#gwyr-abertawe — Public Fediverse posts

GŴYR ABERTAWE: Reform MS Francesca O’Brien says threats to her home and family business are now with the police

Threats made against Francesca O’Brien, the Reform UK Member of the Senedd for Gŵyr Abertawe, are being dealt with by the police, she has said.

The threats, made on a social media platform, included threats to her home and her family’s business, she said on Wednesday. Members of the public had flagged them to her.

“I’ve received many colourful messages over the years but I draw the line when it’s against my family and the aggressive behaviour which has escalated rapidly,” she wrote on Facebook.

The person responsible is local, she said. “These threats are now in the capable hands of South Wales Police.”

“I can’t respond to all emails and private messages at this time but I do thank you for your support,” she added, thanking those who had raised “serious concerns over my safety”.

Helen Haines, Jo Cox and David Amess: the week politicians’ safety is back on the agenda

Her statement comes in a week when the safety of elected politicians is under scrutiny around the world. On Monday Helen Haines, an independent member of the Australian parliament, was hit by a 4×4 outside her constituency office in Wangaratta, Victoria, in what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said “wasn’t an accident”.

The 65-year-old former nurse has had both legs amputated, her husband said on Wednesday. A 43-year-old man has been charged with intentionally causing serious injury, dangerous driving causing serious injury and causing harm to a federal official, and is in custody until February.

In the UK, two sitting MPs have been killed while meeting constituents in the past decade: Jo Cox, the Labour MP for Batley and Spen, in June 2016, and Sir David Amess, the Conservative MP for Southend West, in October 2021. Both deaths led to reviews of the security given to MPs and to the way they hold surgeries.

Reform UK lost one of its own this year. Ann Widdecombe, its immigration and justice spokeswoman, was found dead at her home on Dartmoor on 9 July. She was 78.

The former Conservative minister had been the victim of a “targeted attack”, police said.

A 28-year-old man has been charged with her murder and is in custody awaiting a trial listed for June 2027.

Closer to home, in May Gareth Beer MS said his wife, Cllr Michelle Beer, had been “verbally abused in the street, chased, and called vile names” in Carmarthen.

From Mumbles councillor to Reform UK’s Senedd front bench

O’Brien was elected to the Senedd in May, when Reform UK took two of the six Gŵyr Abertawe seats with 21,641 votes. She was handed the housing, planning and local government brief in the party’s first Senedd shadow cabinet.

Before that she was the Mumbles councillor on Swansea Council, elected as a Conservative in 2022. She became Reform’s first councillor in Swansea after switching in August 2025.

The Senedd campaign turned personal in April, when Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart attacked her over a “pattern” of behaviour, citing social media posts from 2014. “Prove that I’m far right, prove I’m anti-Islamic,” she replied.

In May, after an NHS doctor and his sons were racially abused at Mumbles skate park, she condemned the abuse and invited him to work with her.

O’Brien has not said what the threats contained beyond that they were aimed at her home and family business. Her father, Gower councillor Richard Lewis, joined Reform UK this week.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

SWANSEA: Francesca O’Brien handed housing and planning brief as Reform UK names its first ever Senedd shadow cabinet
Her front-bench role from May.

SENEDD ELECTION: Swansea Council leader attacks Reform rival O’Brien over ‘pattern’ of behaviour
The April row with Rob Stewart.

CARMARTHEN: Reform MS vows to visit shop that ‘excluded’ his wife
Gareth Beer on the abuse of his wife in May.

SENEDD: Swansea’s Mike Hedges handed Culture and Sport brief as Ken Skates names Welsh Labour’s new Senedd spokesperson team

Mike Hedges, the Swansea MS who went viral last week after appearing to tell an ITV journalist the media had “got the result they wanted” following Labour’s historic Senedd defeat, has been handed a senior shadow brief as interim leader Ken Skates names his spokesperson team.

Hedges, who holds the Gŵyr Abertawe constituency seat, will serve as Labour’s shadow spokesperson for Culture, Sport, Local Government and Legislation — one of seven shadow portfolios announced this morning as Labour begins the long task of rebuilding as an opposition party after its worst Senedd result in history.

