An election for the National Assembly for Wales was held on Thursday 5 May 2016, to elect members (AMs) of the National Assembly for Wales, later known as the Senedd (Welsh Parliament; ). It was the fifth election for the assembly, the third election taken under the rules of the Government of Wales Act 2006 and the first since the Wales Act 2014.
The governing Labour Party's share of the vote fell by over 7% and 29 Labour AMs were elected, one fewer than in 2011 and two short of an overall majority. Plaid Cymru became the Assembly's second largest party and the official opposition to the Welsh Government with 12 seats, one more than before. 11 Conservative AMs were elected, three fewer than in 2011. Although they did not win a single constituency, the UK Independence Party (UKIP) had seven members elected through the regional lists vote. The Liberal Democrats had only one AM returned, down from five.
The election was held on the same day as elections for the Scottish Parliament, the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Mayor and Assembly of London and in numerous local authorities in England. The by-election for the Westminster seat of Ogmore was also held on the same day. This election and elections to the other devolved chambers were delayed by a year from 2015 to 2016 as a result of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011.Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 section 5
Electoral method In general elections for the National Assembly for Wales, each voter has two votes in a mixed member system. The first vote is for a candidate to become the Assembly Member for the voter's constituency, elected by the first past the post system. The second vote is for a regional closed party list of candidates. Additional member seats are allocated from the lists by the d'Hondt method, with constituency results being taken into account in the allocation. The overall result is approximately proportional.
Previously it was not allowed to stand in both a constituency and a regional list, but this rule was abolished by the Wales Act 2014. The Act also introduced a ban on dual mandates with the House of Commons: an Assembly Member is no longer allowed also to be an MP.
British, Irish, Commonwealth and European Union citizens living in Wales aged 18 or over on election day were entitled to vote.
Retiring AMs The following, previously incumbent AMs, did not run for re-election:
Constituency/region Departing AMPartySouth Wales East regionJocelyn Davies Plaid Cymru Arfon Alun Ffred Jones Plaid Cymru Carmarthen East and Dinefwr Rhodri Glyn Thomas Plaid CymruCynon Valley Christine Chapman Labour Co-opLlanelli Keith Davies Labour Co-opOgmore Janice Gregory LabourGower Edwina Hart LabourMerthyr Tydfil and Rhymney Huw Lewis Labour Co-opDelyn Sandy Mewies Labour Islwyn Gwyn R Price Labour NeathGwenda Thomas Labour Caerphilly Jeffrey Cuthbert LabourNewport WestDame Rosemary Butler Labour
Constituency nominations NB: AMs in office (i.e. incumbents) before the election are bolded. Winners are highlighted with party colours.
Constituency ConservativeLabour Lib Dem Plaid Cymru Green UKIP Others Aberavon David Jenkins David Rees Helen Ceri Clarke Bethan Jenkins Jonathan Tier Glenda Davies Aberconwy Janet Finch-Saunders Mike Priestley Sarah Lesiter-Burgess Trystan Lewis Petra Haig Alyn and Deeside Mike Gibbs Carl Sargeant Pete Williams Jacqueline Hurst Martin Bennewith Michelle Brown Arfon Martin Peet Sion Jones Sarah Lloyd Williams Siân Gwenllian Blaenau Gwent Tracey West Alun Davies Brendan D'Cruz Nigel Copner Kevin Boucher Brecon and Radnorshire Gary Price Alex Thomas Kirsty Williams Freddy Greaves Grenville Ham Thomas Turton Bridgend George Jabbour Carwyn Jones Jonathan Pratt James Radcliffe Charlotte BarlowCaroline Jones Caerphilly Jane Pratt Hefin David Aladdin Ayesh Lindsay Whittle Andrew Creak Sam Gould Cardiff Central Joel Williams Jenny Rathbone Eluned Parrott Glyn Wise Amelia Womack Mohammed-Sarul Islam Jane Croad (Independent) Cardiff North Jayne Cowan Julie Morgan John Dixon Elin Walker Jones Chris von Ruhland Haydn Rushworth Fiona Burt (Independent) Cardiff South and Penarth Ben Grey Vaughan Gething Nigel Howells Dr Dafydd Trystan Davies Anthony Slaughter Hugh Moelwyn-Hughes Cardiff West Sean Driscoll Mark Drakeford Cadan ap Tomos Neil McEvoy Hannah PudnerGareth Bennett Elliot Freedman (Independent) Lee Woolls (Vapers in Power) Carmarthen East and Dinefwr Matthew Paul Steve JeacockWilliam Powell Adam Price Freya Amsbury Neil Hamilton Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire Angela Burns Marc Tierney Alistair Cameron Simon Thomas Val Bradley Allan Brookes Chris Overton (independent) Ceredigion Dr Felix Aubel Iwan Wyn Jones Elizabeth Evans Elin Jones Brian Williams Gethin James Clwyd SouthSimon Baynes Ken Skates Aled Roberts Mabon ap Gwynfor Duncan ReesMandy Jones Clwyd West Darren Millar Jo Thomas Victor Babu Llyr Huws Gruffydd Julian Mahy David Edwards Cynon Valley Lyn Hudson Vikki Howells Michael Wallace Cerith Griffiths John Matthews Liz Wilks Delyn Huw Williams Hannah Blythyn Tom Rippeth Paul Rowlinson Nigel Williams Dwyfor Meirionnydd Neil Fairlamb Ian MacIntyre Stephen Churchman Lord Elis-Thomas Alice Hooker-Stroud Frank Wykes Louise Hughes (Independent) Gower Lyndon Jones Rebecca Evans Sheila Kingston-Jones Harri Roberts Abi Cherry-Hamer Colin Beckett Islwyn Paul Williams Rhianon Passmore Matthew Kidner Lyn Ackerman Katy Beddoe Joe Smyth Llanelli Stefan Ryszewski Lee Waters Gemma-Jane Bowker Helen Mary Jones Guy Martin Smith Kenneth Denver-Rees (Ken Rees) Siân Caiach (Putting Llanelli First) Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney Elizabeth Simon Dawn Bowden Bob Griffin Brian Thomas Julie Colbran David Rowlands Monmouth Nick Ramsay Catherine Fookes Veronica German Jonathan Clark Chris Were Tim Price Debby Blakebrough (Independent), Stephen Morris (English Democrats) Montgomeryshire Russell George Martyn Singleton Jane Dodds Aled Morgan Hughes Richard Chaloner Des Parkinson Neath Peter Crocker-Jaques Jeremy Miles Frank Little Alun Llewelyn Lisa Rapado Richard Pritchard Stephen Hunt (Independent) Newport East Munawar Mughal John Griffiths Paul Halliday Tony Salkeld Peter Varley James Peterson Newport West Matthew Evans Jayne Bryant Liz Newton Simon Coopey Pippa Bartolotti Michael Ford Gruff Meredith (Cymru Sovereign)Bill Fearnley-Whittingstall (Independent) OgmoreJamie Wallis Huw Irranca-Davies Anita Davies Tim Thomas Laurence Brophy Hazel Kendall Pontypridd Joel James Mick Antoniw Mike Powell Chad Rickard Ken Barker Edwin Allen Preseli Pembrokeshire Paul Davies Dan Lodge Bob Kilmister John Osmond Frances Bryant Howard Lillyman Rhondda Maria HillLeighton Andrews Rhys Taylor Leanne Wood Pat Matthews Stephen Clee Swansea East Sadie Vidal Michael Hedges Charlene Webster Dic Jones Tony Young Clifford Johnson Swansea West Craig Lawton Julie James Chris Holley David Lloyd Gareth Tucker Rosie Irwin Brian Johnson (Socialist Party of Great Britain) Torfaen Cllr Graham Smith Lynne Neagle Alison Willott Matthew Woolfall-Jones Steven Jenkins Susan Boucher Vale of Clwyd Sam Rowlands Ann Jones Gwyn Williams Mair Rowlands Paul Davies-Cooke Vale of Glamorgan Ross England Jane Hutt Denis Campbell Ian Johnson Alison Haden Lawrence Andrews Wrexham Andrew Atkinson Lesley Griffiths Beryl Blackmore Carrie Harper Alan Butterworth Jeanette Bassford-Barton Ynys Môn Clay Theakston Julia Dobson Mark Rosenthal Rhun ap Iorwerth Gerry Wolff Simon Wall Daniel Meredith Ap Eifion Jones (Independent)
Regional lists
Mid and West Wales
