Two new appointments made after Covid-19 Inquiry walkout

WELSH Conservative Leader Darren Millar MS has announced changes to his Shadow Cabinet following the party’s withdrawal from the Wales Covid-19 Inquiry Special Purposes Committee last week.

The move came after Labour members voted to block a proposal requiring some witnesses to give evidence under oath.

South Wales West MS Tom Giffard, previously Co-Chair of the Inquiry Committee, has been appointed as Shadow Counsel General and Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Delivery, External Affairs and the Welsh Language.

Preseli Pembrokeshire MS and former party leader Paul Davies has been appointed Deputy Leader of the Welsh Conservatives. He will retain his existing positions as Chief Whip and Shadow Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution.

Commenting on the reshuffle, Mr Millar said:

“I am delighted to announce these changes to my Shadow Cabinet team.

“Tom Giffard MS will bring his talent to bear in holding the Welsh Labour Government to account for its continued failure to deliver for the people of Wales.

“And Paul Davies MS will do an excellent job in the new role of Deputy Leader, bringing his experience to bear in the run-up to next year’s Senedd elections.

“Under Labour, Wales is broken. My team offers an alternative government-in-waiting with the talent and solutions Wales needs. We look forward to taking the helm next May.”

Deputy Leader Paul Davies MS added:

“I am honoured to take on the role of Deputy Leader of the Welsh Conservatives.

“I look forward to working closely with Darren and our government-in-waiting to fix Wales and deliver a Welsh Conservative Government at the next Senedd elections.”

Tom Giffard MS said:

“I am proud to be joining Darren Millar’s Shadow Cabinet team as we approach the Senedd elections in 2026.

“Labour has failed Wales. I look forward to working with Darren and the team to deliver our plan to fix Wales after 26 years of Labour failure.”

Full Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet:

• Leader of the Opposition – Darren Millar MS
• Deputy Leader, Chief Whip and Shadow Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution – Paul Davies MS
• Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education – Natasha Asghar MS
• Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism, Sport and North Wales – Gareth Davies MS
• Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care – James Evans MS
• Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Environment – Janet Finch-Saunders MS
• Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Transport and Rural Affairs – Peter Fox MS
• Shadow Counsel General, and Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Delivery, External Affairs and the Welsh Language – Tom Giffard MS
• Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Equalities and Social Justice – Altaf Hussain MS
• Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Children, Young People, Mental Health and Wellbeing – Joel James MS
• Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Local Government, Housing and the Armed Forces – Laura Anne Jones MS
• Shadow Cabinet Secretary for the Economy and Energy – Samuel Kurtz MS
• Policy Director and Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Finance – Sam Rowlands MS

THE WELSH GOVERNMENT has commissioned new research into the barriers that prevent people in Wales from participating fully in democratic life.

The Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, Jayne Bryant MS, said the study would help to identify socio-economic factors that discourage individuals from voting or standing for election—particularly those from marginalised or disadvantaged backgrounds.

The research, which will be carried out by Alma Economics, will explore how financial pressures, limited access to political knowledge, discrimination, and societal attitudes may act as obstacles to democratic engagement.

Ms Bryant said: “We are taking steps to ensure that everyone in Wales, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to take part in our democracy—whether through voting or by standing for office.”

In recent years, the Welsh Government has introduced a number of reforms aimed at widening participation in politics. These include lowering the voting age to sixteen and making it a legal requirement to provide financial support for disabled candidates facing additional costs when standing for election.

Earlier this week, new Diversity and Inclusion Guidance was also published to support political parties in encouraging a broader range of candidates to stand in the 2026 Senedd elections. The guidance urges parties to create diversity strategies at least six months before the election and to publish anonymised diversity data on their candidates afterward.

The Cabinet Secretary said the new research would strengthen that work by shedding light on the specific challenges people face when engaging with Welsh democracy.

“This work will help us understand how socio-economic factors influence whether someone feels able to get involved,” she said. “It is about ensuring that our democratic institutions are open, inclusive, and truly representative of the people they serve.”

Ms Bryant encouraged people from all backgrounds—including members of the public, elected officials, and organisations in the third sector—to contribute to the study.

“Many Members share my commitment to making democracy accessible for everyone. I encourage those with views and experiences to share to get in touch with the researchers directly.”

Those interested in taking part in the research can contact Eleni Kotsira at Alma Economics via email: eleni.kotsira@almaeconomics.com.

The findings are expected to be published later this year.

Contact details for press inquiries:
Georgina Windsor, Senior Press Officer
georgina.windsor@gov.wales

A musical pilgrimage to one of Wales’ holiest sites

BBC RADIO 3 will mark Easter 2025 with a special series of live broadcasts exploring themes of music, landscape, and pilgrimage—culminating in a live Easter Sunday programme from St Non’s Chapel in Pembrokeshire.

The broadcast, part of Easter: A Seasonal Journey, airs live on Easter Sunday morning (April 20), with presenter Sarah Walker joined at the ancient cliffside chapel—believed to be the birthplace of St David, the patron saint of Wales—by renowned musicians including harpist Mared Pugh-Evans, the official harpist to His Majesty the King, and Filkin’s Drift, the popular Welsh folk duo.

Set just metres from the sea near St Davids, the location provides a powerful backdrop for a programme that explores the spiritual and cultural resonance of Pembrokeshire’s rugged coastal landscape. The event follows a Holy Saturday broadcast from the island of Iona in Scotland.

The live programme runs from 9:00am to 12:00pm, and will include music, interviews and reflections from this iconic Pembrokeshire site.

Other highlights of Radio 3’s Easter programming include:

Choral Evensong from Newcastle Cathedral

Sunday 20 April, 3:00pm – 4:00pm

A special Easter Day service featuring celebratory music by Howells, Paulus, and Vaughan Williams.

Record Review of the 21st Century

Monday 21 April, All day

A day-long celebration of the best classical recordings from the past 25 years. Host Andrew McGregor is joined by guest contributors, including celebrity classical fans Stephen Fry, Cathy Newman, and John Suchet. The day concludes with a full performance of Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony (7:30pm).

Located on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path near St Davids, St Non’s Chapel is one of the oldest Christian sites in Wales. Tradition holds it to be the birthplace of St David, Wales’ most revered saint. Today, the chapel ruins remain a place of quiet pilgrimage, with sweeping views over St Brides Bay.