Llywydd of the Senedd

{{Short description|Speaker of the Senedd (Welsh Parliament)}} {{EngvarB|date=March 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}} {{distinguish|text=the leader of the Senedd, the Trefnydd of the Senedd}} {{Infobox Political post | post = Llywydd of the Senedd | native_name = {{langx|cy|Llywydd Senedd Cymru|label =none}} | unofficial_names = Presiding Officer of the Senedd Llywydd / Presiding Officer of the Welsh Parliament | insignia = | insigniasize = 225px | insigniacaption = Logo of the Senedd | image = File:Huw_Irranca-Davies_official_photo_2026.jpg | incumbent = Huw Irranca-Davies | incumbentsince = 12 May 2026 | previous = | style = Llywydd (within Parliament) The Right Honourable (formal) | department = Senedd | appointer = Senedd (elected by) | termlength = No limits imposed | formation = 1999 | inaugural = Dafydd Elis-Thomas 12 May 1999 | website = https://senedd.wales/senedd-business/llywydd/ | body = | salary = | deputy = Kerry Ferguson }} {{Politics of Wales}} The {{lang|cy|italic=no|'''Llywydd'''}} ({{IPA|cy|ˈɬəu̯.ɪð|lang}}), or '''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 {{lang|cy|italic=no|Llywydd}} also heads the Corporate Body (known as the Senedd Commission) and as such is viewed as a figurehead for the entire organisation. At least one '''Deputy Presiding Officer'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Deputy Presiding Officer |url=https://senedd.wales/senedd-business/deputy-presiding-officer/ |access-date=2023-06-18 |website=senedd.wales |language=en-GB}}</ref> ({{langx|cy|Dirprwy Lywydd}}; also known as a Deputy Llywydd)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mansfield |first=Mark |date=2026-05-07 |title=Senedd Election 2026: What happens next? |url=https://nation.cymru/news/senedd-election-2026-what-happens-next/ |access-date=2026-05-11 |website=Nation.Cymru |language=en-GB}}</ref>, and up to two,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Government of Wales Act 2006, section 25(1A) |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/32/section/25 |website=legislation.gov.uk}}</ref> are also elected to help fulfil the role. The office of the {{lang|cy|italic=no|Llywydd}} is based in {{lang|cy|italic=no|Tŷ Hywel}} and is also responsible for the Pierhead Building in Cardiff Bay. In their roles, neither the {{lang|cy|italic=no|Llywydd}} nor the Deputy Presiding Officer(s) are allowed to participate in {{lang|cy|italic=no|Senedd}} votes, except where legislation requires those votes to be passed by two-thirds of all Members.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://senedd.wales/NAfW%20Documents/Assembly%20Business%20section%20documents/Standing_Orders/Clean_SOs.eng.pdf |title=Standing Orders of the Welsh Parliament, SO6.20-6.21 |access-date=2022-04-29}}</ref>

==Role of the {{lang|cy|italic=no|Llywydd}}== The main function is to chair plenary sessions of the {{lang|cy|italic=no|Senedd}}, to maintain order and to protect the rights of Members. They are responsible for ensuring that business is handled on the basis of equality and impartiality.

The {{lang|cy|italic=no|Llywydd}}, as Chair of the Business Committee, is also responsible for recommending changes to Standing Orders and is the final authority on their interpretation. The {{lang|cy|italic=no|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.

The {{lang|cy|italic=no|Llywydd}} also normally facilitates the Chairs' Forum, where cross-cutting issues relating to subject committees are discussed. In addition to this, the {{lang|cy|italic=no|Llywydd}} acts as the ambassador for the {{lang|cy|italic=no|Senedd}}, attending speakers' conferences and other events in order to publicise and raise the profile of the {{lang|cy|italic=no|Senedd}}.

