News

Smaller parties seek to be heard in Senedd election

Published

2 months ago

April 25, 2026

Gwlad and the Heritage Party are among the lesser-known names on the Ceredigion Penfro ballot

SMALLER political parties are hoping to break through in Ceredigion Penfro as voters prepare for Wales’ first Senedd election under the new voting system.

While much of the campaign has focused on Labour, Plaid Cymru, the Conservatives, Reform UK, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens, the ballot paper also includes two lesser-known parties with very different messages: Gwlad – Wales Can Be Better and the Heritage Party – Keep Our Countryside Green.

Both are standing in the new Ceredigion Penfro constituency, which covers Ceredigion and much of Pembrokeshire. The election takes place on Thursday, May 7, with polling stations open from 7:00am to 10:00pm.

Under the new system, the Senedd will increase from 60 to 96 Members. Wales has been divided into 16 larger constituencies, with each electing six Members of the Senedd through a closed-list proportional voting system.

That means voters will cast one vote for a party list or independent candidate, rather than the previous system of choosing both a constituency MS and a regional list.

In Ceredigion Penfro, the official notice of poll lists Gwyn Wigley Evans as the Gwlad candidate and Elizabeth Davies as the Heritage Party candidate.

Gwlad

Gwlad describes itself as a Welsh nationalist party, but says its immediate focus is on rebuilding the Welsh economy, strengthening rural communities and improving public services.

The party argues that Wales needs practical policies on farming, business, tourism, transport and health, rather than what it sees as the usual arguments between the larger parties.

In Ceredigion Penfro, Gwlad is represented by Gwyn Wigley Evans, a Ceredigion county councillor and party leader. He has said the party is not made up of “career political old hands” and argues that its candidates bring real-world experience from outside the political establishment.

Gwlad’s pitch is strongly rural. The party has spoken against onshore wind turbines, pylons and what it describes as the industrialisation of the Welsh countryside. It says it supports renewable energy, but favours offshore wind, wave, tidal and solar energy on buildings rather than on agricultural land.

On farming, Gwlad says it wants stronger support for Welsh food production, more processing of food in Wales and greater promotion of “Brand Cymru”. It also calls for a dedicated Welsh ministry covering agriculture, fisheries and food.

The party wants the default 20mph speed limit scrapped, with local councils given more control over speed limits in their own areas.

On health, Gwlad says it supports universal healthcare free at the point of use, but wants more local clinics, stronger primary care and better access to minor injury services, particularly in rural communities.

On education, the party backs smaller local primary schools, more discipline in classrooms, stronger vocational training and a greater emphasis on Welsh history, culture and language.

The Heritage Party

The Heritage Party is standing in all 16 Welsh Senedd constituencies. Its Ceredigion Penfro candidate is Elizabeth Davies.

The party is socially conservative, strongly unionist and highly critical of devolution. Its wider platform includes abolishing the Senedd, opposing net zero policies, protecting the countryside, cutting taxes and restoring what it describes as traditional British values.

The party says it wants to affirm British culture with Christian principles and protect historic buildings, rural communities and agricultural land.

On farming and the countryside, the Heritage Party says farmers should be supported to produce food. It opposes wind turbines, solar arrays on green land and battery energy storage systems, arguing that such developments damage rural landscapes and food security.

On education, the party opposes the current Relationships and Sexuality Education curriculum and supports faith schools, apprenticeships and home education.

One of its Welsh candidates, Kimberley Isherwood, is known for her involvement in the legal challenge against the Welsh Government’s introduction of mandatory Relationships and Sexuality Education without a parental right of withdrawal.

That judicial review was dismissed by the High Court in December 2022, with the court finding in favour of Welsh Ministers.

The Heritage Party also backs restoring 30mph as the default urban speed limit, scrapping the TV licence, leaving the European Convention on Human Rights, abolishing inheritance tax and reducing immigration.

A wider choice

Neither Gwlad nor the Heritage Party has the profile or campaign machinery of the larger political parties, but the new voting system may give smaller parties greater visibility than in previous Senedd elections.

Gwlad is pitching itself as a Welsh nationalist alternative focused on the economy, farming, public services and rural communities.

The Heritage Party is appealing to voters who want a socially conservative, pro-Union and anti-net zero alternative.

With six seats available in Ceredigion Penfro, smaller parties will be hoping that voters who feel ignored by the political mainstream are prepared to look further down the ballot paper.

Community

Mayors and community leaders join Milford Haven Founders Day celebrations

Published

11 hours ago

June 10, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Town’s civic leaders praised as event highlights community spirit

A HOST of civic dignitaries and community representatives joined residents for this year’s Milford Haven Founders Day, helping to mark the town’s annual celebration of its heritage and community spirit.