The election on 7 May saw Labour reduced to just nine Senedd seats, with Plaid Cymru forming Wales’s new government. Hedges came fourth in the six-seat Gŵyr Abertawe constituency — with Plaid taking three seats and Reform UK two — as Labour’s vote share fell to third place behind both parties.

In the days that followed, the veteran MS attracted attention when ITV journalist Rhys Williams approached him on the steps of the Senedd. When asked if he had anything to say, Hedges replied: “No, thanks. You’ve had the result you wanted, what more?” The 24-second exchange was viewed more than 200,000 times on X.

Hedges, who has been an MS since 2011 and is a former leader of Swansea Council, refused to elaborate further when pressed on what he meant. The clip became one of the most-shared moments of the post-election fallout — a snapshot of a party struggling to come to terms with a defeat few had predicted quite so devastating in scale.

Hedges was also the subject of internal Labour tensions in the build-up to the election, after a senior Welsh Labour figure publicly called on him to stand aside for former Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart. Stewart publicly backed Hedges and rejected the suggestion.

It is the first time in more than 25 years that Labour has had to build an opposition team in the Senedd. With just nine MSs, the group is small enough that each member carries multiple responsibilities — and the shadow team unveiled today reflects that reality, with Ken Skates himself doubling as both interim leader and health spokesperson.

Ken Skates MS takes the role of interim leader himself, also serving as Labour’s shadow spokesperson for Health, Care and National Security — a significant shift from his previous role as Cabinet Secretary for Transport in the outgoing Labour government.

Jayne Bryant MS takes the shadow Housing, Communities, Public and Preventative Health brief, a portfolio that echoes her previous role as Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government in government. Lynne Neagle MS, who was Cabinet Secretary for Education in the Welsh Government, steps into the shadow Children, Education and Lifelong Learning role — a near-identical remit, this time from the opposition benches.

Vikki Howells MS becomes Labour’s Chief Whip as well as shadow spokesperson for Environment, Farming, Energy and Transport — including Planning. Shav Taj MS takes the shadow Employment, Equalities and Economic Transformation brief, while Huw Thomas MS picks up shadow Finance, Democracy, Citizenship and Welsh Language. Sarah Murphy’s portfolio will be announced on her return from maternity leave.

Labour is not alone in rebuilding after the election. The Welsh Conservatives — who ended the election with seven seats, fewer than Labour and the smallest group in the chamber outside the Greens — named their new shadow cabinet team last week under leader Darren Millar MS. Former Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies MS, whose new constituency covers Bridgend, was appointed Shadow Minister for Farming and the Environment alongside six other shadow ministers.

Reform UK, the second largest party in the Senedd with 34 seats, has named its leader — Dan Thomas MS — and deputy leader Helen Jenner MS, but has not yet announced portfolios or the rest of its shadow cabinet team. As the official opposition, Reform will face intense scrutiny over how quickly it can organise and hold the new Plaid government to account.

Plaid Cymru’s new Welsh Government cabinet, confirmed by First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth last week, is already in place and governing. For Labour, the Conservatives and Reform, the work of opposition begins in earnest — and for a party that has held power in Cardiff Bay since devolution began in 1999, the adjustment for Welsh Labour may prove the most profound of all.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Mike Hedges warns Wales could face another election as Labour counts the cost of historic defeat
Our coverage of the aftermath of Labour’s worst-ever Senedd result.

Senior Welsh Labour figure calls on Mike Hedges to quit Senedd seat for Rob Stewart
The internal tensions that threatened Hedges before the election.

South west Wales politicians take key roles as Rhun ap Iorwerth names his first Plaid Cymru cabinet
The new Welsh Government that Labour and the other opposition parties must now hold to account.

‘Respect the democratic vote’: Rob Stewart backs Mike Hedges after anonymous Welsh Labour call for him to quit Senedd seat

Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart has publicly thrown his weight behind Mike Hedges – declaring his “full support” for the city’s only Welsh Labour MS and insisting voters’ democratic verdict at the ballot box must be respected.

