DWYFOR and Meirionnydd’s returning assembly member has expressed his gratitude to the electorate which has given him a “substantial mandate to govern”.

Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas, who has represented the region since the formation of the Senedd in 1999, was elected last week after amassing nearly half of the votes cast in this year’s assembly election (47 per cent).

Speaking to the Cambrian News, the veteran politician said: “I’m full of gratitude to the voters who have offered me substantial support.

“I really do view it as a vote of confidence in me and my abilities – if the electorate didn’t want me then this was their chance to kick me out!”

The 69-year-old Plaid Cymru representative has spent the last few days swearing into the new assembly and is determined to start working for his constituency as soon as possible.

“Throughout my election campaign I committed to getting the new natural resources minister, whoever they may be, to Fairbourne as soon as it was realistically possible and I intend to stand by that promise,” Lord Elis-Thomas continued.

See the full story in this week’s Meirionnydd edition of the Cambrian News