Abolish the Welsh Assembly Party Communist Party of Britain Welsh Conservative Party Wales Green Party Monster Raving Loony Party Welsh Local Independents Welsh Labour Welsh Liberal Democrats People First Plaid Cymru UK Independence Party Welsh Christian Party1. Jeremy David Pugh Catrin Ashton Aled Wyn Davies Alice Hooker-Stroud Lady Lily the Pink Huw Meredydd George Elizabeth Joyce Watson William Denston Powell Siân Mair CaiachSimon ThomasNeil Hamilton Jeffrey Green2. Philip Bridger Rick Newnham Ian Harrison Grenville Morgan Ham Tristian Shout Darren James Mayor Mair Eluned Morgan Jane Dodds Alford Clement Thomas Helen Mary Jones Gethin James Susan Green3. Richard Davies Clive Griffiths Harry Legge-Bourke Pippa Pemberton Lord & Lady Dunquan John Bayliss Gemma-Jane Bowker Marion Binney Vicky Moller Des Parkinson Louise Wynne Jones4. Ben Edwards David Llewelyn Brown Denise Howard Frances Bryant Knigel Knapp Tonia Antoniazzi Robert Philip Kilminster Stephen Royston Bowen Freddy John Dylan Greaves Howard Lillyman Barbara Irene Hill5. Edward Rayner Peett Brian Dafydd Williams Helen Swindon Alistair Ronald Cameron David Wayne Erasmus Mandy Williams-Davies 6. Stephen Davies Lieutenant Jâger Schnitzel Stephen William Churchman Aled Morgan Hughes7. Mary Davies R U SeeriusElin Tracey Jones8. Steffan Huw Gwent9.Elin Jones10. John David Osmond11. Adam Price
North Wales Abolish the Welsh Assembly Party Communist Party of Britain Welsh Conservative Party Wales Green Party Monster Raving Loony Party Welsh Local Independents Welsh Labour Welsh Liberal Democrats Plaid Cymru Independent UK Independence Party1. Harry Harrington Trevor JonesMark Isherwood Duncan Rees Nick the Flying Brick Goronwy Edwards Mary Wimbury Aled RobertsLlyr Huws Gruffydd Mark YoungNathan Gill2. Bryan Craven Mandy WalshJanet Haworth Martin Bennewith Lord Cameron of Roundwood Merfyn Parry Jason McLellan Victor Babu Carrie HarperMichelle Brown3. Philip Price Glyn Davies Barbara Hughes Petra Haig Johnny Disco Nigel Smith Bernadette Horton Sarah Lesiter-Burgess Paul RowlinsonMandy Jones4. Nicola Hodgson Graham Morgan Antony Bertola Gerry Wolff Sir Oink A-Lot Barbara Smith Carolyn Thomas Rob Walsh Eleanor Griffith David Edwards5. Gary Burchett Mr McFloatyhands Bruce Roberts Jacqui Hurst6. Adam KealeyLeon of Britain Tom Rippeth Abdul Khan7. Trystan Lewis8. Mair Rowlands
South Wales Central Abolish the Welsh Assembly Party Communist Party of Britain Welsh Conservative Party Wales Green Party Monster Raving Loony Party Welsh Labour Party Welsh Liberal Democrats Plaid Cymru Welsh TUSC UK Independence Party Women's Equality Party1. David Bevan Robert Griffiths Andrew R.T. Davies Amelia Womack Mark Beech Belinda Robertson Eluned Parrott Leanne Wood Ross SaundersGareth Bennett Sharon Lovell2. Ceri Renwick Gwen Griffiths David Melding Anthony Slaughter Howling Laud Hope Brian Back John Dixon Neil McEvoy Mia Hollsing Mohammed Islam Emma Rose3. Timothy Frederick Ramon Corria Richard John Hannah Pudner Tony Davies Anna McMorrin Karen Roberts Dr Dafydd Trystan Davies Lianne Francis Liz Wilks Sarah Rees4. Richard Read Dan Cole Keith Dewhurst Chris von Ruhland Baron Von Thunderclap Ali Ahmed Cadan ap Tomos Elizabeth Musa Steve Williams Stephen CleeRuth Williams5. Michael Stephens Bablin Molik Chad Rickard Helen Jones6. Nigel Howells Michael Deem Matthew Hatton7. Elizabeth Clark Elin Walker Jones Catherine Peace8. Rhys Taylor Glyn Wise Seb Robyns
South Wales East Abolish the Welsh Assembly Party Communist Party of Britain Welsh Conservative Party Wales Green Party Monster Raving Loony Party Welsh Labour Welsh Liberal Democrats Plaid Cymru Welsh TUSC UK Independence Party1. David Pritchard Tommy Roberts Mohammad Asghar Pippa Bartolotti Baron Von MagpieRuth JonesVeronica German Steffan Lewis Jamie DaviesMark Reckless2. Roger Wilson Mark GriffithsLaura Jones Ann Were Hugo Shovit Peter Jones Paul HallidayDelyth Jewell Clare GibbsDavid Rowlands3. Victoria Blackman Barbara Thomas Chris Butler Christopher Were Mad Mike Young Deborah Wilcox Bob Griffin Nigel Copner David Reid Sue Boucher4. Donald Wilson Thabo Miller Geoffrey Burrows Katy Beddoe Dr Doodle Do Owen Evans Alison Willott Lyn Ackerman Joshua Rawcliffe Julie Price5. William Graham Andrew Creak Arty Pole Brendan D'Cruz Jonathan Clark Mohammed Miah6. Kay David Matthew Woolfall-Jones Rhys Pewtner7. Aladdin Ayesh Eli Jones8. Gillian Jones
South Wales West