Who are the candidates for each party in the south Wales valleys? Part two
Senedd election previews for Casnewydd Islwyn and Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd.
Hello and welcome to The Valleys Lead.
Today is the second week of our guide to the 2026 Senedd election. Here, we will give you a list all the candidates in the south Wales valleys, with as much detail about each that we could find. We want to make it easier for you to know what candidates are standing, and thought this was the best way. We hope you find it helpful.
We’ll be looking at Casnewydd Islwyn and Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd. Head over to Sunday’s edition for others.
The guide is below, but first, we wanted to let you know we are hoping to continue to build a community of readers in the south Wales valleys, and you would be doing local journalism a massive favour by reading, and then sharing these newsletters on your social media feeds, or just sending them to people you think might be interested.
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The Valleys Briefing
(A little round-up of some stories in brief from our valleys.)
According to polling released yesterday from ITV Cymru, Reform UK has closed the gap on Plaid Cymru in the race to became the largest party in the Senedd. The two parties have consistently been neck-and-neck in polls, but Reform UK has increased its vote share, while Plaid Cymru has seen a drop, since the last polling by ITV. Both parties are now tied at 29%.
Proposals for a wind farm could see the first ever 200m high turbines in Rhondda Cynon Taf. The plans are for the construction, operation, and decommissioning of up to eight wind turbines and solar panels with a battery storage facility and associated infrastructure on land north east of Porth and south of Llanwonno. There were mixed responses from councillors in response to the announcement, with one councillor saying that while she favours wind turbines, each window she looks out of in her house, there are wind turbines.
Reform MS Laura Anne Jones posted on social media that “contrary to the lefty media,” Nigel Farage had a “wonderful welcome in Merthyr last week.”
Peppers, a restaurant in Aberdare, posted that the costs for their small business has increased significantly. They have asked that if “you believe in supporting local and small businesses, your support means more to us than you may realise."
Who are the candidates for each party in the south Wales valleys? Part two.
With the Senedd election coming up on 7 May, The Valleys Lead has dedicated two editions to being a one-stop-shop for readers to find out who is running for each party. This is the second edition in the series.
There have been, as you’ll know, some major changes to devolved elections in Wales. Constituency boundaries have changed, as has the voting system and the number of politicians who will be elected.
There will be sixteen constituencies throughout Wales, and each will elect six Senedd Members. Instead of the current 60 Senedd members, there will be 96. You will no longer have two votes for a constituency and regional member, but one vote for a party or independent candidate you want to represent your constituency in the Senedd.
If a party wins enough votes, they will win one or more seats in the Senedd. So, for example, if a party wins three seats in a constituency, the top three people on their list will become Members for that area. If an independent candidate wins enough votes, they will also win a seat in the Senedd for their constituency.
The seats will be allocated based on the share of votes each party or independent candidate gets. So, if Party A gets 50% of the votes in a constituency, they will likely get three of the six seats. If Party B gets 30%, they will likely get two of the six seats. If an independent candidate has enough votes, they will also win a seat.
To vote, you’ll need to register in advance (hopefully, you’ve already done this). You’ll get a poll card in the post which will tell you where to go to vote (your polling station) on the day of the election). You do not need to bring ID when you vote in a Senedd election. At your polling station you will be given a ballot paper and will have one vote for the party or independent candidate you want to represent you in the Senedd. Your ballot paper will show the full list of candidates in your constituency, so you can still see who is standing for election.
To avoid total overwhelm, we’ve just focused on the candidates from two constituencies for today. Three others were covered on Sunday, so feel free to have a look.
You’ll notice that for some candidates, we couldn’t find much information at all. Please do get in touch with us if you have any details about a candidate we can weave in, and we’ll update our list.
