Elin Jones

Elin Jones was appointed Cabinet Minister for Finance in Rhun ap Iorwerth's Plaid Cymru government on 13 May 2026, returning to cabinet after serving as Llywydd (Presiding Officer) of the Senedd from 2016 to 2026. Her appointment brings direct institutional knowledge of the Senedd's procedures to the cabinet table at a moment when Plaid governs without a majority and must negotiate every budget through the chamber.

Jones is the longest-serving Plaid Cymru MS, having represented Ceredigion since 1999 — the very first Senedd election. She served as Minister for Rural Affairs in Rhodri Morgan's Labour-Plaid Coalition from 2007 to 2011 and is the only member of the current cabinet with prior executive government experience. As Llywydd she was the most senior official in the Senedd and oversaw the expansion of the chamber from 60 to 96 seats under the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act 2024.

Her Finance brief places her in charge of the Welsh block grant and the Welsh Government's borrowing powers, the primary lever by which a minority Plaid government can differentiate itself from Westminster austerity without a majority mandate.