NEWLY-elected Ynys Mon Welsh Assembly member Rhun ap Iorwerth says he could never have predicted the margin of his historic landslide victory in yesterday's by-election.

The Plaid Cymru candidate received 58% of the island vote, a total of 12,601, which was more than three times that of the second placed-candidate, Labour's Tal Michael, who received 3,435 votes (16%).

Former Anglesey AM Ieuan Wyn Jones and party leader Leanne Wood were in attendance at the count in Plas Arthur, Llangefni, as a vocal Plaid contingent celebrated their best ever Assembly election result on the island.

Rhun ap Iorwerth said: "It has been a fantastic experience. The honour of being chosen by this sort of majority to represent my own island is something that I never could have imagined, and its the biggest honour I could have had.

"I don't think anyone would have been able to foresee that sort of majority but what we have seen is the people of Ynys Mon saying loud and clear that they have listened to what we have to offer in terms of our vision for the island, the values we have as a party, and they have taken the vision to their hearts.

"Although we never would have anticipated this margin, we believed that there was an enthusiasm for Plaid Cymru's message for the island."

Despite a turnout of 42.45%, lower than the 48.6% turnout for the 2011 assembly election, the winning candidate dubbed the figure “amazing” for an August election, and vows to thank those who voted for him.

He added: “My priority is to ensure that I am made an assembly member immediately.

“There are two things I want to do, the first is to take the oath as an assembly member so that I am able to begin my work immediately, and the other is to thank the people of Ynys Mon for their support in this election and over the last few weeks.” 
 
For the full results from last night's count at Plas Arthur Leisure Centre, Llangefni, follow this link: http://www.northwaleschronicle.co.uk/news/125201/plaid-s-rhun-ap-iorwerth-storms-to-landslide-anglesey-by-election-win.aspx