# Aled Roberts

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Welsh politician (1962–2022)

Not to be confused with [Aled Roberts (Wrexham MP)](/source/Aled_Roberts_(Wrexham_MP)).

Aled Roberts Official portrait, 2011 Welsh Language Commissioner In office 1 April 2019 – 13 February 2022 Preceded by Meri Huws Member of the Welsh Assembly for North Wales In office 5 May 2011 – 5 May 2016 Leader of Wrexham County Borough Council In office 2005–2011 Personal details Born (1962-05-17)17 May 1962 Rhosllanerchrugog, Wales Died 13 February 2022(2022-02-13) (aged 59) Party Welsh Liberal Democrats Alma mater Aberystwyth University

**Aled Rhys Roberts** (17 May 1962 – 13 February 2022) was a [Welsh Liberal Democrat](/source/Welsh_Liberal_Democrats) politician from [Rhosllanerchrugog](/source/Rhosllanerchrugog), [Wrexham](/source/Wrexham).[1] Roberts was a [Member of the Welsh Assembly](/source/Member_of_the_Welsh_Assembly) (AM) for the [North Wales Region](/source/North_Wales_(Senedd_electoral_region)) from 2011 to 2016.[2] Before his election to the assembly, he was a councillor and the leader of [Wrexham County Borough Council](/source/Wrexham_County_Borough_Council). He served as the [Welsh Language Commissioner](/source/Welsh_Language_Commissioner) from 2019 until his death in 2022.

## Early life and career

Aled Rhys Roberts was born on 17 May 1962 to Gladwyn and Gwynhefin Roberts in [Rhosllannerchrugog](/source/Rhosllanerchrugog), [Wrexham](/source/Wrexham), Wales, which was where he was raised.[3][4] A [native speaker](/source/Native_speaker) of [Welsh](/source/Welsh_language), he was educated at [Ysgol y Ponciau](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ysgol_y_Ponciau&action=edit&redlink=1), [Ysgol y Grango](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ysgol_y_Grango&action=edit&redlink=1) and [Ysgol Rhiwabon](/source/Ysgol_Rhiwabon) and studied law at the [University of Wales, Aberystwyth](/source/University_of_Wales%2C_Aberystwyth), where he graduated with a [law degree](/source/Law_degree) in 1983.[5] Following his studies, Roberts went on to practise as a [solicitor](/source/Solicitor) in the areas of [Mold](/source/Mold%2C_Flintshire), [Wrexham](/source/Wrexham) and [Ruthin](/source/Ruthin) before his entry to politics in 1991.[6][7] During this period, he was a partner at Wrexham [law firm](/source/Law_firm) Geoffrey Morris and Ashton.[8][9]

## Political career

Roberts was first elected to Wrexham County Borough Council in 1991 for the Rhos and Ponciau ward. In 2003–2004 he served as [Mayor of Wrexham](/source/Mayor_of_Wrexham). The council was under [no overall control](/source/No_overall_control) at the time, and in March 2005 he took over as [leader of the council](/source/Leader_of_the_council) following the resignation of the [Labour](/source/Welsh_Labour) leader of the council.[10] In the [2011 National Assembly for Wales election](/source/2011_National_Assembly_for_Wales_election), Roberts was elected as an [Assembly Member](/source/Member_of_the_National_Assembly_for_Wales) for [North Wales](/source/North_Wales_(National_Assembly_for_Wales_electoral_region)). Upon his election to the Welsh Assembly, he resigned as leader of Wrexham Borough Council as he felt he could not devote time to both bodies, and he did not contest the council election for his former seat in 2012.[11]

Video of Aled Roberts answering a question from a local school: "What was your first job?"

