Reforming weddings law

When Members of the Senedd debate Motion NDM9249 put forward by Reform UK, this Wednesday, 17 June, they will be asked to vote on whether Wales should end all of its international spending. Cytûn: Churches Together in Wales has urged them, from every party, to say no.

For a small nation, Cytûn argues, looking outward has never been an indulgence. It is part of who Wales is. Our engagement with the world sustains jobs through trade and inward investment; it opens horizons for young people through the Taith programme, which has already taken learners from every corner of Wales to more than ninety countries; and it honours our commitments to neighbours living in extreme poverty through the Wales and Africa programme. Wales is the world’s first Fair Trade Nation and a Nation of Sanctuary — and a globally responsible Wales is a duty already written into our law through the Well-being of Future Generations Act.

The sums at stake are modest: a fraction of one per cent of the Welsh budget. The return — in prosperity, reputation and good conscience — is considerable.

This outward gaze is not new. A century ago, in 1924, some 390,296 women of Wales — almost a third of the nation’s women — signed a peace petition appealing to the women of America to help build a world ruled by law rather than war. They organised house to house, through chapels and congregations the length and breadth of the country, the memorial of more than seven miles of signatures was returned home to Wales in 2023 and now rests in the National Library. It is a reminder that friendship and responsibility beyond our borders run deep in the life of our churches and communities.

Deeper Concern

Cytûn’s concern, however, runs deeper than this single motion. The body has expressed real disquiet at a style of politics that reduces complex questions to false either/or choices, and at motions framed less to govern than to divide.

Dr Cynan Llwyd, General Secretary of Cytûn, who issued the briefing, said:

“At a moment of genuine global challenge, the people of Wales are entitled to legislators who take their office seriously — representing all their constituents, weighing all competing views in good faith, and choosing the patient work of building up over the theatre of dividing. Now that the binary politics of the election is behind us, we hope Members will model the kind of public life that seeks common ground rather than fresh division.”

Cytûn will continue, without fear or favour, to stand for a Wales that is confident, generous and unafraid of the world beyond its shores — and, at the start of this seventh Senedd, we call for a politics conducted with grace, compassion and a genuine regard for all.

Cytûn has shared the full briefing on Motion NDM9249 with Members of the Senedd.

As the Senedd election approaches, Cytûn has been engaging with candidates from across the political spectrum, inviting them to reflect not only on their party priorities but also on the values and experiences that shape their approach to public life. These conversations aim to encourage deeper engagement with the choices facing voters, and to highlight the importance of thoughtful, values-driven leadership in Wales.

Throughout this series, the focus has been on looking beyond headlines to consider how political commitments connect with the wellbeing of communities, the pursuit of justice, and the responsibilities of those seeking office. At a time when public debate can often feel polarised or superficial, creating space for more reflective discussion is both timely and necessary.

We now bring this series to a close with our final interview, featuring Joe Carter of the Welsh Liberal Democrats. In this conversation, we continue to explore the motivations, priorities, and perspectives that underpin his candidacy, offering readers an opportunity to consider how these align with the challenges and opportunities facing Wales today.

As polling day draws nearer, we hope this interview, along with the wider series, supports informed participation and thoughtful reflection among all those preparing to cast their vote.

Read a comparative analysis of the parties’ manifestos via this link.

These interviews offer a space for candidates to reflect on matters of faith, values, and public life – exploring how their beliefs and convictions shape their approach to serving the people of Wales. In an election widely regarded as the most consequential for Welsh politics since the Senedd was established in 1999, Cytûn believes it is more important than ever to create space for these deeper conversations – conversations that go beyond the manifesto and the soundbite to ask what candidates truly believe, and why.

This interview sees Cytûn’s General Secretary, Dr Cynan Llwyd, in conversation with James Evans, candidate for Reform UK. The interviews in this series have already brought thoughtful and candid exchanges with candidates from Plaid Cymru, the Welsh Conservatives, and the Green Party, and we are glad to continue that spirit of open, respectful dialogue across the political spectrum.

In this interview, Dr Cynan Llwyd invites James to reflect on the convictions that underpin his political life. Amongst the most candid and personal moments of the conversation is James’s account of his own faith journey – a thread that, he explains, has shaped both his values and his sense of vocation in public service. The conversation also explores what he believes Wales needs from its next Senedd, and how he sees the role of faith communities in the life of the nation.

