BBC News | WALES | Plaid leader reshuffles cabinet

The new president of Plaid Cymru, Ieuan Wyn Jones, has announced a reshuffle of his party's cabinet in the Welsh Assembly.

Rhodri Glyn Thomas loses his post as shadow agriculture secretary and is being replaced by Elin Jones.
Cynog Dafis AM
Cynog Dafis is one of Plaid's veterans

Announcing the changes, Mr Jones described his new cabinet as "strong... capable of taking on Labour in the Assembly as well as making a vital contribution in promoting a positive policy agenda."

The new Plaid line-up is as follows:

Ieuan Wyn Jones AM, Leader and Finance Secretary.

Jocelyn Davies, Business Manager

Elin Jones, Chief Whip, Agriculture & Rural Development

Phil Williams, Economic Development

Helen Mary Jones, Environment and Transport and Planning, plus Equal Opportunities

Dai Lloyd, Health & Social Services

Gareth Jones, Pre-16 Education

Janet Ryder, Local Government & Housing Secretary, plus Social Inclusion

Cynog Dafis, Policy Director, plus Post-16 Education & Training, plus Chairman of Post- 16 Education Committee

Rhodri Glyn Thomas, Chairman of Agriculture & Rural Development Committee

Janet Davies, Chairman of the Audit Committee

Pauline Jarman, Leader Rhondda Cynon Taf council

Brian Hancock, Deputy Whip, and spokesperson for small businesses.

Owen John Thomas, Spokesperson for Culture, the Welsh language and Sport

Geraint Davies, Spokesperson for the Valleys

Dafydd Elis-Thomas, Presiding Officer

Dafydd Wigley, Member Economic Development Cttee

Mr Jones - who succeeded Dafydd Wigley less than a week ago - had stated his intention to bring about "real change".

Rhodri Glyn Thomas loses agriculture post

His views appear to have chimed with those of party members as the AM and MP for Ynys M�n received 77% of the total votes cast in the presidential contest.

Ynys M�n AM Mr Jones was always seen as the clear front runner in the contest. His rivals Llanelli AM Helen Mary Jones and MEP Jill Evans won just 798 votes (13%) and 598 (10%) votes respectively.

In his acceptance speech, Mr Jones said he intended to modernise the party from "top to bottom".

"The priority for now must be to ensure that Wales gets the same powers as Scotland and we must ensure the broadest possible base of support for realising this aim," he said.

He said he had offered his predecessor Mr Wigley a place in the cabinet, but that Mr Wigley had declined as he wanted to concentrate on getting back to health.


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