Shortly after Roberts' election as an AM, it was discovered that he was a member of the Valuation Tribunal for Wales, which was a proscribed body of which AMs were not allowed to be a member, because of a perceived conflict of interest. As a result, Roberts was disqualified from the Welsh Assembly.[12] Roberts stated that he was following a Welsh language guidance document from the [Electoral Commission](/source/Electoral_Commission). This document later emerged to have been incorrect, as while the English regulations had been updated in 2010, the Welsh document still gave information based on 2006 regulations.[12] In July 2011, Roberts' disqualification was overturned by the Assembly on a 30–20 vote.[13]

Roberts later went on to become the Welsh Liberal Democrats' Education spokesman.[14]

For the [2016 National Assembly for Wales election](/source/2016_National_Assembly_for_Wales_election), Roberts announced that he would be standing in the [Clwyd South constituency](/source/Clwyd_South_(Assembly_constituency)).[15] He came a distant fifth to [Welsh Labour](/source/Welsh_Labour)'s [Ken Skates](/source/Ken_Skates), receiving 2,289 votes (10.3%).[16][17] Roberts also sought re-election as the lead Liberal Democrat candidate on the regional list, but lost his seat to the [UK Independence Party](/source/UK_Independence_Party) (UKIP).[18]

In 2019, he was appointed by the [Welsh Government](/source/Welsh_Government) as the [Welsh Language Commissioner](/source/Welsh_Language_Commissioner) to promote the use of the [Welsh language](/source/Welsh_language).[19] In 2022, he considered opening an investigation into [Monmouthshire County Council](/source/Monmouthshire_County_Council) for adopting a policy of only printing signs in English, omitting Welsh.[20]

## Death

Roberts died in office on 13 February 2022, at the age of 59.[21][6] He was married and had two sons.[7]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Aled Roberts to lead Lib Dem N Wales list"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160601040250/http://www.freedomcentral.org.uk/2016/01/aled-roberts-to-lead-lib-dem-n-wales-list.html). Freedom Central. Archived from [the original](http://www.freedomcentral.org.uk/2016/01/aled-roberts-to-lead-lib-dem-n-wales-list.html) on 1 June 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-sen_2-0)** ["Aled Roberts"](https://web.archive.org/web/20131016142927/http://www.senedd.assemblywales.org/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=421). Welsh Assembly. Archived from [the original](http://www.senedd.assemblywales.org/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=421) on 16 October 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:0_3-0)** ["Obituary: Aled Rhys ROBERTS"](https://funeral-notices.co.uk/notice/roberts/5019038). *Daily Post*. 21 February 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2024 – via funeral-notices.co.uk.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Owen, Twm (14 February 2022). ["Welsh language commissioner Aled Roberts has died aged 59"](https://www.countytimes.co.uk/news/19922886.welsh-language-commissioner-aled-roberts-died-aged-59/). *Powys County Times*. Retrieved 4 June 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Comisiynydd y Gymraeg Aled Roberts wedi marw yn 59 oed"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/cymrufyw/60374037) [Welsh Language Commissioner Aled Roberts has died aged 59]. *BBC News Cymru* (in Welsh). 14 February 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_6-1) ["Welsh Language Commissioner Aled Roberts dies"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-60376863). BBC News. 14 February 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2022.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:2_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:2_7-1) Mosalski, Ruth (13 February 2022). ["Welsh language Commissioner and former AM Aled Roberts has died"](https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/aled-roberts-welsh-language-commissioner-23090580). *Wales Online*. Retrieved 14 February 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Aber_8-0)** ["Alumni at the Senedd"](https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/news/archive/2011/06/title-99398-en.html). [Aberystwyth University](/source/Aberystwyth_University). 6 June 2011. Retrieved 14 May 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Roberts, Aled (21 September 2011). ["So who are you Aled Roberts?"](https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/who-you-aled-roberts-1811682). *Wales Online*. Retrieved 4 June 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Council minutes, 9 March 2005"](https://moderngov.wrexham.gov.uk/CeListDocuments.aspx?MID=6426&RD=Minutes&DF=09%2f03%2f2005&A=0&R=0&LLL=0). *Wrexham County Borough Council*. 9 March 2005. Retrieved 6 November 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Lib Dem AM Aled Roberts quits as Wrexham council leader"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-13427067). BBC News. 17 May 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2016.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ele_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ele_12-1) ["Electoral Commission sorry for out-of-date AMs advice"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-14034380). BBC News. 5 July 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Barred Lib Dem Aled Roberts regains Welsh assembly seat"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-14048630). BBC News. 6 July 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Student living grants election pledge by Lib Dems"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2016-wales-36017242). BBC News. 12 April 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Welsh Liberal Democrats Announce Clwyd South Candidate For Assembly Elections"](http://www.wrexham.com/news/welsh-liberal-democrats-announce-clwyd-south-candidate-for-assembly-elections-109187.html). Wrexham.com. 14 March 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Bagnall, Steve (6 May 2016). ["Labour holds Clwyd South for Ken Skates"](http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/labour-holds-clwyd-south-ken-11292360). Daily Post. Retrieved 6 May 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Clwyd South - Welsh Assembly constituency"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/wales-constituencies/W09000009). *BBC News*. Retrieved 26 June 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** Flint, Rachel (6 May 2016). ["UKIP get TWO North Wales AMs to represent us in Cardiff Bay"](http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/election-2016-ukip-two-north-11293380). Daily Post. Retrieved 6 May 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Commissioner_19-0)** ["Aled Roberts start as new Welsh Language Commissioner"](https://web.archive.org/web/20190412023747/http://www.comisiynyddygymraeg.cymru/english/news/Pages/Aled-Roberts-start-as-new-Welsh-Language-Commissioner.aspx). *Welsh Language Commissioner*. Welsh Government. 9 April 2019. Archived from [the original](http://www.comisiynyddygymraeg.cymru/English/News/Pages/Aled-Roberts-start-as-new-Welsh-Language-Commissioner.aspx) on 12 April 2019. Retrieved 2 June 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["Commissioner to consider investigation into Tory council's English only sign policy"](https://nation.cymru/news/commissioner-to-consider-investigation-into-tory-councils-english-only-sign-policy/). Nation Cymru. 6 January 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["Welsh Language Commissioner Aled Roberts passes away"](https://nation.cymru/news/welsh-language-commissioner-aled-roberts-passes-away/). Nation Cymru. 14 February 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2022.

