View source for Liz Saville Roberts

{{Short description|Welsh politician (born 1964)}}
{{British barrelled name|Saville Roberts|Roberts}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix    = [[The Right Honourable]]
| name                = Liz Saville Roberts
| honorific-suffix    = [[Member of Parliament|MP]]
| image               = Official portrait of Rt Hon Liz Saville Roberts MP crop 2.jpg
| office              = Leader of [[Plaid Cymru]] in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]]
| leader              = {{plainlist|
*[[Leanne Wood]]
*[[Adam Price]]
*[[Llyr Gruffydd]] (acting)
*[[Rhun ap Iorwerth]]
}}
| predecessor         = [[Hywel Williams]]
| term_start          = 14 June 2017
| term_end            =
| office1             = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]]<br />for [[Dwyfor Meirionnydd (UK Parliament constituency)|Dwyfor Meirionnydd]]
| term_start1         = 7 May 2015
| term_end1           =
| predecessor1        = [[Elfyn Llwyd]]
| successor1          =
| majority1           = 6,367 (21.0%)
| office2             = [[Plaid Cymru]] Spokesperson for [[Home Office|Home Affairs]], [[Ministry of Justice (United Kingdom)|Justice]], [[Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy|Business]] and [[Minister for Women and Equalities|Equality]]
| leader2             = {{plainlist|
*[[Leanne Wood]]
*[[Adam Price]]}}
| term_start2         = 14 June 2017
| term_end2           =
| predecessor2        = ''Various''
| successor2          =
| office3             = [[Plaid Cymru]] Spokesperson for [[Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs|Environment]], [[Department for Education|Education]], [[Department of Health and Social Care|Health]], [[Department of Energy and Climate Change|Climate Change]] and [[Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government|Local Government]]
| leader3             = {{plainlist|
*[[Ieuan Wyn Jones]]
*[[Leanne Wood]]}}
| term_start3         = 8 May 2015
| term_end3           = 3 May 2017
| predecessor3        = ''Various''
| successor3          = ''Various''
| office7             = [[Gwynedd Council|Gwynedd County Councillor]]
| constituency7       = [[Morfa Nefyn]]
| leader7             =
| term_start7         = 4 May 2004
| term_end7           = 7 May 2015
| predecessor7        =
| successor7          = Sian Wyn Hughes
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1964|12|16|df=yes}}
| birth_place         = [[Eltham]], [[London]], England
| death_date          =
| death_place         =
| party               = [[Plaid Cymru]]
| alma_mater          = [[Aberystwyth University]]
| spouse              = {{marriage|Dewi Wyn Roberts|1994}}
| children            = 2
| relatives           = {{indented plainlist|
* [[Jenny Saville]] (cousin)}}
| residence           = [[Morfa Nefyn]], Wales
| caption             = Official portrait, 2020
| 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 people|Welsh]] [[Plaid Cymru]] politician who 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 |title=Dwyfor Meirionnydd |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/W07000061 |access-date=8 May 2015 |work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> She has served as the group leader of Plaid Cymru in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] since 2017.
==Early life and career==
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>
== Parliamentary career ==
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 news |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 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>
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>
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 news |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>
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>
On 7 March 2019, Saville Roberts was sworn in as a member of the [[Privy Council of the United Kingdom]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/privy-council-appointment-7-march-2019|title=Privy Council appointment: 7 March 2019|website=GOV.UK}}</ref> She is a member of the Joint Committee on the Draft Domestic Abuse Bill.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/opinion/dods-people/102400/new-appointments-week-uk-politics-civil-service|title=New appointments this week in UK politics, the civil service and public affairs|date=11 March 2019|website=PoliticsHome|access-date=14 March 2019}}</ref>
On 14 March 2019, Saville Roberts voted for an amendment tabled by members of [[The Independent Group]] for a [[Proposed second United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|second public vote on EU membership]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mosalski |first1=Ruth |title=Brexit latest: The Welsh MPs who voted for a second referendum |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/brexit-latest-welsh-mps-who-15976568 |website=Wales Online|date=14 March 2019 }}</ref>
