Sioned Williams - Your new Plaid Cymru Member of the Senedd

It’s a huge honour to have been elected as Plaid Cymru Member of the Senedd for South Wales West. Thanks to everyone who voted for Plaid Cymru in this election - many of you for the first time. I pledge to be a strong voice in the Senedd for all the communities of the Neath, Swansea, Gower, Aberafan, Bridgend and Ogmore constituencies, regardless of who residents voted for.

Of course, I would have wanted more Plaid Cymru members to have been returned to the Senedd so we could have enacted our radical programme to strengthen our communities. I was proud of the positive campaign we fought here in the Neath Constituency which I think succeeded in high-lighting many issues - such as the need to support our town centres and high streets and reform the unacceptably high level of council tax we pay. I will continue to campaign on those issues and press the new Welsh Government to act and listen more attentively to people’s concerns.

In the Neath constituency the turnout was 47%. I hope now to work hard in the coming years to offer a genuine and credible choice that will inspire people to vote. Democracy relies on choice.

So, the the work is ongoing. Our communities have serious and deep-rooted problems - such as the levels of child poverty and low wages that existed before the pandemic struck. I am excited to be a part of a fresh and energetic new team of Members, who have fire in their bellies and who will work together to hold the new WelshGovernment to account on these issues. I am honoured to have been given the responsibility for the Social Justice and Equalities portfolio within Plaid Cymru’s team.

I don’t yet have an office – I have all that to organise in the coming months - but you can reach me on sioned.a.williams@senedd.cymru