Simon Thomas (politician) - Parliamentary Career

Parliamentary Career

Simon Thomas was first elected as MP for Ceredigion in the 2000 by-election following the resignation of Cynog Dafis. He retained the seat for Plaid Cymru at the 2001 election with a reduced majority, and lost it in the 2005 general election to Mark Williams of the Liberal Democrats.|

During the 2005 general election Simon Thomas wrote a blog which shows a near daily account of his campaign trail and his thoughts following his defeat.

Simon Thomas lives in Aberystwyth, and had been placed 4th by his party in the National Assembly elections in South Wales Central in 2007, giving him no realistic chance of being elected. However when the regional lists were published for the Assembly Elections in May 2007, Simon Thomas was notable by his absence in the South Wales Central regional list. The candidates nominated were: 1. Leanne Wood, 2. Chris Franks, 3. Gwenllian Lansdown and 4. Mohammed Sarul Islam.

Following that election, Simon Thomas was appointed a special adviser to the Plaid Cymru ministers in the Welsh Assembly Government coalition between his party and Labour.

The Assembly Election of 2011 saw his political comeback, following his successful nomination for the number 1 spot on the Plaid Cymru regional list for Mid and West Wales in the Welsh Assembly, formerly held by Nerys Evans.

He has announced himself as a candidate for the leadership of Plaid Cymru following the announcement of the resignation of Ieuan Wyn Jones following the 2011 Assembly elections. He withdrew in favour of Elin Jones (running to become her deputy leader instead) on 6 February 2012.