Elin Jones

Elin Jones (born 1 September 1966) is a Welsh politician who has served as the Cabinet Minister for Finance since 2026. A member of Plaid Cymru, Jones was the Llywydd of the Senedd from 2016 to 2026 and has been a Member of the Senedd (MS) since its establishment in 1999, representing Ceredigion until 2026, and Ceredigion Penfro since May 2026. Along with Lynne Neagle, Jones is the joint longest serving member of the Senedd, serving since 1999.

Background Jones attended Llanwnnen Primary School and Lampeter Comprehensive. Her uncle, J.B. Evans, was one of the founders and the first General Secretary of the Farmers’ Union of Wales. She graduated from University of Wales, Cardiff with a BSc in Economics and took a post-graduate MSc in Agricultural Economics at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth in 1989. Previously she was employed as an Economic Development officer for the Development Board for Rural Wales. She is a former Shadow Environment, Planning and Countryside Minister.

Jones speaks Welsh and English. She is also a former director of Radio Ceredigion and of Wes Glei Cyf, a television production company. She was the National Chair of Plaid Cymru between 2000 and 2002.

National Assembly for Wales

In the first Assembly elections in 1999 Elin Jones was elected as Assembly Member for Ceredigion and served as Shadow Economic Development Minister during the Assembly's first term. Following the Assembly election in 2003, she retained this portfolio until 2006 when she became Shadow Minister for Environment, Planning & Countryside. On 9 July 2007 the One Wales government was formed and Elin Jones was made Minister for Rural Affairs. Elin Jones continued in this position until Plaid Cymru left Government at the 2011 elections.

In the fourth Assembly she became Plaid's health spokesperson and unsuccessfully contested the leadership election following the resignation of Ieuan Wyn Jones.

Llywydd

In the fifth Assembly she beat fellow Plaid Cymru AM Dafydd Elis-Thomas to become Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales by 34 votes to his 25. She is also Llywydd of the Welsh Youth Parliament

In June 2021, Jones attempted to ban Members of the Senedd from displaying flags in their offices during video calls.

In the 2026 Senedd election, following reforms of the Senedd electoral system, Jones was elected as candidate in the newly established Ceredigion Penfro constituency.

Following the election, she stepped down as Llywydd and was appointed Cabinet Minister for Finance in the new ap Iorwerth government.