute-to-lost-wife-is-the-book-of-the-year-91466-21212635/] ICWales article on the 2008 Welsh Book Of The Year