AROUND THE REGIONS

SOUTH WALES CENTRAL

THE winning candidates:

Andrew RT Davies (Conservatives) – A former group leader of the Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies found himself back in charge in January after Paul Davies quit over drinking on Senedd property. A farmer who is married with four children he was educated in Porthcawl and Stroud.

Rhys ab Owen (Plaid Cymru) – A barrister who decided to stand in Cardiff West after Plaid Cymru expelled Neil McEvoy, who went on to set up his own, Rhys ab Owen went to Ysgol Glantaf in Cardiff and read law at Oxford University.

He lives in Canton with wife Manon and baby daughter Esther. His father was former regional MS Owen John Thomas.

Joel James (Conservatives) – Joel James is a councillor on the Llantwit Fardre ward on RCT council and leader of the Welsh Conservative group on the council. His LinkedIn page says he has previously worked in Westminster and Cardiff Bay as a caseworker and an “advisor administrator” for a financial adviser. He also studied at Cardiff University and the University of Bristol, according to his profile.

Heledd Fychan (Plaid Cymru) – Aged 40, Ms Fychan lives in Pontypridd with her husband and seven-year-old son.

Originally from Anglesey, she studied at Trinity College Dublin before moving to London to work for the Plaid Cymru group at Westminster.

Since 2009 she has worked for a cultural organisation in Wales and was subsequently elected to the board of the Museums Association. In May 2017 she was elected to represent Pontypridd Town ward on Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council and Pontypridd Town Council.

SOUTH WALES EAST

THE winning candidates:

Delyth Jewell (Plaid Cymru) Laura Anne Jones (Conservatives)

Natasha Asghar (Conservatives) Peredur Owen Gruffydd (Plaid Cymru)

Both Ms Jewell and Ms Jones served in the last Senedd.

Natasha Asghar is the daughter of Mohammad Asghar, who was also an MS but died during the fifth term. Ms Jones was the replacement candidate after his death.

Speaking after the announcement, Plaid Cymru’s Delyth Jewell said she was delighted the party had picked up two seats in the regional ballot.

Plaid’s second seat went to Peredur Griffiths who said he was “very pleased” to have gained the seat for the party.

Laura Anne Jones was the first candidate on the list for the Conservative Party and she said it was great to have two female candidates elected. Natasha Asghar, Mr Asghar’s daughter, became the second Conservative MS elected in the region.

SOUTH WALES WEST

THE winning candidates:

Tom Giffard (Conservatives) – Tom Giffard is leader of the Conservative group on Bridgend council. His Linkedin profile says he is also a campaign manager for the Conservative party and former Domino’s chef.

Altaf Hussain (Conservatives) – Altaf Hussain is also a councillor on Bridgend council. A retired surgeon, he has been a member of the party since 2009. He has previously sat in the Senedd as a regional MS, between May 2015 and April 2016 when Byron Davies was elected to Westminster.

Sioned Williams (Plaid Cymru) – Sioned Williams is a former BBC journalist who went on to work at Swansea University organising public events and community courses on Welsh history, culture and literature.

Luke Fletcher (Plaid Cymru) – Luke Fletcher stood for Ogmore in the General Election in 2019, giving him a good run up to this Senedd election.

MID AND WEST WALES

THE winning candidates:

Eluned Morgan (Labour) – Eluned Morgan is minister in the Welsh Government responsible for Mental Health, Wellbeing and the Welsh language. She is 54 and married with two children.

Joyce Watson (Labour) – A 66-year-old grandmother and Labour Senedd Member for Mid and West Wales since 2007, she lives in Haverfordwest and grew up in

Tywyn, Manorbier, Cosheston and Cardigan, one of eight children.

Before getting involved in politics she ran several small businesses - pubs, restaurants and retail - in west Wales.

Cefin Campbell (Plaid Cymru) – A county councillor since 2012, Mr Campbell lives with his family in the Tywi Valley.

He runs his own business which has advised some of Wales’ foremost public bodies including Welsh Government, numerous local authorities, universities, health boards and S4C.

Jane Dodds (Lib Dem) – The short-lived MP for Brecon and Radnorshire has returned to elected office, and kept Lib Dem hopes alive. The party missed out on a Brecon and Radnorshire seat, but took the fourth regional seat.

Ms Dodds won the Brecon seat in August 2019 in a by-election only to lose it four months later.

NORTH WALES

THE winning candidates:

Mark Isherwood (Conservatives) – He lives in Flintshire with wife, Hilary, their six children and four grandchildren. He was first elected to the National Assembly for Wales in 2003, representing North Wales, before being re-elected in 2007, 2011, and 2016.

Sam Rowlands (Conservatives) – Sam Rowlands is a county councillor on Conwy council, where he is leader of the council. He is a married father who is trustee of Gwrych Castle and Festival Church.

Carolyn Thomas (Labour) – A married mum-of-three, she is deputy leader of Flintshire council. She is also a member of North

Wales regional groups relating to the environment and transport and am a member of the Welsh Local Government Association.

Llyr Gruffydd (Plaid Cymru) – Llyr Gruffydd, 50, has been North Wales MS since 2011 and has spoken for the party on education and the environment. He is a dad-of-four who began his career as a youth worker before moving on to work for the Wales Youth Agency and the Council for Wales of Voluntary Youth Services. He later became a project manager for an economic development company. He has also been a Management Consultant for the National Trust in Wales.