Jump to content

Liz Saville Roberts: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
-Dr
Made some changes.
Line 60: Line 60:
| birth_name = Elizabeth Saville
| birth_name = Elizabeth Saville
}}
}}
'''Elizabeth Saville Roberts''' {{postnominals|country=GBR|PC}} (''{{nee}}'' '''Saville'''; born 16 December 1964)<ref name="whoswho">{{cite journal |doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.283990|title=Saville Roberts, Elizabeth, (born 16 Dec. 1964), MP (Plaid Cymru) Dwyfor Meirionnydd, since 2015|journal=[[Who's Who (UK)|Who's Who]]|year=2015}}</ref> is a Welsh politician, serving as the group leader of [[Plaid Cymru]] in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] since 2017. She has been the [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[Dwyfor Meirionnydd (UK Parliament constituency)|Dwyfor Meirionnydd]] since the [[2015 United Kingdom general election in Wales|2015 general election]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/W07000061 |title=Dwyfor Meirionnydd |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=8 May 2015}}</ref>
'''Elizabeth Saville Roberts''' {{postnominals|country=GBR|PC}} (''{{nee}}'' '''Saville'''; born 16 December 1964)<ref name="whoswho">{{cite journal |doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.283990|title=Saville Roberts, Elizabeth, (born 16 Dec. 1964), MP (Plaid Cymru) Dwyfor Meirionnydd, since 2015|journal=[[Who's Who (UK)|Who's Who]]|year=2015}}</ref> is a [[Welsh people|Welsh]] politician who has been the group leader of [[Plaid Cymru]] in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] since 2017. She has been the [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[Dwyfor Meirionnydd (UK Parliament constituency)|Dwyfor Meirionnydd]] since [[2015 United Kingdom general election in Wales|2015]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/W07000061 |title=Dwyfor Meirionnydd |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=8 May 2015}}</ref>


==Early life and education==
==Early life and career==
Elizabeth Saville Roberts grew up in [[Eltham]], [[London]], before moving to [[Aberystwyth]] to study [[language]]s at [[Aberystwyth University]]. She worked in Welsh-medium further education.<ref>{{cite news |last=Jamieson |first=Sophie |date=29 April 2015 |title=Female MPs: Parliament's future front bench stars |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/general-election-2015/11568431/Parliaments-future-female-front-bench-stars.html |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |access-date=8 May 2015 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
Elizabeth Saville was born on 16 December 1964 in [[Eltham]], before moving to [[Aberystwyth]] to study [[language]]s at [[Aberystwyth University]]. She worked in Welsh-medium further education.<ref>{{cite news |last=Jamieson |first=Sophie |date=29 April 2015 |title=Female MPs: Parliament's future front bench stars |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/general-election-2015/11568431/Parliaments-future-female-front-bench-stars.html |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |access-date=8 May 2015 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>


⚫
In 2004, she became a member of [[Gwynedd Council]] for [[Morfa Nefyn]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Liz Saville-Roberts |url=https://www.partyof.wales/liz-saville-roberts-1/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150331024920/http://www.partyof.wales/liz-saville-roberts-1/ |archive-date=31 March 2015 |access-date=15 May 2015 |publisher=[[Plaid Cymru]]}}</ref> In 2008, she became the authority's cabinet member for education.<ref>{{cite news |date=4 June 2008 |title=Liz Saville Roberts is Gwynedd Council's schools leader |url=https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/local-news/liz-saville-roberts-gwynedd-councils-2828684 |access-date=6 June 2018 |newspaper=[[Daily Post (North Wales)|Daily Post]]}}</ref>
⚫
== Political career ==
⚫
In 2004, she became a member of [[Gwynedd Council]] for [[Morfa Nefyn]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.partyof.wales/liz-saville-roberts-1/ |title=Liz Saville-Roberts |publisher=[[Plaid Cymru]] |access-date=15 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150331024920/http://www.partyof.wales/liz-saville-roberts-1/ |archive-date=31 March 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2008, she became the authority's cabinet member for education.<ref>{{cite news |title=Liz Saville Roberts is Gwynedd Council's schools leader |url=https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/local-news/liz-saville-roberts-gwynedd-councils-2828684 |newspaper=[[Daily Post (North Wales)|Daily Post]] |date=4 June 2008 |access-date=6 June 2018}}</ref>


