This is a list of Assembly Members (AMs; , ) elected to the fifth National Assembly for Wales at the 2016 election. In May 2020, the representatives were renamed to Members of the Senedd (MSs; ; ) in the fifth Senedd, they would be known as the fifth Senedd for the remainder of their term. From the 2021 election members would be elected under this new title of Senedd. There are a total of 60 members elected, 40 were elected from first past the post constituencies with a further 20 members being returned from five regions, each electing four AMs through mixed-member proportional representation. In between elections, members of the legislature may not necessarily be of the same party or the same candidate elected in 2016.
Composition of the Assembly (Senedd from May 2020) Party 2016 election Prior to 2021 election•Labour 29 29Plaid Cymru 12 10Conservative 11 10Abolish the Welsh Assembly Party N/A2•Liberal Democrats 1 1UKIP 7 1Propel N/A1Independent 0 3Independent Group for Reform N/A3Total 60 60 Government parties denoted with bullets (•)
Assembly members by party following 2016 election (5th Assembly)
+Members by party PartyAssembly leader Name Constituency or regionLabour (29)Carwyn JonesMick AntoniwPontypriddHannah BlythynDelynDawn BowdenMerthyr Tydfil and RhymneyJayne BryantNewport WestHefin DavidCaerphillyAlun DaviesBlaenau GwentMark DrakefordCardiff WestRebecca EvansGowerVaughan GethingCardiff South and PenarthJohn GriffithsNewport EastLesley GriffithsWrexhamMike HedgesSwansea EastVikki HowellsCynon ValleyJane HuttVale of GlamorganHuw Irranca-DaviesOgmoreJulie JamesSwansea WestAnn JonesVale of ClwydCarwyn JonesBridgendJeremy MilesNeathBaroness Eluned MorganMid and West WalesJulie MorganCardiff NorthLynne NeagleTorfaenRhianon PassmoreIslwynJenny RathboneCardiff CentralDavid ReesAberavonCarl SargeantAlyn and DeesideKen SkatesClwyd SouthLee WatersLlanelliJoyce WatsonMid and West WalesPlaid Cymru (12)Leanne WoodRhun ap IorwerthYnys MônLord Dafydd Elis-ThomasDwyfor MeirionnyddSiân GwenllianArfonLlyr Huws GruffyddNorth WalesBethan JenkinsSouth Wales WestElin JonesCeredigionSteffan LewisSouth Wales EastDai LloydSouth Wales WestNeil McEvoySouth Wales CentralAdam PriceCarmarthen East and DinefwrSimon ThomasMid and esLeanne WoodRhonddaConservative Party (11)Andrew R. T. DaviesMohammad AsgharSouth Wales EastAngela BurnsCarmarthen West and South PembrokeshireAndrew R. T. DaviesSouth Wales CentralPaul DaviesPreseli PembrokeshireSuzy DaviesSouth Wales WestJanet Finch-SaundersAberconwyRussell GeorgeMontgomeryshireMark IsherwoodNorth WalesDavid MeldingSouth Wales CentralDarren MillarClwyd WestNick RamsayMonmouthUKIP (7)Nathan GillGareth BennettSouth Wales CentralMichelle BrownNorth WalesNathan GillNorth WalesNeil HamiltonMid and West WalesCaroline JonesSouth Wales WestMark RecklessSouth Wales EastDavid RowlandsSouth Wales EastLiberal Democrats (1)Kirsty WilliamsKirsty WilliamsBrecon and Radnorshire
