Wales election: Two senior female Senedd members to stand down

Two senior female Members of the Senedd (MS) will not stand for re-election.

Deputy Presiding Officer Ann Jones, Labour's Vale of Clwyd member since 1999, will stand down.

And former Welsh Tory leadership candidate Suzy Davies, a regional MS for South Wales West, also said she would not stand. It is understood she stood down as candidate for Bridgend.

Labour is defending a majority of just 768 over the Conservatives with the election due to take place in May.

In 2007 Ms Jones was the first backbencher to introduce new legislation - ensuring all new homes have sprinkler systems.

First Minister Mark Drakeford said: "Ann is a one-of-a-kind presence in Welsh politics."

"As she stands down, we will miss her wise counsel in the Welsh Labour group but know she will continue to make an important contribution to Wales."

Welsh Tory education spokeswoman Ms Davies's announcement comes after she lost her place on the party's list of candidates for the South Wales West region.

On Twitter, Ms Davies denied she lost out because of her pro-devolution views, and said she was not asked about them during the selection process.

A Welsh Conservative spokeswoman thanked Ms Davies for her "valuable contribution".

Ms Davies, a Senedd member since 2011, ran against Paul Davies to lead the Tories in Cardiff Bay in 2018.

Ms Davies has been asked to comment on her withdrawal as candidate for Bridgend.

Ms Jones, who is 67, said: "After 22 years, I've decided not to seek re-election to the Welsh Parliament.

"This decision has been difficult, but I feel now is the right time to step back and allow a new candidate to represent Welsh Labour."

She said she was "enormously proud" to have introduced the law under which Wales was the first country in the world to make sprinklers compulsory in all new homes.

Ms Jones was awarded the OBE in this year's New Year's Honours List.