Carmarthenshire Conservatives have reselected Havard Hughes as their candidate to fight Carmarthen East and Dinefŵr at the Senedd election in 2021.

Hughes previously contested the seat at the 2019 General Election, gaining 14,130 votes and taking the Conservatives to a close second place behind disgraced, now suspended, Plaid MP Jonathan Edwards. Hughes’ strong showing leaves the Conservatives just 297 votes behind the incumbent Plaid leader’s 2016 result.

Havard Hughes is a Carmarthen-based entrepreneur who runs the trade policy consultancy he founded from west Wales. In a City of London career spanning nearly 20 years, he advised chief executives and boards on legislation, tax and public policy. A Welsh speaker, he attended local schools Ysgol y Dderwen, Abergwili and QE Maridunum Comprehensive – before going on to graduate with a degree in Law from Cambridge University. He lives with his fiancée Genevieve on their smallholding in just north of Carmarthen.

Havard Hughes commented: “I am honored to have been selected to fight my home seat of Carmarthen East and Dinefŵr at the next Senedd election. We had a fantastic result at the 2019 Parliamentary poll putting us just 297 votes behind Plaid’s last Assembly result.

"Change is long overdue in Carmarthenshire.

"As a Carmarthenshire resident my priorities will be ensuring our hospital at Glangwili is protected from Welsh Labour’s axe; our rail and road links are upgraded and broadband connected. The people of Carmarthenshire want the public services we pay our taxes for and not squabbles about borders or referendums.”