Ex-minister Antoniw to leave Senedd next year

Former Welsh government minister Mick Antoniw is to stand down from the Senedd at next year's Welsh Parliament election.

The Labour Pontypridd MS, previously a government senior legal adviser, said it was "time for fresh blood, new energy and new progressive ideas".

Antoniw revealed last month he had suddenly lost the vision in one eye and underwent sight-saving surgery after waking up with "cloudy" vision.

Joyce Watson, MS for Mid and West Wales also announced on Friday she would not be standing in 2026.

Meanwhile, Dawn Bowden, Children and Social Care minister and MS for Merthyr Tydfil, announced on 17 January that she too would not be standing.

Antoniw, 70, a former counsel general and minister for the constitution, is of Ukrainian origin and well known for his support for Ukraine in its war with Russia.

A Ukrainian speaker, he has paid regular visits to the country delivering aid since it was invaded by Russia nearly two years ago.

Before being elected to the Senedd in 2011, which was then known as the Welsh Assembly, he worked as a solicitor.

On Friday, he issued a written statement thanking his constituents for their support over the years, saying it had been the "greatest honour of my life" to serve them.

"It is with a heavy heart that I have decided not to seek re-election in 2026," he said.

"By the time of the next elections in May 2026 I will have served for 15 years.

"This is on top of 35 years work as a trade union lawyer.

"I will be approaching 72 years of age and have come to the view that now is the time for fresh blood, new energy and new progressive ideas for the future of Wales and the people of Pontypridd and our new constituency."

Antoniw said he would "continue to be politically active, particularly in the field of equality, human rights, constitutional reform and international issues" after leaving the Welsh Parliament.

The May 2026 poll will see the Senedd expand from the current 60 to 96 members elected using a more proportional electoral system.

There will be 16 larger constituencies with 6 members each chosen via a closed list voting system.

Antoniw had an important role in designing those changes, under former first minister Mark Drakeford.

Ms Watson, who was first elected to Cardiff Bay in 2007, said serving the Labour Party had "been the privilege of my life", but she had "taken the very difficult decision" not to stand in 2026.

Ms Watson is founder of the Welsh Parliament's anti-human trafficking group and champions the White Ribbon campaign against domestic violence.

In November 2023 she apologised for comments where she suggested farmers hit with perpetual bovine tuberculosis (bTB) infections should "find another business".

In her resignation statement she said she had "tried to make a difference to people's lives" during her time in government.

"The next election, under new rules and boundaries, will be transformative," she added.

"It feels like the right time for me to step aside and for new candidates, and to devote more time to my wonderful family."