Part of a Wider Programme

This interview is part of a series Cytûn will be publishing in the weeks leading up to polling day on 7 May 2026. We are reaching out to candidates from a range of parties and constituencies, and we hope to share further interviews in the coming weeks.

The interviews form part of Cytûn’s Public Theology Programme – an ongoing commitment that extends well beyond election season. Through this programme, Cytûn works to equip the ecumenical Christian community across Wales to engage meaningfully with democratic institutions, political parties, and the full breadth of issues devolved to the Welsh Government and scrutinised by the Senedd – from health and education, to housing, the environment, and social justice.
Our aim is not to tell people how to vote, but to help Christians across Wales to listen carefully, ask good questions, and engage as informed and active citizens in the life of our nation.

Get Involved

We welcome responses and reflections from churches and individuals across Wales. If you have questions you would like to see put to candidates in future interviews, or if you are involved in organising a hustings event and would like support from Cytûn, please get in touch at post@cytun.cymru.

These interviews offer a space for candidates to reflect on matters of faith, values, and public life – exploring how their beliefs and convictions shape their approach to serving the people of Wales. In an election widely regarded as the most consequential for Welsh politics since the Senedd was established in 1999, Cytun believes it is more important than ever to create space for these deeper conversations – conversations that go beyond the manifesto and the soundbite to ask what candidates truly believe, and why.

This third interview in the series sees Cytun’s General Secretary, Dr Cynan Llwyd, in conversation with Paul Rock, candidate for the Green Party of England and Wales. The interviews in this series have already brought thoughtful and candid exchanges with candidates from Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Conservatives, and we are glad to continue that spirit of open, respectful dialogue across the political spectrum.

Paul is no stranger to community politics in the area. Having made Llandaff North his home after moving to Wales, he has spent a number of years as an active and well-regarded figure in local community life. Paul has built a life in Llandaff North and has, over the years, dedicated considerable time to working on local causes to make a real difference to the lives of local people. That commitment to grassroots engagement has been a hallmark of his approach – he is known locally not as a career politician but as someone who has rolled up his sleeves in the community long before seeking elected office. He previously stood as a council candidate for Llandaff North under the Common Ground Alliance – the electoral partnership between the Green Party and Plaid Cymru formed for the 2022 Cardiff Council elections – demonstrating a commitment to collaborative, values-driven politics.

In this interview, Dr Cynan Llwyd explores with Paul how that faith informs his political convictions, what he believes Wales needs from its next Senedd, and why – as someone who chose to make Wales his home – he is passionate about its future. The conversation also touches on the particular significance of this election: the first fought under proportional representation, and the first in which the new voting system gives the Greens a genuine opportunity to elect candidates across Wales ready to work for the changes they believe are urgently needed.

Part of a Wider Programme

This interview is the third in a series Cytun will be publishing in the weeks leading up to polling day on 7 May 2026. We are reaching out to candidates from a range of parties and constituencies, and we hope to share further interviews in the coming weeks.

The interviews form part of Cytun’s Public Theology Programme – an ongoing commitment that extends well beyond election season. Through this programme, Cytun works to equip the ecumenical Christian community across Wales to engage meaningfully with democratic institutions, political parties, and the full breadth of issues devolved to the Welsh Government and scrutinised by the Senedd – from health and education, to housing, the environment, and social justice.

Our aim is not to tell people how to vote, but to help Christians across Wales to listen carefully, ask good questions, and engage as informed and active citizens in the life of our nation.

Get Involved

We welcome responses and reflections from churches and individuals across Wales. If you have questions you would like to see put to candidates in future interviews, or if you are involved in organising a hustings event and would like support from Cytun, please get in touch at post@cytun.cymru.

With seven weeks to go until Wales goes to the polls on 7 May, Dr Cynan Llwyd continues our series of Candidate Interviews for the Senedd Election.

Cytun – Churches Together in Wales is pleased to share the second in our series of video interviews with candidates standing in the 2026 Senedd election. We speak with Darren Millar MS, Leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, and the number one candidate on the Welsh Conservative list for the new Clwyd constituency.

Darren Millar has served as a Member of the Senedd for Clwyd West since 2007, now in his fourth term. Over that time, he has held a range of prominent roles, including Chief Whip, Shadow Minister for the Constitution and North Wales, and Chair of the Senedd’s influential Public Accounts Committee. Since December 2024, he has led the Welsh Conservatives, serving also as Leader of the Opposition in Wales until January 2026.