⚫
== Parliamentary career ==
At the [[2015 United Kingdom general election]], Saville Roberts became Plaid Cymru's first ever female MP when she was elected as the MP for [[Dwyfor Meirionnydd (UK Parliament constituency)|Dwyfor Meirionnydd]].<ref name="Assembly" /> She was elected with 40.9% of the vote and a majority of 5,261.<ref name="electoralcalculus2015">{{cite web |title=Election Data 2015 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017112223/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt |archive-date=17 October 2015 |access-date=17 October 2015 |publisher=[[Electoral Calculus]]}}</ref><ref name="Gwyynedd Council">{{cite web |title=Gwynedd Council results |url=https://www.gwynedd.gov.uk/en/Council/Voting-and-elections/Parliamentary-Elections.aspx |access-date=20 September 2015 |website=Parliamentary Election results - 7 May 2015 |publisher=Gwynedd Council}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=9 April 2015 |title=Statement of Persons Nominated |url=https://www.gwynedd.gov.uk/en/Council/Documents---Council/Voting-and-elections/Statement-of-Persons-Nominated---Dwyfor-Meirionnydd-Constituency.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150415211242/https://www.gwynedd.gov.uk/en/Council/Documents---Council/Voting-and-elections/Statement-of-Persons-Nominated---Dwyfor-Meirionnydd-Constituency.pdf |archive-date=15 April 2015 |access-date=15 April 2015 |publisher=Gwynedd Council}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Dwyfor Meirionnydd Parliamentary constituency |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/W07000061#election2015-logo |access-date=29 March 2020 |website=Election 2015 Results |publisher=BBC}}</ref> She stood down as a councillor following the result,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://diogel.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/CanlyniadauEtholiadau/en/Etholiad/10 |title=Morfa Nefyn By-election: 9 July 2015 |publisher=[[Gwynedd Council]] |access-date=6 June 2018}}</ref> becoming Plaid's spokesperson for Home Affairs, Education, Health, Environment, Energy, Equalities and Local Government.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/liz-saville-roberts/4521|title=Liz Saville Roberts MP|website=UK Parliament}}</ref> In her [[maiden speech]] to Parliament, she emphasised her and Plaid Cymru's commitment to [[Public Education|public education]], and highlighted issues facing [[rural area|rural]] Wales.<ref>{{cite news |last=Cornock |first=David |date=23 June 2015 |title=New MP's rural economy warning |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-33237810 |work=BBC News |access-date=25 April 2018}}</ref>
At the [[2015 United Kingdom general election]], Saville Roberts was elected to Parliament as MP for [[Dwyfor Meirionnydd (UK Parliament constituency)|Dwyfor Meirionnydd]] with 40.9% of the vote and a majority of 5,261.<ref name="electoralcalculus2015">{{cite web |title=Election Data 2015 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017112223/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt |archive-date=17 October 2015 |access-date=17 October 2015 |publisher=[[Electoral Calculus]]}}</ref><ref name="Gwyynedd Council">{{cite web |title=Gwynedd Council results |url=https://www.gwynedd.gov.uk/en/Council/Voting-and-elections/Parliamentary-Elections.aspx |access-date=20 September 2015 |website=Parliamentary Election results - 7 May 2015 |publisher=Gwynedd Council}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=9 April 2015 |title=Statement of Persons Nominated |url=https://www.gwynedd.gov.uk/en/Council/Documents---Council/Voting-and-elections/Statement-of-Persons-Nominated---Dwyfor-Meirionnydd-Constituency.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150415211242/https://www.gwynedd.gov.uk/en/Council/Documents---Council/Voting-and-elections/Statement-of-Persons-Nominated---Dwyfor-Meirionnydd-Constituency.pdf |archive-date=15 April 2015 |access-date=15 April 2015 |publisher=Gwynedd Council}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Dwyfor Meirionnydd Parliamentary constituency |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/W07000061#election2015-logo |access-date=29 March 2020 |website=Election 2015 Results |publisher=BBC}}</ref> She stood down as a councillor following the result,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://diogel.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/CanlyniadauEtholiadau/en/Etholiad/10 |title=Morfa Nefyn By-election: 9 July 2015 |publisher=[[Gwynedd Council]] |access-date=6 June 2018}}</ref> becoming Plaid's spokesperson for Home Affairs, Education, Health, Environment, Energy, Equalities and Local Government.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/liz-saville-roberts/4521|title=Liz Saville Roberts MP|website=UK Parliament}}</ref> In her [[maiden speech]] to Parliament, she emphasised her and Plaid Cymru's commitment to [[Public Education|public education]], and highlighted issues facing [[rural area|rural]] Wales.<ref>{{cite news |last=Cornock |first=David |date=23 June 2015 |title=New MP's rural economy warning |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-33237810 |work=BBC News |access-date=25 April 2018}}</ref>