Assembly members by constituency and region following 2016 election (5th Assembly) +Constituency membersSeatMemberPortraitPartyFirst electedAberavonDavid ReesLabour2011AberconwyJanet Finch-SaundersConservative2011Alyn and DeesideCarl SargeantLabour2003ArfonSiân GwenllianPlaid Cymru2016Blaenau GwentAlun DaviesLabour Co-op2007Brecon and RadnorshireKirsty WilliamsLiberal Democrats1999BridgendCarwyn JonesLabour1999CaerphillyHefin DavidLabour2016Cardiff CentralJenny RathboneLabour2011Cardiff NorthJulie MorganLabour2011Cardiff South and PenarthVaughan GethingLabour Co-op2011Cardiff WestMark DrakefordLabour2011Carmarthen East and DinefwrAdam PricePlaid Cymru2016Carmarthen West and South PembrokeshireAngela BurnsConservative2007CeredigionElin JonesPlaid Cymru1999Clwyd SouthKen SkatesLabour2011Clwyd WestDarren MillarConservative2007Cynon ValleyVikki HowellsLabour Co-op2016DelynHannah BlythynLabour Co-op2016Dwyfor MeirionnyddDafydd Elis-ThomasPlaid Cymru1999GowerRebecca EvansLabour Co-op2011IslwynRhianon PassmoreLabour Co-op2016LlanelliLee WatersLabour Co-op2016Merthyr Tydfil and RhymneyDawn BowdenLabour2016MonmouthNick RamsayConservative2007MontgomeryshireRussell GeorgeConservative2011NeathJeremy MilesLabour Co-op2016Newport EastJohn GriffithsLabour Co-op1999Newport WestJayne BryantLabour2016OgmoreHuw Irranca-DaviesLabour Co-op2016PontypriddMick AntoniwLabour Co-op2011Preseli PembrokeshirePaul DaviesConservative2007RhonddaLeanne WoodPlaid Cymru2003Swansea EastMike HedgesLabour2011Swansea WestJulie JamesLabour2011TorfaenLynne NeagleLabour Co-op1999Vale of ClwydAnn JonesLabour Co-op1999Vale of GlamorganJane HuttLabour1999WrexhamLesley GriffithsLabour2007Ynys MônRhun ap IorwerthPlaid Cymru2013 +Regional membersRegionMemberPortraitPartyFirst electedMid and West WalesNeil HamiltonUKIP2016Eluned MorganLabour2016Simon ThomasPlaid Cymru2011Joyce WatsonLabour2007North WalesMichelle BrownUKIP2016Nathan GillUKIP2016Llŷr GruffyddPlaid Cymru2011Mark IsherwoodConservative2003South Wales CentralGareth BennettUKIP2016Andrew R. T. DaviesConservative2007Neil McEvoyPlaid Cymru2016David MeldingConservative1999South Wales EastMohammad AsgharConservative2007Steffan LewisPlaid Cymru2016Mark RecklessUKIP2016David RowlandsUKIP2016South Wales WestSuzy DaviesConservative2011Bethan JenkinsPlaid Cymru2007Caroline JonesUKIP2016Dai LloydPlaid Cymru2016
Changes between elections Government formation The May 2016 election saw the biggest ever change in the Assembly's composition. Labour dropped from 30 to 29 seats, and Plaid Cymru moved from 11 to 12 seats. The Conservatives lost 3 seats, moving from 14 seats to 11, while the Liberal Democrats dropped from 5 to 1 seat. UKIP, who had not previously had representation, gained seven AMs.
In the initial ballot for First Minister, Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood and Labour's Carwyn Jones each gained 29 votes; a week of talks were then held. A document was produced after Plaid Cymru–Labour talks entitled "Moving Wales Forward", which detailed policy concessions in exchange for allowing Carwyn Jones to become First Minister. Labour appointed Kirsty Williams as Education Secretary, so that the minority government was a coalition between Welsh Labour and the Welsh Liberal Democrats. Plaid Cymru, the Conservatives and UKIP formed opposition groups.
In 2018, Mark Drakeford was elected to the leadership of the Welsh Labour Party and became first minister, leading a coalition government with the Liberal Democrats and an independent member.
In May 2020, the representatives were renamed to Members of the Senedd in the fifth Senedd, they would be known by this title for the remainder of their term. From the 2021 election members would be elected under this new title.