== Llywydd's Committee == The statutory<ref>{{Cite web |title=Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, Schedule 1, paragraph 16A |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/41/schedule/1 |website=legislation.gov.uk}}</ref> role of the Llywydd's Committee is to scrutinise the financial estimates of the Electoral Commission, as relates to devolved elections and referendums. During the Sixth Senedd, it was chaired by the Deputy Presiding Officer, David Rees.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Llywydd's Committee |url=https://senedd.wales/committees/llywydd-s-committee/ |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=senedd.wales |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==List of {{lang|cy|italic=no|Llywyddion}} and Deputy Presiding Officers== ===Current {{lang|cy|italic=no|Llywydd}} and Deputy Presiding Officer===

{|class="wikitable" ! Position ! colspan=3|Current holder ! Term started ! width=100|Political party ! Constituency |- | {{lang|cy|italic=no|Llywydd}} (Presiding Officer) ! style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" | | Huw Irranca-Davies {{small|MS}} | 75px | 12 May 2026 | Labour | Afan Ogwr Rhondda |- | Deputy Presiding Officer ! style="background-color: {{party color|Plaid Cymru}}" | | Kerry Ferguson {{small|MS}} | 75px | 12 May 2026 | Plaid Cymru | Ceredigion Penfro |}

=== List of Llywyddion (Presiding Officers) ===

{| class="wikitable". ! colspan=2|Name ! Picture ! Entered office ! Left office ! Political party |- ! style="background-color:{{party color|Plaid Cymru}}" | | Dafydd Elis-Thomas, Lord Elis-Thomas AM | 60px | 12 May 1999 | 11 May 2011 | Plaid Cymru |- ! style="background-color:{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" | | Dame Rosemary Butler AM | 60px | 11 May 2011 | 11 May 2016 | Labour |- ! style="background-color:{{party color|Plaid Cymru}}" | | Elin Jones MS | 60px | 11 May 2016 | 12 May 2026 | Plaid Cymru |- ! style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" | | Huw Irranca-Davies {{small|MS}} | 75px | 12 May 2026 | Incumbent | Labour |}

===List of Deputy Presiding Officers=== {| class="wikitable" ! colspan=2|Name ! Picture ! Entered office ! Left office ! Political party |- ! style="background-color:{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" | | Jane Davidson AM | 60px | 12 May 1999 | 17 October 2000 | Labour |- ! style="background-color:{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" | | rowspan=2|John Marek AM | rowspan=2|60px | 19 October 2000 | 7 May 2003 | Labour |- ! style="background-color:{{party color|Forward Wales}}" | | 7 May 2003 | 9 May 2007 | Forward Wales |- ! style="background-color:{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" | | Rosemary Butler AM | 60px | 9 May 2007 | 11 May 2011 | Labour |- ! style="background-color:{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" | | David Melding AM | 60px | 11 May 2011 | 11 May 2016 | Conservative |- ! style="background-color:{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" | | Ann Jones MS | 60px | 11 May 2016 | 12 May 2021 | Labour |- ! style="background-color:{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" | | David Rees MS | 60px | 12 May 2021 | 12 May 2026 | Labour |- ! style="background-color: {{party color|Plaid Cymru}}" | | Kerry Ferguson {{small|MS}} | 75px | 12 May 2026 | Incumbent | Plaid Cymru |}