In 2016, Saville Roberts introduced a [[Bill (law)|bill]] to the House of Commons which tackled [[Cyberbullying|online bullying]] and [[Cybercrime|cyber crime]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Laville |first=Sandra |date=4 March 2016 |title=Online abuse: 'existing laws too fragmented and don't serve victims' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/mar/04/online-abuse-existing-laws-too-fragmented-and-dont-serve-victims-says-police-chief |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=25 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-35753317 |title=Bill targets online abuse and crime |date=9 March 2016 |work=BBC News |access-date=25 April 2018}}</ref> She is the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Digital Crime.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/160721/digital-crime.htm|title=House of Commons – Register Of All-Party Parliamentary Groups as at 21 July 2016: Digital Crime|last=Commons|first=The Committee Office, House of|website=publications.parliament.uk|language=en|access-date=2018-06-26}}</ref>
In March 2016, Saville Roberts introduced a [[Bill (law)|bill]] to the House of Commons which tackled [[Cyberbullying|online bullying]] and [[Cybercrime|cyber crime]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Laville |first=Sandra |date=4 March 2016 |title=Online abuse: 'existing laws too fragmented and don't serve victims' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/mar/04/online-abuse-existing-laws-too-fragmented-and-dont-serve-victims-says-police-chief |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=25 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-35753317 |title=Bill targets online abuse and crime |date=9 March 2016 |work=BBC News |access-date=25 April 2018}}</ref>
She is the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Digital Crime.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/160721/digital-crime.htm|title=House of Commons – Register Of All-Party Parliamentary Groups as at 21 July 2016: Digital Crime|last=Commons|first=The Committee Office, House of|website=publications.parliament.uk|language=en|access-date=2018-06-26}}</ref>


In February 2017, Saville Roberts argued in favour of introducing a US-style [[rape shield law]] to prevent [[cross-examination]] of rape victims' sexual history in courtrooms, and tabled a [[Private Members' Bills in the Parliament of the United Kingdom|private members bill]] on the matter. The government launched an emergency review in response.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-38945398|title=MP hopes review will help rape victims|date=2017-02-12|work=BBC News|access-date=2018-06-26|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/feb/08/mp-proposes-uk-shield-law-to-protect-victims-in-court|title=MP proposes UK rape shield law to protect victims in court|last=Travis|first=Alan|date=2017-02-08|website=the Guardian|language=en|access-date=2018-06-26}}</ref>
In February 2017, Saville Roberts argued in favour of introducing a US-style [[rape shield law]] to prevent [[cross-examination]] of rape victims' sexual history in courtrooms, and tabled a [[Private Members' Bills in the Parliament of the United Kingdom|private members bill]] on the matter. The government launched an emergency review in response.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-38945398|title=MP hopes review will help rape victims|date=2017-02-12|work=BBC News|access-date=2018-06-26|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/feb/08/mp-proposes-uk-shield-law-to-protect-victims-in-court|title=MP proposes UK rape shield law to protect victims in court|last=Travis|first=Alan|date=2017-02-08|website=the Guardian|language=en|access-date=2018-06-26}}</ref>
Line 76: Line 78:
At the snap [[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017 general election]], Saville Roberts was re-elected as MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd with an increased vote share of 45.1% and a decreased majority of 4,850.<ref name="Cambrian News">{{cite web |title=General Election 2017: The Dwyfor Meirionnydd candidates |url=http://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/article.cfm?id=114399&headline=General%20Election%202017:%20The%20Dwyfor%20Meirionnydd%20candidates&sectionIs=news&searchyear=2017 |access-date=16 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Dwyfor Meirionnydd Parliamentary constituency |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/W07000061#election2017-logo |access-date=30 March 2020 |website=Election 2017 Results |publisher=[[BBC]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/W07000061 |title=Dwyfor Meirionnydd parliamentary constituency – Election 2017 |work=BBC News |access-date=23 April 2018}}</ref> Following the election, she became the leader of Plaid's Westminster group and party spokesperson for Home Affairs, Justice, Business, Energy, Industrial Strategy, Women and Equalities.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www2.partyof.wales/westminster_spokespeople |title=Plaid Cymru announces Westminster spokespeople |publisher=Plaid Cymru |date=23 June 2017 |access-date=23 June 2017}}</ref>
At the snap [[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017 general election]], Saville Roberts was re-elected as MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd with an increased vote share of 45.1% and a decreased majority of 4,850.<ref name="Cambrian News">{{cite web |title=General Election 2017: The Dwyfor Meirionnydd candidates |url=http://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/article.cfm?id=114399&headline=General%20Election%202017:%20The%20Dwyfor%20Meirionnydd%20candidates&sectionIs=news&searchyear=2017 |access-date=16 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Dwyfor Meirionnydd Parliamentary constituency |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/W07000061#election2017-logo |access-date=30 March 2020 |website=Election 2017 Results |publisher=[[BBC]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/W07000061 |title=Dwyfor Meirionnydd parliamentary constituency – Election 2017 |work=BBC News |access-date=23 April 2018}}</ref> Following the election, she became the leader of Plaid's Westminster group and party spokesperson for Home Affairs, Justice, Business, Energy, Industrial Strategy, Women and Equalities.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www2.partyof.wales/westminster_spokespeople |title=Plaid Cymru announces Westminster spokespeople |publisher=Plaid Cymru |date=23 June 2017 |access-date=23 June 2017}}</ref>


