Amnesty and Transition Monmouth packed out the Monmouth Priory on the evening of Friday 24th April, as members of the public came to hear from their election candidates in advance of the Senedd Election this May.

There was standing room only as candidates from the Green Party (Ian Chandler), Labour (Anthony Hunt), Liberal Democrats (Kevin Wilkins), Plaid Cymru (Matthew Jones) and Reform UK (David Rowlands) were all present and answered questions on important issues such as the climate crisis, river pollution and flooding.

The hustings, which was held from 7.15pm, was skilfully chaired by Hugo Perks, who has been involved in the third sector for over 70 years and in retirement has chaired a number of charities including Citizens Advice Cymru and Adoption UK. Questions were asked and answered on the topics of nature depletion, The Welsh Human Rights Bill, promotion of the Welsh Language, and Palestine and arms trading. There was also stimulating debate on education and health and social care. The evening was informative and will no doubt support the public in their decision, ready for when they cast their vote on Thursday 7th May.

For further information about Transition Monmouth or Amnesty: https://transitionmonmouth.wordpress.com

The May 7 poll is the first time voters will be asked to elect 96, rather than 60 members from across Wales, to the Senedd with everyone aged 16 and over entitled to vote.

For the election the existing 32 Westminster seats in Wales have been paired to create 16 super constituencies which will each elect six Members of Senedd to represent their areas for the next four years.

Seats in each constituency will be allocated according to the percentage, or share of, the vote each party or individual candidate receives.

The greater percentage of the vote in each constituency a party receives the more of its list, of up to eight candidates, will be elected. It is expected around a 12 per cent vote share will be needed to claim one of the six seats.

Parties have ranked their candidates in preference order with the first ranked candidate the first to be elected if the party meets the threshold and so on.

Full list of candidates for Sir Fynwy Torfaen

Welsh Conservatives: Peter Fox, Richard John, Lisa Dymock, Nathan Edmunds, Rachel Buckler, Chase Blount

Green Party: Ian Chandler, Emily Williams, Charlie Aldous, Lauren Sellers, Darren Share, Angus Ilmari Paget

Gwlad – Wales Can Be Better: Brad Williams

Heritage Party: Emma Meredith

Open Party: Joseph John Nicholson, David Carl Atkins

Plaid Cymru – The Party of Wales: Matthew Jones, Donna Cushing, Jayne Louise Israel, David Johnson, Gwen Loti Glyn, Huw David Evans

Reform UK: Laura Anne Jones, Stephen John Senior, Bob Blacker, David John Rowlands, Mark Morgan Urrutia, Gerard Majella Hancock

Welsh Labour: Lynne Neagle, Anthony Hunt, Laura Elizabeth Wright, Catrin Maby, Ben Callard, Nick Byrne, Su McConnel

Welsh Liberal Democrats: Kevin Wilkins, Brendan Carl Jeff Roberts, Vicky Hepburn-John, Anthea Madeline Dewhurst, Martin Sutherland, Iwan Elliot Thomas

Details of individual candidates: LEWIS, Owen Independent. POOL, Welsh Annibynnol / Independent