Changes in composition of the Assembly (now Senedd) between elections DateMemberReason forchange OriginaldesignationConstituency/region NewdesignationNotes 17 August 2016 Nathan Gill CD North Wales Left the Assembly group. He remained a member of the party and its leader in Wales, until Neil Hamilton was made Wales leader in September 2016. 14 October 2016 Dafydd Elis-Thomas CD Dwyfor Meirionnydd Quit the Plaid Cymru group on 14 October 2016. As a result of the defection, Leanne Wood lost the title of leader of the opposition. Two months later, he pledged to back the Welsh Labour-led Government, giving the new government an overall majority in the Welsh Assembly. 19 March 2018 Neil McEvoy Suspended South Wales Central Was suspended by the Plaid Cymru group after a tribunal found him guilty of bullying in his other role as a councillor for Cardiff. He was later expelled from Plaid Cymru. In February 2020 he announced that he was forming a new political party, the Welsh National Party, and that he had registered the name with the Electoral Commission. The launch of the party was planned for April 2020. 6 April 2017 Mark Reckless CD South Wales East Upon leaving, he said, "I leave UKIP positively, having achieved our joint aim, a successful referendum to leave the EU". 3 November 2017 Carl Sargeant Suspended Alyn and Deeside Sargeant was suspended from Welsh Labour following allegations about his personal conduct. 7 November 2017 - 6 February 2018 Carl Sargeant Death Alyn and Deeside On 7 November 2017, Sargeant was found dead. A by-election was held in his former constituency of Alyn and Deeside on 6 February 2018 to choose a successor; this was won by the Labour candidate, his son, Jack. 27 December 2017 Nathan Gill Resigned North Wales On 27 December 2017 it was announced that he had resigned as an AM. As 3rd on UKIP's list for the North Wales region, Mandy Jones was sworn in as a Member on 29 December 2017. On 9 January UKIP Wales announced that she would not be joining the UKIP group in the Assembly, due to employing members of other parties in her office. 25 July 2018 Simon Thomas Resigned Mid and West Wales Thomas resigned following his arrest for possession of indecent images.Plaid Cymru's Simon Thomas quits after indecent images arrest 25 July 2018 December 2020 Helen Mary Jones replaced Thomas as a Member in August 2018. 12 September 2018 Caroline Jones CD South Wales West Resigned as a member of UKIP and from UKIP's group on 12 September 2018. 20 November 2018 Jenny Rathbone Suspended Cardiff Central Suspended over remarks about Jewish people. She was later re-admitted. 9 January 2019 Re-admitted Cardiff Central 11 January 2019 Steffan Lewis Death South Wales East Died of bowel cancer on 11 January 2019 and was replaced by Delyth Jewell.26 March 2019 Michelle Brown CD North Wales Left the UKIP group in March 2019, to sit as an independent. 14 April 2019 Mark Reckless CD South Wales East On 14 April 2019, Reckless left the Conservative Party Group over the party's failure to deliver Brexit. He then sat as an independent member. 15 May 2019 Mark Reckless CD South Wales East Reckless joined the new Brexit Party group in May 2019. 10 November 2019 Gareth Bennett CD South Wales Central Left the UKIP group in November 2019 to sit as an independent, leaving Neil Hamilton as the party's last remaining member on the Assembly. 2 January 2020 Nick Ramsay Suspended Monmouth Arrested on 1 January 2020 and suspended from the Conservative group the following day. He was later readmitted. 16 June 2020 Mohammad Asghar Death South Wales East Died on 16 June 2020 and was replaced by Laura Ann Jones. 24 June 2020 Gareth Bennett CD South Wales Central Joined the Abolish the Welsh Assembly Party on 24 June 2020. 15 July 2020 Nick Ramsay Re-admitted Monmouth Readmitted having been arrested on 1 January 2020 and suspended from the Conservative group the following day. 18 August 2020 Caroline Jones CD South Wales West Left Brexit Party and sits as Independent member from 18 August 2020 due to the newly adopted anti-devolution stance the Party had adopted.16 October 2020Mandy JonesCD North Wales Jones and Rowlands started a new independent group in the Senedd, Independent Alliance for Reform with Caroline Jones, focusing on reform rather than abolition.16 October 2020David RowlandsCD South Wales East 19 October 2020 Mark Reckless CD South Wales East Joined the Abolish the Welsh Assembly Party on 19 October 2020.19 January 2021Alun DaviesSuspended Blaenau Gwent Suspended pending investigation after allegedly being involved in alcohol drinking on the Senedd estate, that could have broken COVID restrictions. He was later re-admitted.23 February 2021 Re-admitted Blaenau Gwent 29 March 2021Nick RamsayCD Monmouth Resigned to stand as independent ahead of forthcoming election.
CD=Changed designation
Senedd members by party prior to 2021 election (5th Senedd)