Earlier in April, and in the context of the Senedd election, eaders of the main faith communities in Wales gathered at the Temple of Peace in Cathays Park in Cardiff on Monday to sign a public statement of solidarity in advance of the forthcoming Senedd elections. The text of the statement can be seen in one of the photos below. Here is the full text of what Dr Cynan Llwyd shared during the event.

“It is a privilege to stand here today, and a particular honour to do so alongside Christian, Muslim and Jewish leaders as we affirm this shared commitment to peace and friendship. In days marked by war, fear, division, and uncertainty, this moment matters. It matters because it says, publicly and clearly, that faith need not be a force of suspicion or hostility, but can be a force for healing, courage, and hope.

As a Christian, I want to say plainly why I am here.

“I am here because of Jesus Christ. He, whom Christians follow, is the Prince of Peace. He is the one who taught us that the greatest commandments are to love God and to love our neighbour. He is the one whose love was never narrow, tribal, or conditional, but freely given to the overlooked, the outsider, the poor, the wounded, and the stranger. He broke down barriers of hostility. He crossed boundaries others were afraid to cross. He called his followers not to dominate, but to serve; not to inflame hatred, but to make peace. He humbled himself to death. even death on a cross.

“So for Christians and churches, this day should be a reminder of who our Lord is, and therefore of who we are called to be. Peacemakers.

“And to our Muslim and Jewish friends, I want to say this with sincerity and humility: we stand with you in a shared commitment to peace and reconciliation. We honour your presence, your friendship, and your witness. We know that trust is built not only by words spoken in ceremonies such as this, but by relationships, solidarity, and courage shown over time. We are committed to that work.

“I also want to say, gently but unambiguously, that those who wrap cruelty in Christian language, or drape exclusion in religious symbols, do not speak for the faith of Jesus Christ. The politics of contempt, whether seen in Trump, in MAGA, in Unite the Kingdom rallies, in some political parties who are standing for election here in Wales, or in those who carry crosses as badges of division rather than signs of self-giving love, do not represent the Gospel we proclaim. Christ’s cross is not a weapon of fear. It is the sign of reconciling love.

“So may this be more than a signature. May it be a witness. A witness that in Wales we can disagree deeply, yet still walk together with generosity and respect. A witness that hatred will not have the last word.

“And a witness that, by the grace of God, peace is still possible.”

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.

With every main party’s manifesto now published, Cytûn has released an updated analysis of party positions to help faith communities engage with the Senedd election on 7 May — and reminds voters that independents and smaller parties will also be on the ballot.

Now that all six of the main parties contesting the Senedd election on 7 May 2026 have published their full manifestos, Cytûn – Churches Together in Wales has released a Senedd Election 2026 Manifesto Briefing Update — a detailed supplement to the document published in March 2026.

The original briefing drew on pre-manifesto policy signals and party commitments available at that time. The update reviews the completed manifestos in full, together with independent economic analysis — including assessments by the Institute for Fiscal Studies — to offer a sharper and more comprehensive comparison of what each party is actually promising.

What’s new in the update?

The update examines all six parties across Cytûn’s five priority policy areas: Health, Education, the Economy, International Affairs and Climate Change, and the Church and the Citizen.

On health, NHS waiting times dominate every party’s agenda. Labour proposes a £4 billion Hospitals of the Future Fund; Plaid Cymru sets specific waiting time targets; the Conservatives would declare a health emergency on taking office; the Liberal Democrats would invest £300 million in social care funded by a 1p income tax rise; and the Greens place prevention and early intervention at the centre of their health vision. Reform UK commits to cutting waiting times through efficiency savings.

On the economy, the sharpest divergences concern taxation. The Welsh Conservatives propose a 1p cut to the basic rate of income tax and the abolition of Land Transaction Tax on home purchases — commitments the Institute for Fiscal Studies has described as difficult to reconcile with the party’s wider spending plans. The Liberal Democrats are the only party proposing a tax rise. The Greens propose replacing council tax entirely with a Land Value Tax.

On the Nation of Sanctuary — Wales’s framework of support for refugees and asylum seekers — Labour, Plaid Cymru, the Liberal Democrats, and the Greens all support maintaining and developing the policy, while the Conservatives and Reform UK have both pledged to scrap it. Members should be aware that most immigration pledges in this election cannot be delivered by the Senedd, as immigration remains a reserved matter for Westminster.

Hear from the parties directly

Cytûn has published interviews with representatives of five of the six main parties, exploring their positions on issues of concern to faith communities in Wales. The interviews are available now:

Peredur Owen Griffiths Plaid Cymru

Darren Millar Conservative

Paul Rock The Green Party

James Evans Reform UK

Huw Thomas Labour

An interview with a Welsh Liberal Democrat representative is currently being arranged and will be published on the website in due course.

Cytûn encourages readers to engage with all of the interviews as part of their prayerful reflection ahead of polling day on 7 May.

Who will be on your ballot paper?

While the six main parties — Wales Labour, Plaid Cymru, the Welsh Conservatives, the Welsh Liberal Democrats, Reform UK, and the Wales Green Party — have all published full manifestos and are contesting seats across Wales, voters may find candidates from a wider range of political viewpoints on their ballot papers. Smaller parties and independent candidates will be standing in constituencies across Wales and, under the new proportional system, their votes carry real weight.

This is the first Senedd election held under a proportional system: 96 Members will be elected across 16 six-member constituencies using the D’Hondt method. No single party is expected to win an overall majority, meaning that the priorities of smaller parties and independents may prove decisive in shaping the next Welsh Government.