His background brings together varied professional experience and a deep personal faith: before entering politics, he worked as an accountant in the Rhyl and Ruthin area, then as a manager for an international charity supporting persecuted Christians around the world – an experience that shaped a lasting commitment to questions of human dignity, freedom of conscience, and global responsibility. A committed Christian, he was commissioned as a Minister by the Assemblies of God in Great Britain in May 2015, and is a founding Chair of both the Senedd’s Cross-Party Group on Faith and its Cross-Party Group on the Armed Forces and Cadets. He grew up in Towyn and now lives in Kinmel Bay with his wife Rebekah and their two children.

Part of a Wider Programme

This interview is the second in a series Cytun will be publishing in the weeks leading up to polling day on 7 May 2026. We are reaching out to candidates from a range of parties and constituencies, and we hope to share further interviews in the coming weeks.

The interviews form part of Cytun’s Public Theology Programme – an ongoing commitment that extends well beyond election season. Through this programme, Cytun works to equip the ecumenical Christian community across Wales to engage meaningfully with democratic institutions, political parties, and the full breadth of issues devolved to the Welsh Government and scrutinised by the Senedd – from health and education, to housing, the environment, and social justice.

Our aim is not to tell people how to vote, but to help Christians across Wales to listen carefully, ask good questions, and engage as informed and active citizens in the life of our nation.

Get Involved

We welcome responses and reflections from churches and individuals across Wales. If you have questions you would like to see put to candidates in future interviews, or if you are involved in organising a hustings event and would like support from Cytun, please get in touch at post@cytun.cymru.

What’s different about this election?

This is the biggest change to Welsh elections since devolution began in 1999. For the first time, the Senedd will have 96 Members — up from 60 — and they will be elected by a system of proportional representation. That means the results are likely to be much more spread out between the parties, and no single party is likely to win outright. Whoever governs Wales after 7 May will almost certainly need to work with others to do so. If you are 16 or over, you can vote.

Who’s standing, and what are they offering?

A wide range of political parties and independent candidates will be standing for election. Here is a brief over view of the policy priorities of the six main parties which are likely to return candidates as Members of the Senedd following the vote.

Wales Labour want to invest £4 billion in rebuilding and upgrading NHS hospitals, expand same-day mental health services, and introduce cheaper bus fares. They are the current government but are facing their toughest election for a generation.

Plaid Cymru are polling strongly and are promising action on child poverty, stronger support for the Welsh language, and investment in the rural economy. They have set aside any prospect of a referendum on Welsh independence during a first term.

The Welsh Conservatives are focusing on economic growth — promising to cut income tax, build new roads including the M4 relief road, and invest in the NHS. Independent economists have raised questions about whether the numbers add up.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats are putting the NHS and social care at the heart of their campaign, and are the only party honestly saying they would raise income tax slightly to pay for it.

Reform UK are polling very highly and have made immigration the centrepiece of their campaign — though most of their immigration policies are actually decisions for Westminster, not the Senedd. Their most clearly devolved pledge is to scrap the 20mph speed limit.

The Wales Green Party are entering the Senedd for the first time with a real chance of winning seats. They are proposing ambitious action on climate change, free public transport for young people, and a fairer economy — linking the cost of living with the need to look after the planet.

What should faith communities be looking for?

Cytûn has produced a full briefing setting out where all six main parties stand on the issues that matter most to churches and faith communities: health and social care, poverty and the cost of living, housing, education, the environment, and Wales’s responsibilities to refugees and asylum seekers.

One important thing to be aware of is that several parties have made promises in their manifestos about things the Senedd cannot actually control — particularly on immigration, welfare benefits, and overseas aid. These are decisions for the UK Government in Westminster, not the Welsh Government. It doesn’t mean those issues don’t matter — they do — but it’s worth knowing which promises a Welsh Government can actually keep.

What does Cytûn ask of its members?
Cytûn does not tell anyone how to vote. What we do ask is that you engage thoughtfully, prayerfully, and with as much information as possible.

Follow the Cytûn website for updates and online resources
Pray for candidates, for the people of Wales, and for wisdom.
Vote on 7 May 2026.

This edition covers preparations for the upcoming Welsh local and Senedd elections, explores the implications of the UK government’s migration and housing proposals for faith-based organisations, and invites congregations to join a national survey on community mental health support.

🔗 Read the full bulletin here: December January 2024 Bulletin