As a UK general election is expected later in 2024, major political parties have already named their candidates for Montgomeryshire’s parliamentary seat.

Here is a list of each major party’s candidate who will be running for Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr parliamentary seat in the UK’s next general election.

Montgomeryshire’s 2024 election could be particularly notable as it was revealed last year that the constituency of Montgomeryshire will be retained and extended to create the new ‘Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr’ constituency at the next General Election.

Here, in alphabetical order by party, are the people who have declared their intention to run for the seat.

Conservatives ­– Craig Williams

The current Montgomeryshire MP, first elected in 2019, is Conservative Craig Williams.

Mr Williams will stand as the Tory candidate in the newly-created Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr constituency.

He said: “I am delighted to receive the endorsement from my local party to fight the General Election this year, as the candidate for the new seat of Montgomeryshire & Glyndwr.

“It has been a great honour to have represented Montgomeryshire – my home constituency, as the Member of Parliament for the last five years.”

County Times: Craig Williams MP (Montgomeryshire - Conservative)

Green Party – Jeremy Brignell-Thorp

Environmental campaigner and county councillor for Forden and Montgomery Jeremy Brignell-Thorp was announced as the Green Party candidate in February 2024.

Commenting on his candidacy, he said: “I am pleased to say that I will be standing as the official Green Party candidate in Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr.

“The Green Party is the only party taking the climate emergency seriously and this is the defining issue of this century. The Green party also stands for a fair and compassionate society.”

 

Labour - Stephen Witherden

Labour announced in November 2023 that Stephen Witherden would be representing the party for Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr’s parliamentary seat.

Head of drama at Ysgol Clywedog, in Wrexham, he said via his website: “I'm Steve Witherden and I'm asking for your support to be the next Welsh Labour candidate for Montgomeryshire & Glyndŵr.”

Liberal Democrats – Glyn Preston

In January 2024, Lib Dems announced that Llanidloes county councillor Glyn Preston would be their candidate for the upcoming general election.

Cllr Preston has represented Llanidloes ward on Powys County Council alongside Cllr Gareth Morgan since 2022, as well as serving as a board member of Theatr Hafren and of Llanidloes Futures Project.

Upon being named as the Lib Dem candidate, he said: “Lib Dems stand up for rural areas. The Conservatives have let Montgomeryshire & Glyndwr down.

“It's the Lib Dems who can beat the Conservatives here to fight for better local health services and help to tackle the cost of living crisis."

County Times: Cllr Glyn Preston will be the Liberal Democrat candidate for Montgomeryshire.

Plaid Cymru – Elwyn Vaughan

In October Plaid Cymru revealed that Councillor Elwyn Vaughan will stand as its candidate.

Councillor Vaughan, the member for the Glantwymyn ward on Powys Council and the Plaid Cymru group leader at the authority was chosen following hustings at Newtown and Chirk.

He said: “It’s a privilege to be chosen as the candidate for Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr.

“As the keeper of the old Welsh liberal tradition of Cymru Fydd – we will focus on environmental and community sustainability and supporting an entrepreneurial and can-do attitude in Montgomeryshire.”

County Times: Elwyn Vaughan - Plaid Cymru canidate for Montgomeryshire

Reform UK – Oliver Lewis

Also announced in February 2024, Reform UK announced that its candidate for the Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr would be Oliver Lewis, from Montgomery.

Having previously run for the Senedd in 2021 and as a parliamentary candidate in 2019, Mr Oliver has previously campaigned for the abolition of Powys County Council and the restoration of a Council for Montgomeryshire.

County Times: Oliver Lewis

He has also campaigned for a brand-new General Hospital for the county at Newtown as well as two new railway stations at Carno and Abermule, as well as improvements to the A458 to make it safer for motorists and residents.