Llywydd of the Senedd

The Llywydd (Welsh: [ˈɬəu.ɨð]), or the Presiding Officer in English, is the Speaker of the Senedd in Wales, elected by Members of the Senedd to chair their meetings (plenary sessions); to maintain order; and to protect the rights of Members.

The Llywydd also heads the Corporate Body (known as the Senedd Commission) and as such is viewed as a figurehead for the entire organisation. One Dirprwy Lywydd (or the Deputy Presiding Officer in English) is also elected to help fulfil the role. The office of the Llywydd is based in Tŷ Hywel and is also responsible for the Pierhead Building in Cardiff Bay.

Role of the Llywydd

Elin Jones MS, the current Llywydd

The main function is to chair plenary sessions of the Senedd, to maintain order and to protect the rights of Members. He or she is responsible for ensuring that business is handled on the basis of equality and impartiality.

The Llywydd is also responsible for Standing Orders and is the final authority on their interpretation. The Llywydd also acts as Chair of the Senedd Commission, and has special responsibility for promoting democratic engagement, leadership, developing the Senedd's future legislative powers and external relations

He or she is, along with the Deputy Presiding Officer, politically responsible for all aspects of the Presiding Office to which the Standing Orders relate.

The Llywydd chairs meetings of the Panel of Subject Committee Chairs, where committee procedures and matters affecting Committee business are discussed. In addition to this, the Llywydd acts as the ambassador for the Senedd, attending speaker’s conferences and other events in order to publicise and raise the profile of the Senedd.

Neither the Llywydd or the Deputy Presiding Officer are allowed to participate in Senedd votes.

Llywydd

List of office holders

Name		Picture	Entered office	Left office	Political party	Notes
	The Rt Hon The Lord Elis-Thomas PC AM		12 May 1999	11 May 2011	Plaid Cymru	Elected unopposed 1999,[1] re-elected unopposed 2003 and 2007
	Dame Rosemary Butler DBE AM		11 May 2011	11 May 2016	Labour	Elected unopposed 2011.[2]
	Elin Jones MS		11 May 2016	Incumbent	Plaid Cymru	Elected 2016. Beat Dafydd Elis-Thomas 34 votes to 25 with 1 abstention[3]

Dirprwy Lywydd

List of office holders

Name		Picture	Entered office	Left office	Political party	Notes
	Jane Davidson AM		12 May 1999	17 October 2000	Labour	First Assembly. Elected unopposed.[1]Resigned from post when she became a Government Minister
	John Marek AM		19 October, 2000	7 May 2003	Labour	Remainder of the first Assembly Beat Rosemary Butler 28 votes to 27[4]
			7 May 2003	9 May 2007	Forward Wales	Second Assembly. Beat Peter Law 30 votes to 29[5]
	Rosemary Butler AM		9 May 2007	11 May 2011	Labour	Third Assembly Elected unopposed[6]
	David Melding AM		11 May 2011	11 May 2016	Conservative	Fourth Assembly Beat William Graham 46 votes to 12[2]
	Ann Jones MS		11 May 2016	Incumbent	Labour	Fifth Assembly Beat John Griffiths 30 votes to 29[3]

Current Llywydd and Dirprwy Lywydd

Position	Current holder			Term started	Political party	Constituency
Llywydd		Elin Jones MS		11 May 2016	Plaid Cyrmu	Ceredigion
Dirprwy Lywydd		Ann Jones MS		11 May 2016	Labour	Vale of Clwyd

See also

• Senedd Cymru
• Senedd Commission

References

1. "Official record" (PDF). www.assembly.wales. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
2. "Business item". National Assembly for Wales.
3. "Record of Proceedings". National Assembly for Wales.
4. "Official record" (PDF). www.assembly.wales. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
5. "Official record" (PDF). www.assembly.wales. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
6. "Business item". National Assembly for Wales.