Casnewydd Islwyn (Blackwood, Pontllanfraith, Risca)
Conservative and Unionist Party
1. Natasha Asghar – The first woman of colour elected to the Senedd as MS for South Wales East. She was elected to the Senedd in May 2021. She has a background working in media. British Vogue named called her a “force for change,” and the BBC said she was one of the world’s 100 most influential and inspiring women. She previously ran in UK parliamentary elections in 2015 and 2017, but was not elected. She was named the Welsh Conservative’s Shadow Minister for Transport and technology and is working to see the creation an all Wales travel card similar to the Oyster card in London. Has said it is time to “rebuild trust” after “botched job of devolution.” Has been accused of engineering matters that that Senedd Conservative staff member would secure the nomination.
2. Toby Jones – Ran in Newport local elections in 2022, but was not elected. A close friend of Natash Asghar, and it is suspected Natasha campaigned for him to get a spot on the list for the Senedd elections.
3. Jake Enea – First time standing for election.
4. Georgie Webb – Has run twice in Newport local elections in 2017 and 2022, and then in Cardiff local elections in 2022, but was not elected.
5. Adam Morris – First time standing for election.
6. Rebecca Mamhend – First time standing for election.
Green Party
1. Lauren James – Newport Councillor elected in 2022. Ran in the 2021 Senedd elections and in the 2024 UK Parliamentary general election, but was not elected.
2. Philip Davis – First time standing for election
3. Zaynab Greengrass – First time standing for election
4. Kerry Vosper – Previously active in trade unions. Stood for Bristol City Council election in 2016 and the 2024 UK Parliamentary general election, but was not elected.
5. Julian Mayer – First time standing for election.
6. Andrew Were – Stood for election in 2022 Monmouthshire local election but was not elected.
Heritage Party
1. Mike Ford – Has stood for election five times since 2016 in both local, Parliamentary, and Senedd elections, but was not elected. He’s been part of UKIP and Abolish the Welsh Assembly Party before joining Heritage Party. Supports the stance to end net zero, and wants to put a stop to relationships and sex education in primary schools.
Labour Party
1. Jayne Bryant – Newport West MS since 2016. Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, after previously being the Minister for Mental Health and Early Years. As a backbencher, Jayne was elected by the Senedd as the Chair of the Children, Young People and Education Committee and the Standards of Conduct Committee. Was “grilled” during a committee meeting over fears building safety reforms would suppress social housing supply.
2. Rhianon Passmore – MS for Islwyn since 2016. Has chaired the Welsh Labour’s Women’s Committee and Policy Forum and is a Welsh Woman of the Year Finalist. Previous county councillor.
3. Chris Carter – First time standing for election. Considers himself a Labour activist. Been involved in local campaigns to get streetlights back on at night and fill in potholes.
4. Rhian Howells – Newport councillor. Cabinet member for infrastructure and assets. Chartered surveyor by trade.
5. Julie Sangani – Cardiff councillor. First Indian woman to serve on Cardiff City Council.
6. Stephen Marshall – Newport councillor.
7. David Chinnick Martin – Previously stood for local elections in 2022, but was not elected.
Liberal Democrats
1. Mike Hamilton – Previously an engineering officer for the Merchant Navy. Obtained his Ph.D. in archaeology in Cardiff. Has been a Newport Councillor, cabinet member and deputy leader of Newport City Council. He has stood for Parliament and the Senedd on three occasions and achieved the best LibDem result in Wales when he stood for the Police and Crime Commissioner in 2024.
2. John Miller – Has stood for election in Newport and Torfaen, two UK Parliamentary general elections, the Senedd in 2021, and Gwent Police and Crime Commissioner.
3. Nurul Islam – Previously stood in Newport local election in 2022 but was not elected.
4. Harun Rashid - Previously stood in Newport local election in 2022 but was not elected.
5. Mary Lloyd – Former member of the Royal Air Force.
6. Jeff Evans – Previously stood in local elections but was not elected.
Plaid Cymru
1. Peredur Owen Griffiths – Current Plaid Cymru MS for South Wales East since 2021. He’s been a councillor in Caerphilly since 2017. Worked in the financial and charity sector. Acted as Board of Directors for Displaced People in Action, a charity working to place refugees, and then worked with the many faith groups across Wales.