The event, held on Saturday, welcomed mayors and representatives from towns across Pembrokeshire, alongside police officers, clergy and local business leaders.

Milford Haven Founders Day organisers thanked guests for attending and supporting the occasion, describing their presence as helping to make the day “even more special”.

Among those attending were the Mayor of Milford Haven, Mark Woodward, accompanied by Mayoress Evija Upeniece Woodward; the Mayor of Haverfordwest, Councillor Randell Izaiah Thomas-Turner, accompanied by Mayoress and Sheriff Councillor Dani Thomas-Turner; the Mayor of Pembroke, Jonathan Grimes; the Mayor of Pembroke Dock, Councillor Tony Wilcox; and the Mayor of Neyland, Councillor Peter Hay, accompanied by Mayoress Mitzy Hay.

The event also welcomed local Police Community Support Officers from Milford Haven and Neyland Police, Reverend Dr Adrian Furse of St Katharine and St Peter’s Church, Milford Haven, Milford Haven Business Circle chairman Byron Thomas Jenkins, and treasurer Amanda Dyson.

Organisers said the strong turnout from civic leaders reflected the importance of Founders Day as a celebration of Milford Haven’s identity and local pride.

A spokesperson for Milford Haven Founders Day said: “Your presence and support helped make the day a memorable celebration of our town, its history and its community spirit. We are truly grateful that you took the time to join us and share in the festivities.”

Pembroke Mayor Jonathan Grimes later praised the event, commenting: “Thank you for the kind invitation – it was a wonderful event!”

Photo caption:

Civic guests: Mayors, community representatives and local officers gather during Milford Haven Founders Day celebrations (Pic: Captured Soul Photography).

News

Davies attacks Welsh Government funding for campaign urging people to limit red meat

Published

11 hours ago

June 10, 2026

Tom Sinclair

WELSH CONSERVATIVE Shadow Farming Minister Andrew RT Davies has called on Plaid Cymru ministers to stop funding public information campaigns which he says undermine Welsh meat.

The criticism follows a Welsh Government response to a written question from Welsh Conservative Senedd Leader Darren Millar, which showed £662,000 was allocated to the Climate Action Wales campaign during 2025-26.

Examples of the campaign include online advice on ‘green food choices’, sustainable eating and meat-free options, alongside wider material on energy, travel and consumer behaviour.

The campaign gives advice on reducing carbon emissions through choices on food, travel, energy and purchasing. Its sustainable food guidance says meat is among the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, particularly from ruminant livestock such as cows and sheep.

It also advises people to limit red and processed meat, while saying those who do eat meat should try to buy local, sustainably farmed produce where available.

Mr Davies said Welsh meat should be promoted rather than undermined.

He said: “Welsh meat is of the highest quality and the industry forms a key part of our economy.

“Plaid Cymru separatists must celebrate it, not fund campaigns that undermine Welsh meat.

“No project aimed at discouraging meat consumption should receive public funds.”

The Welsh Government response said the figures related to public information campaigns connected to the previous government’s policies.

Education

Teacher incentive scheme branded ‘sticking plaster’ by school leaders

Published

11 hours ago

June 10, 2026

Tom Sinclair

SCHOOL leaders have warned that a Welsh Government plan to increase incentive payments for trainee teachers in priority subjects risks creating a “two-tier workforce”.

NAHT Cymru said the move may help attract some new teachers, but warned it does not address the wider recruitment and retention crisis facing schools across Wales.

The Welsh Government’s priority subject incentive scheme offers grants to eligible postgraduate teacher trainees in subjects including biology, chemistry, design and technology, digital technology and computer science, mathematics, international languages, physics and Welsh.

Laura Doel, national secretary of NAHT Cymru, said: “While we agree that an ambitious plan to help schools struggling with recruitment and retention of teachers is needed, we don’t think focusing on subject-specific incentives is the way to go.

“This risks creating a two-tier workforce and appears to be a short-term sticking plaster solution for a systemic problem.”

She said there appeared to be no requirement for teachers to remain in schools for a set number of years after induction in order to keep the payment.

Ms Doel added: “We know a significant proportion of teachers leave the profession within the first five years of teaching.”

NAHT Cymru said ministers should focus instead on the wider pressures affecting teachers, school leaders and primary schools, as well as secondary subjects where recruitment is difficult.

The union said improving pay, terms and conditions, and reducing workload would do more to make teaching an attractive long-term career.

Ms Doel said: “By going further in restoring the real-terms value of pay, which fell sharply over the previous decade, improving terms and conditions, and bearing down on unsustainable levels of workload, ministers could make the profession an attractive long-term career proposition once again.

“But schools also need fairer funding to recruit the staff and support staff they need and deliver for pupils.”

She said ensuring schools receive the full consequential funding owed through the Barnett Formula should be a priority for the new administration.