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.

With the formal campaign period now under way and polling day on 7 May just weeks away, this interview is one of the last in our current series before Wales goes to the polls. We are grateful to all the candidates who have given their time to take part in what we hope has been a valuable contribution to public life in Wales during this crucial period.

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

Huw Thomas is a Welsh Labour politician whose background will be familiar to many in the faith community. Originally from Aberystwyth and a fluent Welsh speaker, he studied Music at Oxford University before completing a Masters in International Relations at Aberystwyth University. Before entering politics he worked in the third sector, including for the sustainable travel organisation Sustrans and as Head of Christian Aid Wales. He has been a Cardiff Councillor for the Splott ward since 2012 and Leader of Cardiff Council since 2017.

In this interview, Dr Cynan Llwyd invites Huw to reflect on the values that have shaped his journey from the third sector into elected office. Among the most striking threads of the conversation is the question of what his years working for Christian Aid – an organisation rooted in the shared witness of the churches – meant for his understanding of justice, community, and public responsibility. Huw speaks with candour about how that experience of working alongside faith communities, both in Wales and internationally, formed his conviction that politics must be about more than the transactional, and must ask deeper questions about what kind of society we are building together.

The conversation also explores what Huw believes the new Senedd must prioritise for the people of Caerdydd Penarth and Wales more broadly, and how he sees the relationship between faith communities and democratic life in a changing Wales.

Part of a Wider Programme

This interview is part of a series Cytûn has been publishing in the weeks leading up to polling day on 7 May 2026. We have reached out to candidates from a range of parties and constituencies throughout the campaign, and we hope this series has made a valuable contribution to public life in Wales during this crucial period.

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, 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.

Cytûn – Churches Together in Wales is pleased to share the first in our series of video interviews with candidates standing in the 2026 Senedd election. We begin by speaking with Peredur Owen Griffiths MS, Plaid Cymru’s candidate for the new Casnewydd Islwyn constituency.

Peredur Owen Griffiths has served as a Member of the Senedd for the South Wales East region since 2021, where he has chaired the Senedd Finance Committee and served on a number of other scrutiny committees. His background is as varied as it is relevant: before entering politics, he worked in financial services for thirteen years, including as a bank manager for Santander and with Principality Building Society, before making a significant shift to work with Christian Aid as Regional Co-ordinator for South Wales and Legacy Officer for Wales. He is also the son of a minister, having grown up in communities across Wales — a background that brings a distinctive perspective to questions of faith, public life, and civic responsibility.

Part of a Wider Programme

This interview is the first in 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.

The lecture, available to view in Welsh only, explores the complex relationship between Christian faith and national identity from a Welsh perspective. As with the first lecture in the series, the resource aims to encourage thoughtful theological reflection on issues shaping contemporary public life.

In the lecture, Dr Llwyd examines the growing international conversation around Christian nationalism and considers how it has emerged in different political and cultural contexts. Drawing particularly on developments in the United States and elsewhere, he reflects on how Christian language and symbols are sometimes used to support political movements and ideologies. At the same time, he asks what lessons might be drawn from the Christian traditions of Wales when considering these questions today.

An English language version of the lecture, can be downloaded from the following link:

The title, Cleddyf Dau Finiog (“a two‑edged sword”), captures the lecture’s central theme: that the relationship between Christianity and national identity can both inspire positive social engagement and present significant dangers if faith becomes closely tied to political power. By exploring this tension, the lecture invites churches and individuals to reflect critically on how Christian faith should shape public engagement in a changing political landscape.

This second lecture complements the wider aims of Cytûn’s Public Theology programme, which seeks to equip churches across Wales to engage thoughtfully with the social and political questions facing the nation.
The Welsh-language lecture by the Revd Dr Rhys Llwyd is now available as a resource on the Cytûn website for churches, students and anyone interested in the intersection of theology, culture and public life in Wales.

The series has been launched to encourage thoughtful Christian engagement with public life
in Wales, offering space for reflection on how faith informs responses
to social, political and cultural issues. By bringing respected
theologians and practitioners into conversation with contemporary
challenges, the lectures aim to support churches and individuals in
thinking more deeply about the public dimensions of Christian belief.

The opening lecture was given by the Revd Dr Helen Paynter, Director of
the Centre for the Study of Bible and Violence at Bristol Baptist
College. Dr Paynter is widely known for her work on biblical
interpretation, justice and the ethical use of scripture, and she has
written extensively on how the Bible is sometimes misused to justify
harm or exclusion. In Claiming Christianity: the Challenge of the Far
Right, she explores how Christian language and identity are being used
within current public debates, and reflects on what it means for
Christians to speak responsibly and faithfully in the public sphere.