Later that year, she hinted about standing for the [[Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament|Welsh Assembly]] in [[2021 Senedd election|2021]].<ref name="Assembly">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-42384804 |title=Plaid Cymru MP may seek assembly seat |date=17 December 2017 |work=BBC News |access-date=6 June 2018}}</ref> In November 2017, she led calls for a system of [[electronic tagging]] to be implemented for domestic abusers and stalkers which would allow their victims to be alerted if they were near by.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/stalkers-domestic-abusers-gps-trackers-restraining-orders-victims-plaid-cymru-campaigners-government-a8313621.html |title=Convicted stalkers and domestic abusers should be forced to wear GPS trackers, campaigners say |last=Buchan |first=Lizzy |date=20 April 2018 |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |access-date=23 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Evans |first=Martin |date=23 April 2018 |title=Calls for stalkers and domestic abusers to be fitted with electronic tags to alert victims |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/04/22/calls-stalkers-domestic-abusers-fitted-electronic-tags-alert/ |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=23 April 2018}}</ref>
In November 2017, she led calls for a system of [[electronic tagging]] to be implemented for domestic abusers and stalkers which would allow their victims to be alerted if they were near by.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/stalkers-domestic-abusers-gps-trackers-restraining-orders-victims-plaid-cymru-campaigners-government-a8313621.html |title=Convicted stalkers and domestic abusers should be forced to wear GPS trackers, campaigners say |last=Buchan |first=Lizzy |date=20 April 2018 |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |access-date=23 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Evans |first=Martin |date=23 April 2018 |title=Calls for stalkers and domestic abusers to be fitted with electronic tags to alert victims |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/04/22/calls-stalkers-domestic-abusers-fitted-electronic-tags-alert/ |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=23 April 2018}}</ref>


