The Stage

Jones appointed Wales’ Heritage Minister after shock departure of Thomas

Published Tuesday 22 July 2008 at 19:40 by Lalayn Baluch

Alun Ffred Jones has been appointed as Wales’ new Heritage Minister, following the surprise resignation of Rhodri Glyn Thomas.

Jones is Plaid Cymru’s deputy leader in the Welsh Assembly Government, and member for the Arfon constituency. Before being elected into the assembly in 2003, he was a television director and producer for Ffilmiau’r Nant, Caernarfon, as well as a teacher and journalist.

Jones said: “It is a tremendous privilege to be asked to serve the people of Wales. As Heritage Minister in the Welsh Assembly Government, I’m determined to build on the strong foundations laid by Rhodri Glyn Thomas, and to deliver on the commitments set out in One Wales.

“Through being an Assembly Member for Arfon, I also hope I can contribute to the objectives of this government of uniting our Nation, spreading prosperity and building confidence in our ability to take good decisions in the interest of Wales.”

The news follows last week’s shock announcement that Thomas had stepped down from his post as Heritage Minister after being told to leave a pub for smoking a cigar.

He said his position was not “sustainable” following an earlier incident when he named the wrong winner of a book prize.

According to the BBC, in his resignation letter to Labour’s First Minister Rhodri Morgan, Thomas wrote: “In the light of the publicity that has been following me in the last weeks, I feel that my position in the government is no longer sustainable.

“Further comments would be bound to follow. It has been a privilege to be part of this government during this exceedingly exciting period.”

Morgan praised Thomas for his hard work, and said he deserved recognition for taking forward the assembly’s bid to legislate on the Welsh language.