Buffy Williams
BEM MS
Williams in 2021
Member of the Senedd
for Rhondda
Assumed office
6 May 2021
Preceded byLeanne Wood
Majority5,497
Personal details
Born (1976-11-01) 1 November 1976 (age 47)
Williamstown, Rhondda, Wales
Political partyWelsh Labour

Elizabeth "Buffy" Williams (born 1 November 1976) is a Welsh politician who is the Labour Member of the Senedd for Rhondda.

She won the seat from former Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood in the 2021 Senedd election.

Early life and career

Williams was born and brought up in the Rhondda community of Williamstown, Rhondda Cynon Taf, the daughter of a trade union activist. She left school at the age of sixteen to work in a factory, but continued studying.[1]

Williams is the manager of a community centre,[2] and worked for more than 20 years in the third sector, having set up Canolfan Pentre. Other campaigns she has been involved with include saving the local A&E in the Royal Glamorgan Hospital from a closure proposed by her own party, and helping in response to the floods caused by Storm Dennis.[3]

In March 2021, the Labour Party was criticised for nominating Williams for a Welsh Government award, the St David Awards, after she had been selected as a candidate for the Senedd elections.[2] The Welsh Conservatives asked whether it was appropriate "for the first minister to be seen to be using the prestigious St David Awards to reward his Labour election candidates."[2]

Williams won the Rhondda constituency seat on 6 May 2021 from the former Plaid Cymru leader, Leanne Wood, with a majority of 5,497.[4][5]

Personal life

She is married with three children and lives in Pentre, the Rhondda.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b Mosalski, Ruth (28 March 2021). "Senedd election 2021: Who is standing in Rhondda?". WalesOnline. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Williams, James (23 March 2021). "Labour candidates for St David Awards 'inappropriate'". BBC News. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  3. ^ Williams, Kathryn; Dewey, Philip (7 February 2020). "The incredible acts of kindness taking place in the aftermath of Storm Dennis". WalesOnline. Archived from the original on 1 November 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  4. ^ "Former Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood loses Rhondda Senedd seat". ITV News. 7 May 2021. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  5. ^ Morris, Steven (7 May 2021). "Labour makes big gains in Wales defeating ex-Plaid Cymru leader". TheGuardian.com. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
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