To find out who is standing in your constituency — including all smaller party and independent candidates — visit whocanivotefor.wales, an independent, non-partisan resource listing every candidate on the ballot in your area.

Engaging prayerfully and thoughtfully

Cytûn does not endorse any party or candidate. These briefings exist to help denominational leaders, local church communities, and individual members of faith to engage with this election thoughtfully, prayerfully, and well-informed. Faith communities are encouraged to host or attend hustings events with candidates from across the parties, to use this briefing as the basis for group discussion, reflection, or prayer, and to encourage all eligible members to exercise their democratic right and vote on 7 May 2026. The full Senedd Election 2026 Manifesto Briefing Update is available at www.cytun.co.uk. For further information, contact post@cytun.cymru.

Judith has served the Union with extraordinary faithfulness for eleven years, and during that time she has also been a valued trustee of Cytûn. Her retirement gives us a wonderful opportunity to say thank you — not just for what she has done, but for the way she has done it.

Those who have worked alongside Judith speak consistently of her warmth, her grace, and her genuine care for people. Whether supporting local churches and ministers, navigating change within the Baptist Union of Wales’ structures, or representing Welsh Baptist life in wider ecumenical settings, she has brought wisdom, patience and a deep Christian generosity to everything she has touched.

Rob Nicholls, President of the Welsh Section of the Union, paid tribute to her ‘steadfast leadership and lasting influence,’ while Maggie Rich, President of the English Section, recalled the impression Judith made from the very beginning — her careful listening, her balanced judgement, and her instinct to connect with people as well as with the questions in front of her.

The United Council of the Baptist Union of Wales described her contribution simply and powerfully: they will miss her greatly, and they give thanks to God for calling her to this work for such a time as this.

Dr Cynan Llwyd, General Secretary of Cytûn, added his own warm tribute:

‘Judith has been a wonderful colleague and a real friend to the ecumenical family in Wales. She brought both steadiness and joy to her work — qualities that are rarer and more valuable than people sometimes realise. Her commitment to building and deepening relationships between our churches has left a genuine mark, and we are deeply grateful for the years she gave to Cytûn as a trustee alongside her substantive role with the Baptist Union of Wales. We wish her every blessing as she begins this new chapter, and we pray that she will know God’s goodness and renewal in the time ahead.’

We join the wider Baptist family, and indeed the whole Ecumenical fellowship in Wales, in giving thanks to God for Judith’s ministry — and in praying that her retirement will be rich, restful, and full of the same joy she brought to so many others.

Diolch o galon, Judith. Pob bendith.

Faith leaders have issued a stark warning that new protest laws could dramatically curb the right to peaceful demonstration, as Cytûn’s General Secretary, Dr Cynan Llwyd, joins a high-profile interfaith coalition speaking out against the UK Government’s Crime and Policing Bill.

In a strongly worded joint letter sent to The Times and MPs ahead of a crucial Commons vote on 14 April, religious and civic leaders argue that the proposed “cumulative disruption” clause risks silencing legitimate protest. The coalition—spanning multiple faith traditions alongside wider civic organisations—warns that people could be prevented from demonstrating simply because earlier, unrelated protests had taken place in the same area.

Dr Cynan Llwyd said:

“Peaceful protest has always been part of how society seeks justice and change. For many Christians, this connects directly to our calling as citizens—to act, both individually and through our churches, on matters of public importance. This proposal risks going too far by restricting protest not because of what people are doing, but because of what others may have done before them. That is why we are standing alongside partners from other faiths and civic groups in urging MPs to think again.”

The legislation, which has already passed through the House of Lords, is now returning to the Commons for consideration of amendments. At the centre of concern is the new provision allowing authorities to take into
account the combined impact of protests over time. Critics say this marks a major expansion of existing powers and could have a chilling effect on democratic participation, particularly for grassroots and conscience-led movements.

To read more about the proposed amendments and the context of the bill read the Cytun briefing below. Want to take action – write to your Westminster MP.

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.

New rules governing who needs to register as a childminder or day care provider in Wales come into force in April 2027 — and churches need to take note. The Child Minding and Day Care Exceptions (Revocation and Transitional Provision) (Wales) Order 2026, published on 25 March by Minister Dawn Bowden MS, updates the exemption framework for the first time since 2010 and has direct implications for creches, parent-and-toddler groups, Sunday schools, holiday clubs, and youth provision across Wales.

The most important changes for churches to be aware of: the two-hour care exemption is retained, but no longer applies where children under 3 are present unless a parent remains on the premises throughout; oversight requirements for children aged 2 and under are strengthened; and — positively — 10-year-olds may now access transitional youth services without providers needing to register, helping churches support children through the primary to secondary school transition.

Cytûn played an active part in shaping the final legislation. Our October 2025 consultation response raised serious concerns about proposals that would have placed unsustainable burdens on volunteer-led church provision — and those arguments were heard. Most significantly, a proposal that would have required registration wherever a provider offered more than one type of activity has not been included in the final Order. Had it been, Sunday schools, holiday clubs, and faith classes across Wales would have faced an uncertain future overnight.

Understanding the Changes and Measuring their Impact

Cytûn has produced a detailed bilingual policy brief to help member denominations work through the implications for their own provision. We encourage all churches and denominational officers to review their current activities against the new framework — and to seek independent legal or professional advice where they are uncertain about their position, as circumstances will vary.

We are also asking members to share the findings of their internal reviews with us. Knowing how this Order is affecting churches on the ground — changes to provision, additional costs, or particular pressures on Welsh-medium or rural communities — will strengthen Cytûn’s hand as the Welsh Government develops supporting guidance ahead of the April 2027 commencement date.