In April 2018, Saville Roberts opposed UK involvement in the [[2018 bombing of Damascus and Homs]], which she described as a "tokenistic action" that would do "little to allay the human suffering on the ground in Syria nor to bring stability to the region." She also criticised Prime Minister [[Theresa May]] for not having given [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]] a vote on the air strikes before proceeding.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-43765970 |title=Long-term plan call after Syria strikes |date=14 April 2018 |work=BBC News |access-date=23 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Williamson |first=David |date=17 April 2018 |title=What is the evidence Assad used chemical weapons – and what did we bomb? |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/what-evidence-assad-used-chemical-14539262 |website=WalesOnline |publisher=[[Media Wales]] |access-date=23 April 2018}}</ref> In October 2018 she spoke in [[Irish language|Irish]] in the [[House of Commons]] as she called on [[Northern Ireland Secretary of State]] [[Karen Bradley]] to implement an Irish Language Act. She is believed to be the first person to speak Irish in the House of Commons since February 1901.<ref>{{cite web|title=British MP uses Irish language|url=http://www.thejournal.ie/irish-language-british-parliament-2018-4303787-Oct2018|date=24 October 2018|work=TheJournal.ie|access-date=24 October 2018}}</ref>
In April 2018, Saville Roberts opposed UK involvement in the [[2018 bombing of Damascus and Homs]], which she described as a "tokenistic action" that would do "little to allay the human suffering on the ground in Syria nor to bring stability to the region." She also criticised Prime Minister [[Theresa May]] for not having given [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]] a vote on the air strikes before proceeding.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-43765970 |title=Long-term plan call after Syria strikes |date=14 April 2018 |work=BBC News |access-date=23 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Williamson |first=David |date=17 April 2018 |title=What is the evidence Assad used chemical weapons – and what did we bomb? |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/what-evidence-assad-used-chemical-14539262 |website=WalesOnline |publisher=[[Media Wales]] |access-date=23 April 2018}}</ref> In October 2018 she spoke in [[Irish language|Irish]] in the [[House of Commons]] as she called on [[Northern Ireland Secretary of State]] [[Karen Bradley]] to implement an Irish Language Act. She is believed to be the first person to speak Irish in the House of Commons since February 1901.<ref>{{cite web|title=British MP uses Irish language|url=http://www.thejournal.ie/irish-language-british-parliament-2018-4303787-Oct2018|date=24 October 2018|work=TheJournal.ie|access-date=24 October 2018}}</ref>
Line 89: Line 91:


She has called for an [[Welsh independence|independent Wales]] to rejoin the European Union and the [[European single market]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://euobserver.com/opinion/156680|title=Wales' message to Europe: 'We'll be back'|last=Saville Roberts|first=Liz|date=7 February 2023|website=EUobserver}}</ref>
She has called for an [[Welsh independence|independent Wales]] to rejoin the European Union and the [[European single market]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://euobserver.com/opinion/156680|title=Wales' message to Europe: 'We'll be back'|last=Saville Roberts|first=Liz|date=7 February 2023|website=EUobserver}}</ref>

In June 2024, Saville Roberts was reselected as the Plaid Cymru candidate for Dwyfor Meirionnydd at the [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024 general election]].<ref name="2024 Nominations|access-date=08 June 2024">{{#invoke:cite web||date=2024-06-07|title=UK Parliamentary Election: Dwyfor Meinionnydd Constituency Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll|url=https://www.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/en/Council/Documents---Council/Voting-and-elections/2024-Parliamentary-Elections/Dwyfor-Meirionnydd-Statement-of-Persons-Nominated-and-Notice-of-Poll.pdf|website=Cyngor Gwynedd|language=en}}</ref>


== Personal life ==
== Personal life ==

Revision as of 10:29, 21 June 2024

This British surname is barrelled, being made up of multiple names. It should be written as Saville Roberts, not Roberts.

The Right Honourable
Liz Saville Roberts
MP
Official portrait, 2020
Leader of Plaid Cymru in the House of Commons
Incumbent
Assumed office
14 June 2017
Leader
Preceded byHywel Williams
Member of Parliament
for Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Incumbent
Assumed office
7 May 2015
Preceded byElfyn Llwyd
Majority4,740 (15.8%)
Plaid Cymru Spokesperson for Home Affairs, Justice, Business and Equality
Incumbent
Assumed office
14 June 2017
Leader
Preceded byVarious
Plaid Cymru Spokesperson for Environment, Education, Health, Climate Change and Local Government
In office
8 May 2015 – 3 May 2017
Leader
Preceded byVarious
Succeeded byVarious
Gwynedd County Councillor
In office
4 May 2004 – 7 May 2015
Succeeded bySian Wyn Hughes
ConstituencyMorfa Nefyn
Personal details
Born
Elizabeth Saville

(1964-12-16) 16 December 1964 (age 59)
Eltham, London, England
Political partyPlaid Cymru
Spouse
Dewi Wyn Roberts
​
(m. 1994)​
Children2
Relatives
Residence(s)Morfa Nefyn, Wales
Alma materAberystwyth University

Elizabeth Saville Roberts PC (née Saville; born 16 December 1964)[1] is a Welsh politician who has been the group leader of Plaid Cymru in the House of Commons since 2017. She has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Dwyfor Meirionnydd since 2015.[2]

Early life and career

Elizabeth Saville was born on 16 December 1964 in Eltham, before moving to Aberystwyth to study languages at Aberystwyth University. She worked in Welsh-medium further education.[3]

In 2004, she became a member of Gwynedd Council for Morfa Nefyn.[4] In 2008, she became the authority's cabinet member for education.[5]

