KIERA MARSHALL

Building on Success, Winning in Cardiff, Fighting for Wales

About Me

I’m Kiera Marshall, and on International Women’s Day 2025, I announced my intention to stand as a candidate for Plaid Cymru in the 2026 Senedd elections for the newly formed Cardiff North and West Senedd constituency, Gogledd-Orllewin Caerdydd. I am currently asking Plaid Cymru members in the constituency to support my campaign to be selected as the lead candidate on Plaid Cymru’s list.

I grew up in Townhill, Swansea - one of Wales’ poorest council estates. That experience shaped my politics. I saw firsthand the devastating impact of Conservative austerity, poverty, and the erosion of our communities. It angers me that, decades later, children and families across Cardiff are still facing the same struggles but this time under Labour’s watch. I moved to Cardiff in 2021, and I’m proud to call it home as I begin my own family here this year.

My background is in economics, and I’ve spent my career fighting for a fairer, stronger Wales. I studied Economics at the London School of Economics before working as an Economic Researcher for the Plaid Cymru Senedd group and Deputy Head of Policy for the Federation of Small Businesses Cymru. I know how vital small businesses are to our communities, yet Labour’s lack of vision for the Welsh economy has forced many small businesses in Cardiff to struggle or shut down entirely. If we want Wales to thrive, and to convince people in Wales of independence, we need to build up our domestic business base.

I haven’t always worked in economic policy. From the age of 17, I had to work to support myself through university and beyond, mainly in the hospitality industry. For several years, I worked as a server in a fish and chip shop and as a waitress in a restaurant.

I am also a Welsh learner. Despite going through the Welsh education system, I wasn’t given a proper Welsh language education in school, and I have been campaigning to change this. Coming from a non-Welsh-speaking family, I have spent the last four years actively learning Welsh and I believe our language should be accessible to everyone.

I launched my campaign for selection on International Women’s Day because I want my experiences to show that politics should be for everyone. As a young woman who grew up on a council estate, a survivor of stalking, and a soon-to-be first-time mother, I believe representation in politics matters. Plaid Cymru needs a diverse slate of candidates in Cardiff to truly reflect our communities and to counter the threat of Reform.

I was honoured to be Plaid Cymru’s candidate in the 2024 General Election. With a brilliant team, I helped secure the second-largest vote share increase for Plaid Cymru nationally and our party’s best-ever result in a General Election in Cardiff. This made it clear: Cardiff is ready for change.

Now, I want to challenge Labour’s complacency in Cardiff in the 2026 Senedd elections. With all four sitting MSs stepping down, this is our moment to bring a new generation of leadership to the capital. Already, Labour councillors and party activists are positioning themselves for what they see as a guaranteed Senedd seat - but after 25 years of Labour rule, our communities are still struggling. We don’t need more of the same. We need fresh voices, real action, and a Plaid Cymru government that puts people first. If I am selected as the top candidate in the constituency, I believe I will be best placed to help achieve this.

If selected, as I did in the General Election and continue to do, I won’t just campaign—I will fight for the communities of Cardiff North and West, for stronger representation, and for a Wales where everyone has the chance to thrive.

My Priorities

For too long, Labour has taken Cardiff for granted. Despite controlling Cardiff Council, the Welsh Government, and now Westminster, our communities are still struggling. From rising rents to small businesses closing their doors, Labour has failed to deliver real improvements for ordinary people. The 2026 Senedd election is our chance to change that. I’m passionate about a wide range of issues and always happy to discuss them further - so please feel free to get in touch. Below are some of my key priorities for Cardiff:

1. Building a Stronger Local Economy

I want to support a thriving local economy in Cardiff that prioritises small businesses, protects decent jobs, and ensures our economy works for the people who live and work here. I believe this should be done by reforming the business rates system to better support small, local businesses. We should also expand the Development Bank of Wales to invest more in our economy. I do not support introducing parking charges on our high streets while public transport remains unreliable. This could drive people to out-of-town developments instead of supporting local high streets, failing to reduce congestion, and potentially create more parking issues on residential streets. I also support measures to reduce economic inequality and improve access to fair, rewarding work. Giving people more confidence in our economy and making it work for them will be one of the best ways to build support for Welsh independence.

2. Providing Affordable Housing

Rents in Cardiff have skyrocketed, rising 8.7% between January 2024 and January 2025. As someone who has rented in Cardiff, I know how unaffordable this has become for many. Everyone deserves a right to shelter. We need to introduce rent caps and significantly expand social and affordable housing to make this right a reality.

3. Improving Public Transport

Recently, Rhiwbina, Birchgrove, and Whitchurch train stations were ranked among the worst-performing in the UK. When I worked in Llanishen, I lost count of the times I waited for a train at Ty Glas that was canceled or a bus that never arrived. Our transport system is broken. Labour’s promise of £1 bus fares in the 2022 Cardiff Council election never materialised. They have also turned their back demand the billions Wales is owed from HS2 and rail infrastructure spending in England. Without significant investment, particularly in our bus network, people in Cardiff cannot get where they need to be, congestion remains high, and our climate suffers.

4. Holding Labour to Account & Championing Community Voice

Communities across Cardiff have been let down and ignored. In the General Election, Labour HQ parachuted Alex Barros-Curtis into Cardiff West as their candidate, despite having no local ties and residing in London. In Ely, a community similar to where I grew up in Townhill, Swansea, several community buildings and assets have been lost despite strong opposition from local activists. Archer Road Play Area in Ely remains significantly underdeveloped compared to parks in wealthier areas. In Canton and Riverside, residents continue to struggle with litter, especially after bin day, with little response from the council. Pontyclun and Taff’s Well have recently been added to the Cardiff constituencies, despite having different needs to the city. Residents in Pontyclun are currently fighting to prevent 40,000 extra HGVs per year from passing through their village, where profit is being prioritised over local people. One of my priorities will be championing local voices and truly listening to communities.

I also want to hold Labour to account nationally. The Welsh taxpayer is still funding HS2 without a single inch of track being laid in Wales. Labour has betrayed women seeking pension justice, refused to devolve the Crown Estate to Wales, and kept the cruel two-child benefit cap. These are decisions that could make a tangible difference to people’s lives in Cardiff - yet Labour has failed to act.