The intervention comes less than 24 hours after Swansea Bay News reported that a senior Welsh Labour figure had urged Hedges to resign mid-term to make way for Stewart – meaning the Council leader could enter the Senedd without facing the electorate again.

Stewart – who was Welsh Labour’s second-placed candidate on the Gwyr Abertawe list and was not elected last week – publicly rejected that route in a statement posted to his Facebook account on Sunday afternoon.

“Let me be clear,” Stewart said. “As a democratic nation we should all respect the democratic vote and decision of the public.”

The Council leader said Hedges had been rightly elected at the top of the Welsh Labour list and had his backing.

“Each party ranks its candidates in the new list system and Mike was top of our list and was rightly elected,” Stewart said. “He has my full support.”

Stewart also pointedly underlined how the new D’Hondt voting system works – and the fact that any seat replacement would happen without a public vote.

“Under the new system any candidate stepping down is replaced by someone from the same party – the next on their list,” he said. “There are no by-elections in this system.”

The Council leader explained the reasoning behind that mechanic, saying voters had been asked to back a party rather than an individual.

“This is because it’s a PR system,” he said. “And in that system the voters are asked to vote for a party – not a person.”

The statement marks the most significant public intervention so far from any Welsh Labour figure in Swansea on the question of mid-term resignations – and effectively shuts down the suggestion that Stewart would accept a back-door route into the Senedd.

It comes after Swansea Bay News reported on Saturday that a senior Welsh Labour figure – speaking anonymously to Welsh political journalist Will Hayward – had urged Hedges and fellow long-serving Welsh Labour MS Lynne Neagle to resign mid-term to allow second-placed candidates on Welsh Labour’s lists to take their seats.

The same source had branded Welsh Labour “functionally broken” and called for a total overhaul of the party – accusing it of a decade-long failure to confront its own decline.

Stewart’s statement neither names the anonymous source nor responds directly to the wider criticisms levelled at the party – instead focusing on the specific question of Hedges’ position and the legitimacy of the democratic process.

The Council leader’s full backing of Hedges is significant. As the second-placed candidate on the Welsh Labour list, Stewart would be the direct beneficiary of any Hedges resignation – and his public rejection of that route effectively rules out one of the scenarios floated by the anonymous Welsh Labour source.

Hedges himself has not commented publicly on the anonymous call for him to step down.

The Welsh Labour party has not formally responded to either intervention.

Welsh Labour was reduced to just nine seats at last week’s Senedd election, down from 30 in the previous Senedd, with the party wiped out entirely in six constituencies. Mike Hedges is the only Welsh Labour Member of the Senedd for Swansea.

Plaid Cymru emerged as the largest party with 43 seats, with Reform UK securing a historic 34 seats. Plaid leader Rhun ap Iorwerth is expected to lead a minority government as Wales’ next First Minister.

Stewart – who has been Council leader since 2017 – will remain in his role at Swansea Council, where Welsh Labour holds an overall majority and is expected to face the city’s voters at the council elections next year.

Our Senedd Election 2026 coverage

Mike Hedges should quit Senedd seat for Rob Stewart, senior Welsh Labour figure says
The anonymous intervention that branded Welsh Labour ‘functionally broken’ and called for two MSs to make way for new talent.

Mike Hedges warns Wales could face another election next year
The newly re-elected Swansea Labour MS on the prospect of an early Senedd election if Plaid’s first budget falls.

Gwyr Abertawe: Plaid top the poll as Reform UK and Labour also take seats
How Swansea voted – and how Mike Hedges held on as the city’s only Welsh Labour MS.

Rhun ap Iorwerth to lead Plaid minority government
What happens next as Plaid prepares to take power.

Ken Skates appointed interim Welsh Labour leader
Welsh Labour picks up the pieces after being reduced to nine seats.

