The youngest and newest member of the Plaid Cymru team of MPs in Westminster, Jonathan has made a big impact on the Welsh political scene since his election in 2010. He is widely known as a tenacious and dedicated campaigner against social injustices and is a vivacious commentator on the state of the economy.

Jonathan was born in his constituency in the mining village of Capel Hendre near Ammanford, the son of a trade unionist and Labour voter who is now a Plaid councillor. He went to local schools, read history and politics at the University of Wales at Aberystwyth, followed by a postgraduate degree in international history, specialising in the Cold War.

He worked as chief of staff for former Plaid MP Adam Price and for the constituency’s Plaid Assembly Member Rhodri Glyn Thomas for seven years, and was credited with masterminding their electoral successes.
He also worked on strategy for his Party’s campaigns directorate for two years until 2007, and became public affairs officer for the Welsh Citizens Advice bureau.

Jonathan is a former Carmarthen councillor and was elected to the historic post of town Sheriff. He has been described as “one of Plaid’s foremost strategic thinkers.” His aim, he says is “to fuse patriotic Welshness with radical socialism.”

In his maiden speech he called for national and international measures to combat fuel poverty which affect over a quarter of households in Wales. Jonathan is also a prolific campaigner for banking reform and for the electrification of the rail line between London and Swansea.

He sits on the Commons Select Committee for Welsh Affairs scrutinising the work of the Wales Office and campaigning for greater devolution to the Welsh Assembly.

Jonathan regularly plays for the parliamentary cricket team and is an avid supporter of Swansea City Football Club.
http://www.jonathanedwards.org.uk/ and www.plaidcymru.org and www.plaidlive.com

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