Background
Born in Penygroes, Gwynedd, Thomas is the son of a toolmaker.
Born in Penygroes, Gwynedd, Thomas is the son of a toolmaker.
After graduating in law (Bachelor of Laws) from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth in 1976, he was initially employed in the insurance industry and managed a loss adjusting company in the West Indies. He graduated from the Council of Legal Education (Continuing legal education) in 1977.
Although brought up on Merseyside he is a fluent Welsh language speaker. He went to Rock Ferry High School on Ravenswood Avenue in Rock Ferry, Birkenhead. His political interests include Wales, legal reform, social security and the environment.
Following the 2001 general election he was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Wales, Paul Murphy, and in October 2002 moved with Murphy to the Northern Ireland Office in the same capacity.
At the 2005 general election, Thomas was narrowly defeated by the Conservative Party candidate David Jones. Before 1997, Clwyd West had been regarded as a safe Conservative seat and now appears to be reverting to its traditional character.
Thomas has returned to the legal profession, working as a barrister at Atlantic Chambers Liverpool. In 2013 he was elected to represent the Labour Party in the 2015 General Election, for Clwyd West, which he originally held.
This means defeating the Member of Parliament who originally defeated him.
52nd United Kingdom Parliament. 53rd United Kingdom Parliament]
He was Member of Parliament for Clwyd West 1997-2005. He has been a barrister in a private practice since 1986 specialising in personal injury litigation and is a member of Amicus.
A member of Flintshire County Council between 1995-1997, Thomas was elected to Parliament in the 1997 general election.
He was a member of the Select Committee on Welsh Affairs, the Select Committee on Social Security and the Joint Human Rights Committee. He was a member of Labour"s Parliamentary Campaign Team.