2. Lyn Ackerman – Plaid Cymru Caerphilly councillor.
3. Rhys Mills – Blackwood Town councillor.
4. Joshua Rawcliffe – Has previously stood in a number of elections as part of the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, and Independent. Worked in the charity sector. A community councillor.
5. Jonathan Clark - Has been Regional Vice President/Regional Co-ordinator for Plaid Cymru in South East Wales and was Plaid Cymru’s candidate for Monmouth for the 2005 General Election and the 2007 National Assembly Election. Political interests include affordable housing, public transport and economic development.
6. Sarah Henton – First time standing for election.
Reform UK
1. Dan Thomas – Leader of Reform UK Wales. Previously has stood in elections as part of the Conservative and Unionist Party in UK Parliamentary and local elections. He served as a Conservative councillor, deputy leader and council leader. A UNISON report showed the consequences of his nearly two decades in senior roles at Barnet Council, where the report said core services were outsourced on a “huge scale.” Although originally from Blackwood, he had been working, prior to 2025, in London. He defected from the Conservative to Reform UK in 2025.
2. Art Wright – First time standing for election
3. Marie-Claire Lea – First time standing for election
4. Nick Jones - A former Conservative Parliamentary candidate who defected to Reform UK.
“The Conservative Party in Wales has stopped listening and has run out of ideas,” he said. “In order to better represent my community and the aspirations of the hard-working people of this nation, I have joined Reform UK.” Previous Councillor in Torfaen.
5. Rebecca Senior – Previously worked in public and private sectors and started her own business in 2023. Was stood for election in local elections but not elected.
6. Tomos Llewellyn – First time standing for election. Head of Strategy & Press Secretary for Reform MS James Evans.
Open Party
1. Justna Muhith - First time standing for election.She has seven degrees, a doctorate in neuroendocrinology, an MBA, a law degree, and several master’s-level leadership qualifications. She said: “a two-tier system protects the privilege while punishing ordinary people.”
2. John Horan – First time standing for election. An engineer by trade.
Independents
· Taran Clayton - First time standing for election. “I believe in local representation like that of the Chartists who believed in representation for their voice for their community. Like them I believe in representation not policy, not options laid before you to pick and choose from, to divide you, to parties promising change but rather represent your voice and scrutinise on your behalf,” he said.
Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd (Neath, Ystradgynlais)
Conservative and Unionist Party
1. Tyler Chambers – First time standing for election
2. Liz Hill O’Shea – Has worked in community leadership for 20 years. Has stood for election on several occasions in Neath Port Talbot, but not elected.
3. Jane Lyons – Has stood in Parliamentary and local elections. Was previously a councillor in London area. Former CEO of Cancer52. Now lead governor in an NHS Trust.
4. Matthew Gilbert – Worked as a teacher, police response officer, and in residential lettings.
5. Hannah Jarvis – Stood twice as a candidate to be Gwent’s police and crime commissioner. Former deputy chair of Monmouthshire Conservatives. Community councillor. Has historically been part of the Conservative and Unionist Party, but reportedly defected to Reform in August. However, she is running once again as part of the Conservative party in the Senedd election.
6. Amanda Davies – First time standing for election.
Gwlad
1. Philip Owen – First time standing for election. “I joined Gwlad as Brexit made it clear that the UK economy was going to be managed for the benefit of the City of London.”
Heritage Party
1. Jennifer Roberts – First time standing for election.
Green Party
1. Nathan Goldup-John - Neath Port Talbot councillor since 2022.
2. Charlotte Ajomale-Evans – First time standing for election.
3. Amerjit Dhaliwal – Has stood in local election and in the 2024 UK Parliamentary election, but was not elected.
4. Eric Rosoman-Matthews - First time standing for election.
5. Kathy Oakwood – Stood in a local by-election in Neath Porth Talbot in 2024 but was not elected.
6. Imogen Elisabeth da Silva - First time standing for election.
Labour Party
1. Mahaboob Basha – Freelance international business consultant. Chairs Labour’s BAME Committee. Founded the Sketty Youth Club. Stood for a 2022 local election and the 2021 Senedd elections but was not elected.