Regionalwahlen in Wales: Labour-Dämmerung unter den schwarzen Hügeln. Für @tazgetroete war ich vor wenigen Tagen in Wales unterwegs. https://taz.de/Regionalwahlen-in-Wales/!6176153 #Wales #PolitikEuropa #Labour #Swansea #gŵyrAbertawe #Großbritannien #Vereinigteskönigreich

Swansea Reform UK candidate quits in furious ‘betrayal’ rant – ‘Party has sunk into the sewer!’

Patrick Benham-Crosswell, a long-standing member and former candidate who secured 17.5% of the vote in Swansea in the 2024 general election, announced his departure in a scathing Facebook post.

He declared: “In truth, Reform has left me.”

Benham-Crosswell, who was placed fifth on the new candidate list behind an “ex-Tory on the make and three novices,” launched a blistering attack on the party’s direction.

He accused Reform of “betraying its early members’ vision, labour and achievements” and becoming a party that takes its volunteers “for granted.”

His post highlighted a shift within Reform UK, stating: “The ‘professionalisation’ of the party has led it to take its members and candidates for granted. Communications that once began ‘Thank you’ now more often start ‘You are required to…’

“The party’s employees in Millbank forget that branch officers and candidates are unpaid volunteers.”

The former candidate, who was an active member since Reform’s inception and the Brexit Party before that, did not hold back on the candidate selection process.

He alleged: “Across Wales the candidate appointment does not reflect how people performed in the selection process; I know because I was there. In many constituencies those at the top of the list are not the best. Far too many are Tories – and the Reform vote will suffer.”

This isn’t the first time such claims have rocked Reform UK in Wales; a Senedd hopeful previously quit the party over allegations of a rigged selection process in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion.

Francesca O’Brien, who defected from the Conservatives last year, tops the list of candidates for Reform in Swansea and Gower.

Benham-Crosswell dismissed any suggestion of “petulance or sour grapes” over his low placing, insisting it confirmed his fears that “Reform is no longer open or honest.”

“Politics is a dirty game, but Reform has sunk deep into the sewer when it should have been a beacon of decency,” he wrote.

He concluded his explosive statement by saying: “Politics should be about openness, decency and serving the country, which it once was in Reform. Politics is (or should be) about people, not process. Principles, not opportunism. Passion, not career building.”

His explosive resignation raises the question: Is Reform UK starting to implode before the election has even taken place?

https://www.europesays.com/uk/846979/ Independence warning: Top Labour candidate says Wales ‘£15bn better off’ in UK #Britain #GreatBritain #GŵyrAbertawe #independence #MikeHedgesMS #SeneddElection #SwanseaEast #UK #UnitedKingdom #Wales #WelshIndependence #WelshLabour

Independence warning: Top Labour candidate says Wales ‘£15bn better off’ in UK

A senior Swansea politician has issued a stark warning over Welsh independence — claiming the country is currently up to £15 billion a year better off as part of the UK.

Mike Hedges says Wales benefits from significantly higher public spending than it generates in tax — with a gap he estimates at £12bn to £15bn annually, and potentially even higher.

Writing in an opinion piece for Nation Cymru, he argues that under the current system Wales receives around 10% more public spending per head than the UK average, while tax revenues per person are only about 75% of the UK level.

That imbalance, he says, is fundamental.

“If Wales were to keep its own revenues and fund its own public spending,” he suggests, “it would face a large fiscal deficit.”

He adds that the scale of the gap is comparable to the entire Welsh health budget — underlining what he sees as the economic reality of independence.

‘Stronger in a larger economy’

Hedges argues the UK’s size is a key advantage — allowing wealth to be redistributed and cushioning regions like Wales during economic shocks.

“Larger countries can more easily withstand economic storms,” he says, pointing to the role of UK-wide spending on areas such as defence, debt interest and national infrastructure.

He also suggests that any move towards fiscal autonomy would require significantly stronger economic performance in Wales before it could become viable.

Independence debate intensifies

The comments come as Plaid Cymru continues to poll strongly — with projections suggesting it could emerge as the largest party after May’s Senedd election.

