Leanne Wood became Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly for Wales after Plaid Cymru became the largest party not in government after the 2016 National Assembly for Wales election. 12 Plaid Cymru AMs were elected, as opposed to 11 Welsh Conservative AMs.
Plaid Cymru had not formed the official opposition since the Shadow Cabinet of Ieuan Wyn Jones, ending in 2007, having been in government from 2007-2011 and the third largest party from 2011-2016. Wood had served as leader of Plaid Cymru since 2012, and appointed her Shadow Cabinet in May 2016.
In October 2016, Dafydd Elis-Thomas left Plaid Cymru, moving to sit as an independent AM. This tied Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Conservatives on 11 seats, meaning no official opposition was formed. In April 2017, Mark Reckless joined the Welsh Conservative group in the Senedd, meaning the Welsh Conservatives now formed the official opposition, leading Andrew RT Davies to form his Second Shadow Cabinet.
Appointments On the 25 May 2016, Leanne Wood announced her Shadow Cabinet. She appointed Adam Price as Shadow Minister for Business, Economy and Finance, Llyr Gruffydd to the role of Shadow Minister for Education, Rhun ap Iorwerth to the role of Shadow Minister for Health and Dafydd Elis-Thomas as Government Liaison and also responsibility for the then in development Wales Bill. She also appointed Simon Thomas to the position of Shadow Minister for Energy, Bethan Sayed in the role of Shadow Minister for Housing, Siân Gwenllian as Shadow Minister for Local Government, Neil McEvoy as Shadow Minister for Sport and Tourism, Dai Lloyd as Plaid Cymru Assembly Group Chair and Shadow Minister for Culture and Infrastructure, and Steffan Lewis as Shadow Minister for External Affairs, non-devolved matters, police, criminal justice and social protection.
Members PortfolioShadow MinisterConstituencyTermLeader of the OppositionLeader of Plaid CymruLeanne Wood AMRhonddaMay 2016 - October 2016Shadow Minister for Business, Economy and FinanceAdam Price AMCarmarthen East and DinefwrMay 2016 - October 2016Shadow Minister for EducationLlyr Gruffydd AMNorth WalesMay 2016 - October 2016Shadow Minister for HealthRhun ap Iorwerth AMYnys MônMay 2016 - October 2016Shadow Minister for EnergySimon Thomas AMMid and West WalesMay 2016 - October 2016Shadow Minister for HousingBethan Sayed AMSouth Wales WestMay 2016 - October 2016Government Liaison Responsibility for the Wales BillDafydd Elis-Thomas AMDwyfor MeirionnyddMay 2016 - October 2016Shadow Minister for Local GovernmentSiân Gwenllian AMArfonMay 2016 - October 2016Shadow Minister for Sport and TourismNeil McEvoy AMSouth Wales CentralMay 2016 - October 2016Plaid Cymru Welsh Assembly Group Chair Shadow Minister for Culture and InfrastructureDai Lloyd AMSouth Wales WestMay 2016 - October 2016Shadow Minister for External Affairs, non-devolved matters, police, criminal justice and social protectionSteffan Lewis AMSouth Wales EastMay 2016 - October 2016
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