Llŷr Gruffydd

Region: North Wales

Portfolio: Rural Affairs; Group Chair

Llŷr has served as a Member of the Senedd for the North Wales Region since 2011. During that time he has chaired the Senedd’s Finance Committee (2018-2021) and the Climate Change, Environment & Infrastructure Committee (2021 to date).

He has also served as his party’s Shadow Minister for the Environment and Rural Affairs, Shadow Minister for Education, and Shadow Minister for Finance and Local Government. Llŷr also became Plaid Cymru’s Acting Leader for a period in 2023.

Llŷr began his career as a youth worker before becoming the Chief Officer of the Council for Wales of Voluntary Youth Services. He later worked for an economic development company supporting the creation of new businesses and helping existing businesses to develop and grow. Llŷr has also been a consultancy manager with the National Trust in Wales.

During his time as an MS Llŷr has become a prominent campaigner on issues across North Wales. He has been a strong critic of the failings of the health service in the region, particularly in mental health, maternity services and community hospital closures. He stood up for nurses fighting extra shift work without pay and has opposed the privatisation of renal services by the health board and Welsh Government.

Llŷr has a track record of fighting for rural and agricultural communities. He has been a constant advocate for the protection of rural services and has been a prominent critic of the Government’s failure to tackle bovine TB. He also led the debate against the NVZ regulations, urging a more proportionate approach.

He lives in Ruthin and has four children.