== List of {{lang|cy|italic=no|Llywydd}} elections == {| class="wikitable" ! colspan="4" |Llywydd elections |- !Senedd term !Date !Candidates !Votes received |- |1st Assembly |12 May 1999<ref name="auto1">{{cite web |url=http://www.assembly.wales/record%20of%20proceedings%20documents/the%20record-12051999-9193/bus-chamber-3986f34c000eb0c00000534000000000-english.pdf |title=Official record |website=www.assembly.wales |access-date=2020-05-24 |archive-date=15 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215020629/http://www.assembly.wales/Record%20of%20Proceedings%20Documents/The%20Record-12051999-9193/bus-CHAMBER-3986F34C000EB0C00000534000000000-English.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> |'''Dafydd Elis-Thomas''' |'''Unopposed''' |- |2nd Assembly |7 May 2003 |'''Dafydd Elis-Thomas''' |'''Unopposed''' |- |3rd Assembly |9 May 2007 |'''Dafydd Elis-Thomas''' |'''Unopposed''' |- |4th Assembly |11 May 2011<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.assembly.wales/en/bus-home/pages/plenaryitem.aspx?category=record+of+proceedings&itemid=721&assembly=4&c=Record+of+Proceedings&startDt=11/05/2011&endDt=25/05/2011|title=Business item|website=National Assembly for Wales}}</ref> |'''Rosemary Butler''' |'''Unopposed''' |- | rowspan="2" |5th Assembly | rowspan="2" |11 May 2016<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.assembly.wales/en/bus-home/pages/rop.aspx?meetingid=3591&language=en&assembly=5&c=Record+of+Proceedings&startDt=04/05/2016&endDt=26/05/2016|title=Record of Proceedings|website=National Assembly for Wales|access-date=26 September 2021|archive-date=26 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926141201/https://senedd.wales/en/bus-home/pages/rop.aspx?meetingid=3591&language=en&assembly=5&c=Record+of+Proceedings&startDt=04%2F05%2F2016&endDt=26%2F05%2F2016|url-status=live}}</ref> |'''Elin Jones''' |'''34''' |- |Dafydd Elis-Thomas |25 |- | rowspan="2" |6th Senedd | rowspan="2" |12 May 2021 |'''Elin Jones''' |'''35''' |- |Russell George |25 |- | rowspan="2" |7th Senedd | rowspan="2" |12 May 2026 |'''Huw Irranca-Davies''' |'''85''' |- |Paul Davies |(did not receive a seconder) |}

== List of Deputy Presiding Officer elections == {| class="wikitable" ! colspan="3" |Deputy Presiding Officer elections !Votes received |- !Senedd term !Date !Candidates !Votes received |- | rowspan="3" |1st Assembly |12 May 1999<ref name="auto1" /> |'''Jane Davidson''' |'''Unopposed''' |- | rowspan="2" |19 October 2000<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.assembly.wales/record%20of%20proceedings%20documents/the%20record-19102000-9182/bus-chamber-39f0415b000bfbe30000157100000000-english.pdf |title=Official record |website=www.assembly.wales |access-date=2020-05-24 |archive-date=31 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831174831/http://www.assembly.wales/record%20of%20proceedings%20documents/the%20record-19102000-9182/bus-chamber-39f0415b000bfbe30000157100000000-english.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> |'''John Marek''' |'''28''' |- |Rosemary Butler |27 |- | rowspan="2" |2nd Assembly | rowspan="2" |7 May 2003<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.assembly.wales/record%20of%20proceedings%20documents/the%20record-07052003-41456/bus-chamber-n0000000000000000000000000009653-english.pdf |title=Official record |website=www.assembly.wales |access-date=2020-05-24}}</ref> |'''John Marek''' |'''30''' |- |Peter Law |29 |- |3rd Assembly |9 May 2007<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.assembly.wales/en/bus-home/pages/plenaryitem.aspx?category=Record+of+Proceedings&itemid=32|title=Business item|website=National Assembly for Wales|access-date=30 January 2020|archive-date=30 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130124715/https://www.assembly.wales/en/bus-home/pages/plenaryitem.aspx%3Fcategory%3DRecord%2Bof%2BProceedings%26itemid%3D32|url-status=live}}</ref> |'''Rosemary Butler''' |'''Unopposed''' |- | rowspan="2" |4th Assembly | rowspan="2" |11 May 2011<ref name="auto" /> |'''David Melding''' |'''46''' |- |William Graham |12 |- | rowspan="2" |5th Assembly | rowspan="2" |11 May 2016<ref name="auto2" /> |'''Ann Jones''' |'''30''' |- |John Griffiths |29 |- | rowspan="2" |6th Senedd | rowspan="2" |12 May 2021 |'''David Rees''' |'''35''' |- |Hefin David |24 |- |7th Senedd |12 May 2026 |Kerry Ferguson |'''Unopposed''' |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [https://senedd.wales/senedd-business/llywydd/ Office of the Llywydd]

Category:Presiding Officers of the Senedd Wales Category:Senedd