The lecture also considers the ways in which Christianity can be invoked
to support particular political or cultural agendas, sometimes in ways
that do not reflect the breadth or depth of the Christian tradition. Dr
Paynter examines how elements of the far right have sought to claim
Christian identity in support of nationalist or exclusionary narratives,
and invites listeners to reflect critically on these developments. She
encourages churches to recover a richer and more compassionate public
witness rooted in the life and teaching of Jesus and as an Old Testament
scholar, she reflects on the role of the prophets in speaking truth to
power.

Cytun’s Public Theology series will continue with further lectures
exploring the relationship between Christian faith and public life in
Wales. By making the lectures available online, Cytun hopes to widen
participation in these discussions and provide resources that can be
used by churches, students and others interested in the role of theology
in the public square. The lecture by the Revd Dr Helen Paynter, Claiming
Christianity: the Challenge of the Far Right, can now be viewed via the
Cytun website.

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.

Cytûn has published a new bilingual briefing to help churches, member bodies and the wider faith community understand and engage with the significant changes to the 2026 Senedd Cymru election.

The 2026 election will be unlike any Wales has seen before. The Senedd is expanding from 60 to 96 Members, the familiar mix of constituency and regional seats is being replaced by 16 new, larger constituencies, and voters will cast a single vote under a new proportional representation system.

The briefing, available in both English and Welsh, sets out clearly what is changing, how the new voting system works, and what to expect at the polling station. It also offers practical guidance for churches wishing to support democratic engagement in their communities — from hosting hustings events and encouraging voter registration to engaging with candidates on issues that matter locally.

The briefing is part of Cytûn’s ongoing commitment to supporting informed and prayerful engagement with Welsh democracy. With the election approaching on 7 May, it is important that faith communities are equipped to help their members and neighbours participate confidently in this new process.

The briefing can be downloaded from the Cytûn website in English and Welsh. For further information on the new voting system, the briefing directs readers to the Senedd Cymru website and to the Who Can I Vote For? service, an external site which lists declared candidates by constituency.

Downloads:

• A Changing Senedd: What Churches and Communities Need to Know for 2026 (English)
• Senedd sy’n Newid: Yr Hyn y Mae Angen i Eglwysi a Chymunedau ei Wybod ar gyfer 2026 (Cymraeg)

Useful links:

• How will the new voting system work? — Senedd Cymru
• Voting in Senedd Elections – Senedd Cymru
• Find your candidates — Who Can I Vote For?

Links to external websites are provided for information and convenience only. Cytûn is not responsible for the content, accuracy or availability of external sites, nor does the inclusion of a link imply endorsement of the views, opinions or information contained within them.

Members and Cytûn supporters will wish to note that the Welsh Government has tabled a Legislative Consent Motion on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which will now be debated in the Senedd on Tuesday 24th February 2026. The debate is scheduled for 30 minutes.

What is a Legislative Consent Motion?

A Legislative Consent Motion (LCM) is required when the UK Parliament legislates on matters that fall within devolved competence. The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, currently progressing through Westminster, includes provisions that would apply to Wales in areas where the Senedd has legislative responsibility, particularly around health and social care.

Through this LCM, the Welsh Government is asking the Senedd to give its consent for the UK Parliament to legislate on these devolved matters on Wales’s behalf. The Senedd can choose to grant consent, refuse consent, or grant conditional consent.

A Sensitive and Significant Question

The question of assisted dying raises profound ethical, theological, medical, and pastoral concerns. Churches and individual Christians across Wales hold deeply considered positions on this matter, informed by their understanding of the sanctity of life, compassion for suffering, conscience, and the common good.

Cytûn’s Role

As Churches Together in Wales, Cytûn recognises the diversity of views amongst our member denominations and individual members on this sensitive question. We will be supporting our members to articulate and share their individual positions with Senedd Members ahead of the debate.

In the coming days, we will be providing:

• Background information on the LCM process
  Resources to help members engage with their Senedd representatives
  Guidance on how churches can facilitate thoughtful discussion on this matter

We will also consider together our collective response once the motion has been completed.

We encourage members who wish to make their views known to contact their local Senedd Members before Tuesday 20th January.

Further updates and resources will be shared via our usual channels.