Hedges’ intervention is likely to be seen as a direct challenge to that momentum — putting the economic risks of independence at the centre of the political debate.

Key seat in the spotlight

The issue is particularly significant in Swansea and Gower.

Hedges is the sitting MS for Swansea East and Labour’s top list candidate for the new Gŵyr Abertawe constituency, making him the party’s most likely candidate to be returned to the Senedd.

Under the new voting system, voters will select parties rather than individuals — with candidates elected based on their position on party lists.

Polling suggests Labour could win just one of the six seats available locally, placing added importance on Hedges’ top ranking.

Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart is second on the list and would likely need a stronger-than-expected Labour performance to secure a seat.

Battle lines drawn

With the election approaching, Hedges’ message draws a clear dividing line — between those pushing for greater independence and those arguing Wales is financially stronger within the UK.

And with billions of pounds — and the future direction of the country — at stake, that debate is only set to intensify.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

“Constitutional outrage”: Labour MSs revolt over UK funding bypass
Mike Hedges joins colleagues in warning Westminster is undermining devolution in Wales. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Swansea Council leader ranked second on Labour Senedd list
Rob Stewart’s position highlights the high stakes under the new voting system in Gŵyr Abertawe.

‘Fantasy football for politics’ platform launched for Senedd election
New digital tool aims to help voters understand the impact of the upcoming Welsh election.

First Minister warns of ‘chaos’ if Plaid or Reform win election
Stark political warnings underline the increasingly heated battle ahead of May’s vote.

Latest Senedd poll puts Reform and Plaid neck and neck as South West Wales emerges as decisive battleground

The fresh Beaufort Research poll for Nation.Cymru puts Reform on 27% (down three points since September), Plaid Cymru on 26% (up four), Labour on 21% (down two), Conservatives on 12%, Greens on 9% and Liberal Democrats on 3%.

Seat projections show Reform and Plaid neck‑and‑neck on 30 seats each, Labour on 24, Conservatives on 9, Greens on 2 and Lib Dems on just 1. That would almost certainly see Plaid leader Rhun ap Iorwerth installed as First Minister — either through a coalition with Labour or a looser cooperation deal.

But the real drama lies in the constituency breakdown.

South West Wales on a knife‑edge

The updated projections show how finely balanced the region has become:

In Gŵyr Abertawe, Reform, Labour and Plaid split the six seats, with Reform edging ahead on three. In Sir Gaerfyrddin, Plaid takes control with three seats, leaving Reform on two and Labour squeezed down to one. Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd is even more fragmented, with Reform on three, Labour and Plaid on one each, plus single seats for the Conservatives and Lib Dems. And in Pen‑y‑bont Bro Morgannwg, Reform and Labour again take two apiece, leaving Plaid and the Conservatives with one each.

This mirrors the trend Swansea Bay News has tracked for months: Reform surging in working‑class valleys and coastal towns, Plaid consolidating its Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion heartlands, and Labour squeezed from both sides. The new numbers show Plaid clawing back ground, especially among younger voters and Welsh speakers, while Reform’s momentum has slowed.

Demographic divides deepen

The poll highlights stark splits:

• Men lean Reform (29%), while women lean Plaid (27%).
• Young voters (16–34) back Plaid (31%) and Labour (28%), leaving Reform trailing at 14%.
• Middle‑aged voters (35–54) give Reform a commanding 36%.
• Welsh speakers overwhelmingly back Plaid (41%), while non‑Welsh speakers put Reform ahead (31%).

These divides underline the cultural and generational fault lines running through South West Wales, with Reform strongest among older, non‑Welsh‑speaking voters and Plaid dominant among younger, Welsh‑speaking communities.

From landslide to stalemate

Just months ago, Reform were riding high in South West Wales, with polls showing them pulling ahead while Plaid slipped and Labour edged back. Warnings from the First Minister that a Reform or Plaid victory could plunge Wales into “chaos” reflected that momentum. Now, the picture is more complicated: Reform’s surge has stalled, Plaid has recovered, and Labour remains stuck in third place.

