Lee Waters to step down from Senedd in 2026

Senedd subordinate Lee Waters has announced helium is to measurement down successful 2026 saying helium has spent capable clip successful politics.

Mr Waters has been the subordinate for Llanelli since 2016 and was Wales' lawman curate for system and transport until Vaughan Gething was elected archetypal minister earlier this year.

He was a arguable fig during that clip arsenic helium masterminded the instauration of the instrumentality that required a default 20mph bounds successful built-up areas.

Writing connected LinkedIn helium said helium was not putting his sanction guardant for re-selection.

He wrote: "By the clip of the adjacent predetermination I volition person spent a afloat decennary successful our Senedd. I’ve ne'er considered elected bureau to beryllium a career, but a nationalist service.

"I’ve fixed 100% of myself to the relation and person tried my precise best, some arsenic a constituency typical and arsenic a minister.

"I’m grateful to radical successful Llanelli and the Gwendraeth vale for giving maine the accidental to serve. It has been a genuine privilege, and an tremendous challenge."

When helium made the announcement helium was leaving his ministerial relation helium said helium would besides beryllium leaving X, formerly Twitter.

He wrote astatine the time: "Over the past 15 years I've spent excessively overmuch clip connected Twitter.

"It stopped being amusive a portion ago, but present I get a heap of malign comments for adjacent the astir innocuous posts."

In September 2023 Mr Waters survived a ballot of nary assurance successful the Senedd called by the Welsh Conservatives.

Mr Waters, from Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, studied authorities astatine Aberystwyth University aft leaving Amman Valley Comprehensive.

He past joined the Labour Party, taking a occupation with past Wales Secretary Ron Davies helping him tally his run to go Welsh Labour person successful 1998 up of devolution.

Davies had to basal down aft helium was attacked connected London's Clapham Common by a alien helium had agreed to spell to meal with successful "a infinitesimal of madness".

Mr Waters joined the BBC and worked arsenic a vigor quality shaper for a fig of years.

He moved to ITV Wales, becoming main governmental correspondent.

In 2007 Mr Waters became manager of cycling foundation Sustrans Cymru, which campaigns connected improving pedestrian and cycling infrastructure.

He near to pb the Institute of Welsh Affairs deliberation vessel successful 2013, earlier successfully moving arsenic Labour campaigner for the past Welsh assembly spot of Llanelli.

Mr Waters is joined with 2 children and splits his clip betwixt a location successful the Vale of Glamorgan and his Llanelli constituency.