Parliamentary career

At the 2015 United Kingdom general election, Saville Roberts was elected to Parliament as MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd with 40.9% of the vote and a majority of 5,261.[6][7][8][9] She stood down as a councillor following the result,[10] becoming Plaid's spokesperson for Home Affairs, Education, Health, Environment, Energy, Equalities and Local Government.[11] In her maiden speech to Parliament, she emphasised her and Plaid Cymru's commitment to public education, and highlighted issues facing rural Wales.[12]

In March 2016, Saville Roberts introduced a bill to the House of Commons which tackled online bullying and cyber crime.[13][14]

She is the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Digital Crime.[15]

In February 2017, Saville Roberts argued in favour of introducing a US-style rape shield law to prevent cross-examination of rape victims' sexual history in courtrooms, and tabled a private members bill on the matter. The government launched an emergency review in response.[16][17]

At the snap 2017 general election, Saville Roberts was re-elected as MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd with an increased vote share of 45.1% and a decreased majority of 4,850.[18][19][20] Following the election, she became the leader of Plaid's Westminster group and party spokesperson for Home Affairs, Justice, Business, Energy, Industrial Strategy, Women and Equalities.[21]

In November 2017, she led calls for a system of electronic tagging to be implemented for domestic abusers and stalkers which would allow their victims to be alerted if they were near by.[22][23]

In April 2018, Saville Roberts opposed UK involvement in the 2018 bombing of Damascus and Homs, which she described as a "tokenistic action" that would do "little to allay the human suffering on the ground in Syria nor to bring stability to the region." She also criticised Prime Minister Theresa May for not having given Parliament a vote on the air strikes before proceeding.[24][25] In October 2018 she spoke in Irish in the House of Commons as she called on Northern Ireland Secretary of State Karen Bradley to implement an Irish Language Act. She is believed to be the first person to speak Irish in the House of Commons since February 1901.[26]

On 7 March 2019, Saville Roberts was sworn in as a member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom.[27] She is a member of the Joint Committee on the Draft Domestic Abuse Bill.[28]

On 14 March 2019, Saville Roberts voted for an amendment tabled by members of The Independent Group for a second public vote on EU membership.[29]

At the 2019 general election, Saville Roberts was again re-elected with an increased vote share of 48.3% and a decreased vote share of 4,740.[30][31][32][33]

On 17 March 2021, Saville Roberts again spoke in Irish, this time to wish Irish people a happy St Patrick's Day. She also gave the message in Welsh, for which the Speaker Lindsay Hoyle told her off and stated that speaking Welsh was against parliamentary rules. Saville Roberts claimed afterwards that the incident displayed "Westminster's disdain for minority languages".[34] Leader of the House, Jacob Rees-Mogg later referenced the incident and called Welsh "a foreign language". In response, Saville Roberts tweeted: "Jacob Rees-Mogg may not be aware, but Welsh is not a 'foreign language'. It had been spoken in Britain for hundreds of years before English even existed."[35]

She has called for an independent Wales to rejoin the European Union and the European single market.[36]

In June 2024, Saville Roberts was reselected as the Plaid Cymru candidate for Dwyfor Meirionnydd at the 2024 general election.[37]

Personal life

Saville Roberts has lived in the village of Morfa Nefyn in Gwynedd with her husband, Dewi Wyn Roberts, since 1993. They married in 1994 and have twin daughters.[1][38] Her mother, Nancy Saville, was a scientist who was diagnosed with dementia in 2021[39][40] Saville Roberts has written openly about it, and the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on people with the condition.[41]

She is a cousin of the contemporary British artist Jenny Saville.[42]