The result? A looming stalemate. With no party anywhere near a majority, South West Wales’ six‑seat constituencies could decide whether Wales ends up with a Reform‑dominated Senedd, a Plaid‑Labour coalition, or another fragile cooperation deal.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

From Westminster landslide to Senedd stalemate
Polling shows contrasting futures for South West Wales between Westminster and Senedd elections.

Reform still leading in South West Wales
Labour makes gains but Reform UK remains ahead in the latest Senedd polling snapshot.

Reform surge redraws political map
Reform UK’s rise reshapes the electoral landscape across South West Wales constituencies.

Reform pulls ahead as Plaid slips
Reform UK takes the lead while Plaid Cymru loses ground and Labour edges back.

First Minister warns of chaos
Mark Drakeford warns Wales could face chaos if Plaid or Reform win the Senedd election.

Plaid and Reform neck and neck
Labour slumps to a historic low as Plaid Cymru and Reform UK tie in the polls.

Two‑thirds think politicians are out for themselves
A YouGov poll finds widespread distrust, with most believing politicians act in self‑interest.

#AfanOgwrRhondda #BeaufortResearch #BrycheiniogTaweNedd #Caerfyrddin #CeredigionPenfro #GreenParty #GŵyrAbertawe #PenYBontBroMorgannwg #PlaidCymru #politics #ReformUK #SeneddElection #SeneddElections2026 #SirGaerfyrddin #WelshConservatives #WelshLiberalDemocrats

Swansea Council leader ranked second on Labour’s Senedd candidate list for Gŵyr Abertawe

Labour sets out its order for Gŵyr Abertawe

Welsh Labour has confirmed the order of its candidates for Gŵyr Abertawe, one of the 16 new “super constituencies” that will elect six members each at the next Senedd election.

The list is headed by Mike Hedges MS, the long‑standing representative for Swansea East, with Rob Stewart placed second. Rebecca Fogarty, a West Cross councillor and newly appointed cabinet member, is ranked third, followed by Rebecca Francis‑Davies, daughter of cabinet member Robert Francis‑Davies.

Also on the list are Sara Faye, political advisor to Julie James MS who is not standing in the next election; Kemba Hadaway‑Morgan, a trade unionist, member of Race Council Cymru and trade union representative on several Welsh Government committees; Patience Bentu, a Swansea councillor for Castle Ward and member of the Mid and West Wales Fire Authority, who has written about “the missing voices in Welsh politics and the need for diverse candidates for the Senedd election.”; and Victoria Holland a councillor for Pontlliw on Swansea Council.

A new system changes how votes count

The 2026 election will be the first under a new proportional voting system. Voters will no longer choose an individual candidate, but instead cast their ballot for a party. Each party’s candidates are then elected in the order they appear on the ranked list, depending on how many seats that party wins.

That means in Gŵyr Abertawe, a vote for Labour will first count towards electing Mike Hedges. If Labour secures enough support for a second seat, Rob Stewart would follow. Candidates further down the list would only enter the Senedd if Labour’s share of the vote is high enough to win additional seats.

Polls suggest two Labour seats

The latest Senedd polling, reported by Swansea Bay News in October, projected that in Gŵyr Abertawe Reform UK would win three of the six seats, Labour two, and Plaid Cymru one.

If that projection holds, it would mean Hedges and Stewart are the only Labour candidates elected in the constituency, underlining the significance of Stewart’s second‑place ranking.

Rivals already in the race

Other parties have also begun setting out their lead candidates. The Welsh Conservatives have named Tom Giffard MS as their top candidate, while the Green Party has selected Swansea councillor Chris Evans. The Liberal Democrats have announced Will Thomas as their lead candidate for Swansea and Neath.

Together, these announcements mean the contest in Gŵyr Abertawe is already taking shape, with party leaders and councillors positioning themselves for the first election under the new system.

What happens next

Labour’s rankings remain provisional until endorsed by the party’s Welsh Executive Committee. Once confirmed, the lists will determine the order in which candidates are elected, depending on the party’s share of the vote.

