Lib Dems announce lead candidates for Swansea and Neath Senedd seats at next May’s election
The Gwyr Abertawe constituency covers the Westminster constituencies of Gower and Swansea West, and is one of the party’s top targets in the 2026 election.
Lead candidate Cllr Sam Bennett has represented the Waterfront ward on Swansea Council since 2022, where he was elected with over 60% of the vote. With a background in marketing at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David and Swansea University, Sam is passionate about education and widening participation. He has also been active in the campaign for justice over the cladding scandal affecting flats and high-rise blocks.
Commenting on his selection, Cllr Sam Bennet said: “I am delighted to be leading the list for the Welsh Liberal Democrats for Gwyr Abertawe.
“The Liberal Democrats are already the largest opposition party in Swansea and as a local Councillor I’ve been holding Labour to account.
“Labour have let Swansea and Gower down, whether it’s the Welsh Government allowing sewage to be dumped in our rivers and seas, letting NHS waiting lists reach their highest level ever, or the UK Labour Government taxing jobs and letting pensioners go cold, people are crying out for change.
“The Welsh Liberal Democrats will be offering voters a positive vision to support small businesses, provide families with better childcare resources and to tackle the crisis in social care to help fix the NHS.”
The Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd constituency stretches from the Mid Wales borders to Swansea Bay, covering the Westminster constituencies of Brecon, Radnor and Cwmtawe and Neath and Swansea East. The Liberal Democrats won the Brecon, Radnor and Cwmtawe constituency at the 2024 General Election.
Just this week, the Party one a council by-election in Ystalyfera, pushing Labour into fourth place and seeing the Conservatives take just 1% of the vote.
Jane Doods has served as a Senedd Member for Mid & West Wales since 2021 and during that time has helped secure a banking hub in Pontardawe, has campaigned against cuts to local public services as well secured more as for more investment in the Swansea Valley. Prior to entering politics, Jane was a child protection social care worker for over 27 years.
Speaking at the announcement event, Jane Dodds MS said: “In this election, the Welsh Lib Dems will be the antidote to both years of failure under Labour and the Conservatives, and to the Trumpian delusions of populists and nationalists. Our candidates will be relentlessly focused on improving people’s lives and everyday issues such as fixing the Welsh NHS and growing the Welsh economy.”
#JaneDoddsMS #Neath #SamBennett #Swansea #WelshLiberalDemocrats