2. Alex Sims – Neath Port Talbot councillor. Currently words for MS Jenny Rathbone. Formerly the Head of Policy for Wales for Union Cymru.
3. Sarah Amber Thomas – Neath Port Talbot councillor. Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance, Performance, and Social Justice.
4. Elliot Wigfall - First time standing for election. Community councillor and trade union representative.
5. Cyriac George - First time standing for election.
6. Chelsea Edwards - First time standing for election.
Liberal Democrats
1. Jane Dodds - Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats since 2017. Elected as MP for Brecon and Radnorshire at the seat’s 2019 by-election, but was an MP for only three months before being defeated in the general election later the same year. In May 2021, elected MS for mid and West Wales. Has secured additional funding for dentists and campaigned against cuts to local public services.
2. Jackie Charlton – Powys councillor. Non-Executive Director of Powys NHS Trust from 2000-2003. Has been Vice Chair of the Trust and Local Health Board.
3. Phoebe Jenkins – Previously stood in the 2024 UK Parliamentary elections but was not elected. As a working mother, wants to lift barriers preventing families from accessing childcare.
4. Will Lloyd – Stood for local election in 2022 but was not elected.
5. Peter Chapman – Worked in the manufacturing and travel industry, and then spent 19 years volunteering to support criminal and family justice systems and the school admission process.
6. Dylan Calved - First time standing for election.
Plaid Cymru
1. Sioned Williams – MS for South Wales West since 2021. Plaid Cymru’s spokesperson for Social Justice and Early Years. Has said she has helped achieve a fairer Wales by expanding free childcare and tackling child poverty. Formerly a BBC journalist.
2. Rebeca Phillips – Neath Port Talbot councillor. Chair of the Education, Skills, and Wellbeing committee.
3. Andrew Jenkins – Previously served as a Neath Port Talbot councillor. Has held policy and research roles within Age Cymru.
4. Justin Horrell – Stood in the 2022 local elections but was not elected. IT consultant. Town councillor.
5. Kate Heneghan – Stood in the 2017 UK Parliamentary general election but was not elected.
6. Chris Williams – Neath Port Talbot councillor.
Reform UK
1. James Evans – Previously part of the Conservative and Unionist Party who defected to Reform. Was sacked by Welsh Conservative leader Darren Millar after he reportedly said he had spoken to Reform UK about joining the party. But the Reform leader said he had not spoken to Evans personally. Previously representing the Welsh Conservative Party as MS for Brecon and Radnorshire, he is not listed as “not affiliated to a political group” on the Senedd directory, and is now standing in the 2026 Senedd election for Reform UK.
2. Iain McIntosh – Powys councillor. Previously part of the Conservative and Unionist Party but defected to Reform UK for the Senedd 2026 elections.
3. David Mills - First time standing for election.
4. Moira Charles - First time standing for election.
5. Dewi Thomas - First time standing for election.
6. Celfyn Furlong – Previously stood twice for local elections representing the Conservative and Unionist Party but defected to Reform UK for the Ynys Gybi ward in a by-election in February 2026. He was sacked from the Welsh Conservative shadow cabinet and had the whip withdrawn.
The Christian Party
1. Jeff Green - Leader of the Welsh Christian Party. Stood for several elections since 2010, but has not been elected. In 2014, he and his wife Sue were accused of discrimination when they refused a gay couple a double room.
2. Sue Green – Suspected to be the wife of Jeff Green
Independents
· Dai Richards – Stood in the 2024 UK Parliamentary elections representing Reform UK, but was not elected.
· Beverley Baynham – Powys councillor.
· Joe Hale – Swansea councillor. Previously representing the Labour Party prior to running in the 2026 Senedd election as Independent.