For voters in Swansea and Gower, the change means the focus will be less on individual personalities and more on how each party performs overall.

Related Articles

Tom Giffard named as Tory lead candidate for Gŵyr Abertawe Senedd seat
Welsh Conservatives confirm their lead candidate for the new super constituency.

Swansea councillor named Green Party lead candidate for 2026 Senedd elections
Greens set out their lead candidate for Swansea under the new system.

Lib Dems announce lead candidates for Swansea and Neath Senedd seats
Liberal Democrats confirm their top names ahead of next May’s election.

Reform UK pulls ahead as Plaid slips and Labour edges back in new Senedd poll
Latest polling projects three Reform, two Labour and one Plaid seat in Gŵyr Abertawe.

Two new councillors join Swansea Council Cabinet in reshuffle
Rebecca Fogarty among those appointed in a reshaped Cabinet led by Rob Stewart.

#CllrRebeccaFogarty #CllrRobStewart #CllrRobertFrancisDavies #CllrVictoriaHolland #Gower #GŵyrAbertawe #JulieJamesMS #KembaHadawayMorgan #MikeHedgesMS #PatienceBentu #RebeccaFrancisDavies #SaraFaye #SeneddElections2026 #Swansea #SwanseaWest #WelshLabour

Swansea councillor named Green Party lead candidate for 2026 Senedd elections

Local councillor steps forward

Cllr Evans, who represents the Mayals ward on Swansea Council, was confirmed as the party’s top candidate for the new six‑member constituency covering Swansea West and Gower.

The Greens highlighted Evans’ role in proposing the first council motion calling for the devolution of the Crown Estate to Wales, which was passed unanimously in Swansea and later adopted by every other local authority in the country.

Candidate statement

Cllr Evans said:

“It is a huge honour to be chosen as our lead list candidate for Gŵyr Abertawe. Many people think the Greens are only concerned about the environment, but I know that environmental justice and social justice must be achieved together or neither will last.

As someone who grew up in Swansea in the 70s and 80s, I saw first‑hand how inequality damaged our communities. If elected, my aim is to bring back hope and show that a better, greener future is possible.”

How likely are the Greens to win a seat?

The latest YouGov Barn Cymru poll for ITV Cymru Wales and Cardiff University’s Welsh Governance Centre put the Greens on 6% nationally, alongside the Liberal Democrats. Under the new proportional Senedd system, that level of support could deliver a single seat across Wales — but it leaves the party struggling to break through in South West Wales.

Swansea Bay News’ own latest Senedd seat projections suggest that in Gŵyr Abertawe, the six seats would likely divide as:

• 2 Reform UK
• 2 Labour
• 1 Plaid Cymru
• 1 Liberal Democrat

That forecast leaves no space for the Greens in the constituency, underlining the scale of the challenge facing Evans and his party.

Other parties’ selections

The Greens join a growing field of confirmed and potential candidates in Gŵyr Abertawe:

• Welsh Liberal Democrats have named Cllr Sam Bennett, who represents Swansea’s Waterfront ward, as their lead candidate. Read our full story here.
• Welsh Labour have shortlisted several high‑profile names, including Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart, for their list in the constituency. A final decision on Labour’s candidate order has not yet been made. Read more here.

With six Members of the Senedd to be elected in each of the new “super constituencies”, competition is expected to be fierce — and the latest polling suggests Gŵyr Abertawe could be one of the most hotly contested battlegrounds in Wales.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Lib Dems announce lead candidates for Swansea and Neath Senedd seats
Cllr Sam Bennett confirmed as lead candidate for Gŵyr Abertawe, with Jane Dodds heading the list in Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd.

Jeremy Miles to stand down from Senedd at next election
Neath MS and former Labour leadership contender says it has been the “honour of his life” to serve since 2016.

Reform Senedd hopeful quits party over ‘rigged’ selection claims
Ajay Owen resigns from Reform UK alleging unfair candidate process in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion.

#CllrChrisEvans #Gower #GreenParty #GŵyrAbertawe #Mayals #SeneddElection #Swansea