References

  1. ^ a b "Saville Roberts, Elizabeth, (born 16 Dec. 1964), MP (Plaid Cymru) Dwyfor Meirionnydd, since 2015". Who's Who. 2015. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.283990.
  2. ^ "Dwyfor Meirionnydd". BBC News. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  3. ^ Jamieson, Sophie (29 April 2015). "Female MPs: Parliament's future front bench stars". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  4. ^ "Liz Saville-Roberts". Plaid Cymru. Archived from the original on 31 March 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  5. ^ "Liz Saville Roberts is Gwynedd Council's schools leader". Daily Post. 4 June 2008. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
  6. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  7. ^ "Gwynedd Council results". Parliamentary Election results - 7 May 2015. Gwynedd Council. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  8. ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated" (PDF). Gwynedd Council. 9 April 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 April 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  9. ^ "Dwyfor Meirionnydd Parliamentary constituency". Election 2015 Results. BBC. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  10. ^ "Morfa Nefyn By-election: 9 July 2015". Gwynedd Council. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
  11. ^ "Liz Saville Roberts MP". UK Parliament.
  12. ^ Cornock, David (23 June 2015). "New MP's rural economy warning". BBC News. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  13. ^ Laville, Sandra (4 March 2016). "Online abuse: 'existing laws too fragmented and don't serve victims'". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  14. ^ "Bill targets online abuse and crime". BBC News. 9 March 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  15. ^ Commons, The Committee Office, House of. "House of Commons – Register Of All-Party Parliamentary Groups as at 21 July 2016: Digital Crime". publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved 26 June 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  16. ^ "MP hopes review will help rape victims". BBC News. 12 February 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  17. ^ Travis, Alan (8 February 2017). "MP proposes UK rape shield law to protect victims in court". the Guardian. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  18. ^ "General Election 2017: The Dwyfor Meirionnydd candidates". Retrieved 16 May 2017.
  19. ^ "Dwyfor Meirionnydd Parliamentary constituency". Election 2017 Results. BBC. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  20. ^ "Dwyfor Meirionnydd parliamentary constituency – Election 2017". BBC News. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  21. ^ "Plaid Cymru announces Westminster spokespeople". Plaid Cymru. 23 June 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  22. ^ Buchan, Lizzy (20 April 2018). "Convicted stalkers and domestic abusers should be forced to wear GPS trackers, campaigners say". The Independent. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  23. ^ Evans, Martin (23 April 2018). "Calls for stalkers and domestic abusers to be fitted with electronic tags to alert victims". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  24. ^ "Long-term plan call after Syria strikes". BBC News. 14 April 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  25. ^ Williamson, David (17 April 2018). "What is the evidence Assad used chemical weapons – and what did we bomb?". WalesOnline. Media Wales. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  26. ^ "British MP uses Irish language". TheJournal.ie. 24 October 2018. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  27. ^ "Privy Council appointment: 7 March 2019". GOV.UK.
  28. ^ "New appointments this week in UK politics, the civil service and public affairs". PoliticsHome. 11 March 2019. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
  29. ^ Mosalski, Ruth (14 March 2019). "Brexit latest: The Welsh MPs who voted for a second referendum". Wales Online.
  30. ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated" (PDF). Cyngor Gwynedd Council. 14 November 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 November 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  31. ^ "Dwyfor Meirionnydd parliamentary constituency - Election 2019". BBC News. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  32. ^ "Plaid Cymru's Liz Saville-Roberts holds Dwyfor Meirionnydd". Denbighshire Free Press. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  33. ^ Mosalski, Ruth (13 December 2019). "General Election 2019 result for Dwyfor Meirionnydd". WalesOnline. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  34. ^ Shaw, Amelia (17 March 2021). "MP told off for wishing Commons a 'Happy St Patrick's Day' in Welsh and Irish". North Wales Live. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  35. ^ Hudspith, Jaymelouise; Stephens, Lydia (19 March 2021). "MP hits back at Jacob Rees-Mogg for calling Welsh a 'foreign language'". North Wales Live. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  36. ^ Saville Roberts, Liz (7 February 2023). "Wales' message to Europe: 'We'll be back'". EUobserver.
  37. ^ "UK Parliamentary Election: Dwyfor Meinionnydd Constituency Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll" (PDF). Cyngor Gwynedd. 7 June 2024.
  38. ^ Bodden, Tom (16 December 2013). "Liz Saville Roberts chosen as Plaid Cymru's candidate for Dwyfor Meirionnydd". North Wales Live. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  39. ^ Barker, Miriam (11 January 2022). "Covid: MP calls for law change for dementia patients". BBC News.
  40. ^ "Click here to view the tribute page for Dr Nancy Margery SAVILLE". Funeral Notices (in Welsh). 29 January 2022.
  41. ^ Saville Roberts, Liz (9 January 2022). "Pandemic policy deprives my mother of both family love and her human rights". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  42. ^ Stylist Team (11 January 2016). "The women-only exhibit you must see". Stylist.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament
for Dwyfor Meirionnydd
2015–present 		Incumbent
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Liz_Saville_Roberts&oldid=1230205636"