At the [[2019 United Kingdom general election|2019 general election]], Saville Roberts was again re-elected with an increased vote share of 48.3% and a decreased majority of 4,740.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 November 2019 |title=Statement of Persons Nominated |url=https://www.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/en/Council/Documents---Council/Voting-and-elections/12-December-2019-Election/Datganiad-am-y-Personau-a-Enwebwyd-Dwyfor-Meirionnydd.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191114231756/https://www.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/en/Council/Documents---Council/Voting-and-elections/12-December-2019-Election/Datganiad-am-y-Personau-a-Enwebwyd-Dwyfor-Meirionnydd.pdf |archive-date=14 November 2019 |access-date=14 November 2019 |website=Cyngor Gwynedd Council}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Dwyfor Meirionnydd parliamentary constituency - Election 2019 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/politics/constituencies/W07000061 |access-date=2019-12-17 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/18099934.plaid-cymrus-liz-saville-roberts-sweeps-away-tory-labour-challenge/|title=Plaid Cymru's Liz Saville-Roberts holds Dwyfor Meirionnydd|website=Denbighshire Free Press|date=13 December 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-12-14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/general-election-winning-dwyfor-meirionnydd-17398588|title=General Election 2019 result for Dwyfor Meirionnydd|last=Mosalski|first=Ruth|date=2019-12-13|website=WalesOnline|access-date=2019-12-14}}</ref>
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".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Shaw|first=Amelia|date=2021-03-17|title=MP told off for wishing Commons a 'Happy St Patrick's Day' in Welsh and Irish|url=https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/north-wales-mp-told-wishing-20196656|access-date=2021-03-20|website=North Wales Live|language=en}}</ref> 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."<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Hudspith|first1=Jaymelouise|last2=Stephens|first2=Lydia|date=2021-03-19|title=MP hits back at Jacob Rees-Mogg for calling Welsh a 'foreign language'|url=https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/north-wales-mp-hits-back-20211147|access-date=2021-03-20|website=North Wales Live|language=en}}</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>
At the [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024 general election]], Saville Roberts was again re-elected, with an increased vote share of 53.9% and an increased majority of 15,876.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Dwyfor Meirionnydd - General election results 2024 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election/2024/uk/constituencies/W07000096 |access-date=2024-07-05 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>
== 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.<ref name="whoswho"/><ref>{{Cite web|last=Bodden|first=Tom|date=2013-12-16|title=Liz Saville Roberts chosen as Plaid Cymru's candidate for Dwyfor Meirionnydd|url=http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/liz-saville-roberts-chosen-plaid-6409598|access-date=2021-03-21|website=North Wales Live|language=en}}</ref> Her mother, Nancy Saville, was a scientist who was diagnosed with [[dementia]] in 2021<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-59951073|title=Covid: MP calls for law change for dementia patients|last=Barker|first=Miriam|work=BBC News |date=11 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://funeral-notices.co.uk/notice/SAVILLE/5012824|title=Click here to view the tribute page for Dr Nancy Margery SAVILLE|date=29 January 2022|work=Funeral Notices|language=Welsh}}</ref> Saville Roberts has written openly about it, and the impact of [[COVID-19 lockdowns]] on people with the condition.<ref>{{cite web|date=9 January 2022|title=Pandemic policy deprives my mother of both family love and her human rights|last=Saville Roberts|first=Liz|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jan/09/pandemic-policy-robbed-my-mother-both-of-family-love-and-human-rights|access-date=9 January 2022|work=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref>
She is a cousin of the contemporary British artist [[Jenny Saville]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stylist.co.uk/life/the-women-only-exhibit-you-must-see-champagne-life-saatchi-gallery/63157|title=The women-only exhibit you must see|author=Stylist Team|date=11 January 2016|work=Stylist}}</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
== External links ==
{{commons category}}
* {{UK MP links |parliament=liz-saville-roberts/4521 |publicwhip=Liz_Saville-Roberts |theywork=liz_saville-roberts}}
* {{C-SPAN|105175}}
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{{s-bef |before=[[Elfyn Llwyd]]}}
{{s-ttl
|title=[[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]]<br />for [[Dwyfor Meirionnydd (UK Parliament constituency)|Dwyfor Meirionnydd]]
|years=[[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015]]–present}}
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{{Plaid Cymru MPs}}
{{Leaders of political parties in the United Kingdom}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Saville Roberts, Liz}}
[[Category:1964 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Alumni of Aberystwyth University]]
[[Category:Councillors in Wales]]
[[Category:Female members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Welsh constituencies]]
[[Category:Welsh-speaking politicians]]
[[Category:Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:People from Eltham]]
[[Category:Plaid Cymru MPs]]
[[Category:21st-century Welsh women politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century British women politicians]]
[[Category:UK MPs 2015–2017]]
[[Category:UK MPs 2017–2019]]
[[Category:UK MPs 2019–2024]]
[[Category:UK MPs 2024–present]]
[[Category:Women councillors in Wales]]