## External links

- [National Assembly for Wales](http://www.senedd.assembly.wales/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=421) Member profile

- [Official website (non-Assembly)](http://www.aledroberts.org.uk/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20131016133217/http://www.aledroberts.org.uk/) 16 October 2013 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

v t e Members of the National Assembly for Wales 2011–2016 4th Assembly Labour (30) Leighton Andrews Mick Antoniw (Rosemary Butler) Christine Chapman Jeffrey Cuthbert Alun Davies Keith Davies Mark Drakeford Carwyn Jones † Rebecca Evans Vaughan Gething Janice Gregory John Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Edwina Hart Mike Hedges Jane Hutt Julie James Ann Jones Huw Lewis Sandy Mewies Julie Morgan Lynne Neagle Gwyn R Price Jenny Rathbone David Rees Carl Sargeant Ken Skates Gwenda Thomas Joyce Watson Conservatives (14) Mohammad Asghar Angela Burns Andrew RT Davies † Byron Davies (until May 2015) Paul Davies Suzy Davies Janet Finch-Saunders Russell George William Graham Janet Haworth (from May 2015) Altaf Hussain (from May 2015) Mark Isherwood David Melding Darren Millar Nick Ramsay Antoinette Sandbach (until May 2015) Plaid Cymru (11) Jocelyn Davies Llyr Gruffydd Bethan Jenkins Alun Ffred Jones Elin Jones Ieuan Wyn Jones † (leader until 2012/AM until June 2013) Rhodri Glyn Thomas Leanne Wood † (leader from March 2012) Rhun ap Iorwerth (from Aug 2013) Simon Thomas Lindsay Whittle Liberal Democrats (5) Peter Black Eluned Parrott William Powell Aled Roberts Kirsty Williams † Presiding Officer: Rosemary Butler † = Party leaders

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Aled Roberts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aled_Roberts) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aled_Roberts?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.