Warm Senedd tributes to Lord Elis-Thomas

Warm Senedd tributes have been paid to Lord Elis-Thomas, the former Plaid Cymru leader and first presiding officer of the Welsh Assembly who died last week.

First Minister Eluned Morgan called him a "political giant with a mischievous side" and "master at building political bridges". Plaid Cymru's Rhun ap Iorwerth said there was a "simplicity in the unwavering consistency" of his "love for Wales".

Conservative group leader Darren Millar said his "steady hand" helped "cement the Senedd's place at the heart of our national life".

Current Presiding Officer Elin Jones led a minute's silence in memory of Lord Elis-Thomas's life and work. She said his legacy was "a robust Senedd for his nation".

Lord Elis-Thomas led Plaid between 1984 and 1991 and served as MP for Meirionnydd and then Meirionnydd Nant Conwy between 1974 and 1992, when he was appointed to the House of Lords.

He was the first presiding officer, or speaker, of the new Welsh Assembly when it opened in 1999, after being elected to represent the Meirionydd Nant Conwy constituency.

Opening Tuesday afternoon's session of what is now called the Senedd, or Welsh Parliament, Jones called Elis-Thomas a "close friend to many here, political comrade to many too, and an enigma to all".

"This Senedd today is what it is because, to a very great extent, of Dafydd Elis-Thomas, and certainly all of us in this wonderful Senedd building and this wonderful chamber are here because of Dafydd's vision and perseverance," she said.

"Our appreciation is great for his 12 years at the helm" as presiding officer, she added.

"His legacy is a robust Senedd for his nation, and that is quite a legacy."

Labour First Minister Eluned Morgan highlighted Elis-Thomas's sense of fun and ability to work across political party boundaries, describing him as a "political giant with a mischievous side".

"He was a master at building political bridges, and he succeeded in doing that whilst appearing to be entirely effortless, always principled, always constructive," she said.

"His political path was unexpected in many ways, from protesting against the investiture of Prince Charles in Caernarfon Castle [in 1969] to taking his place in the House of Lords."

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth alluded to Elis-Thomas quitting Plaid Cymru in 2016, later to become a minister in the Labour Welsh government.

"Yes, our relationships with our parties can all be complex from time to time, and Dafydd was no different in that regard," he said.

"But there was a simplicity in the unwavering consistency of Dafydd's love for Wales, and that is what characterised all of his years in public life."

Ap Iorwerth added: "He was a political architect, a man of bold vision with a plan to deliver it.

"He built bridges across the political divide, perhaps a talent nurtured in the corridors of Westminster amid the turbulence of minority Government in the 1970s.

"Despite being admirably if not sometimes mischievously uncompromising in his independence of mind, Dafydd viewed consensus as a valuable currency and strived always to find common ground."

For Millar, praising Elis-Thomas as a "titan of Welsh politics" was "no understatement".

"His journey from an anti-establishment nationalist to a statesman at the heart of Wales's institutions was nothing short of remarkable," he said.

"Having been the first Llywydd [presiding officer] of the then newly established National Assembly for Wales, it was Dafydd's steady hand that helped to cement the Senedd's place at the heart of our national life and Welsh democracy."

Jane Dodds, the Welsh Liberal Democrat leader, told Senedd members that when "strong characters pass away, it's a time to remember that we here as members of the Senedd stand on the shoulders of giants".

"We as members are here because of the other members who came before us, like Dafydd Elis-Thomas.

"They forged a path for us to create a more prosperous future for Wales.

"Thank you very much, Dafydd."