All the major parties have released their Senedd election manifestos - but if you still don't feel you've made your decision, there are other options on who to vote for.

As parties will have to win somewhere between 10% to 15% of the vote share in any given constituency to secure a seat, the chances of a minor party or an independent candidate winning is somewhat minimal – but this doesn’t mean it is impossible.

The following is a summary of the minor parties and independent candidates in Bangor Conwy Môn and Gwynedd Maldwyn - and their key priorities.

Heritage Party

Fielding candidates in all 16 of the new Welsh constituencies, the Heritage Party is the largest minor party standing in the Senedd election.

Founded in 2020 by former UKIP London Assembly Member David Kurtan, the Heritage Party is a socially conservative UK-wide political party.

They do not have a Wales-specific manifesto for the upcoming Senedd election, instead a general manifesto is available on their website.

The party opens their manifesto by promising to “return to the principles of social conservatism, to reverse the cultural destruction wreaked by politically correct ideologies and to return to our true traditions and heritage”.

Some of the headline pledges from the manifesto include scrapping no-fault divorce; banning abortion; abolishing hate crime and hate speech laws; and restoring “traditional marriage”.

The party also proposes a radical policy of segregation in the prison system, citing a “problem with aggressive radical Muslim gangs in prisons” as their reasoning.

They say they will “introduce segregation of prisoners by religion and race so that Muslims, white British, white other, and black prisoners are placed in separate prisons where possible, or at the very least, in separate wings where they do not mix.”

The only Wales-specific policy listed within the manifesto is the abolition of the Senedd, with the party vowing to “return its functions to the national government in Westminster or local government in Wales as appropriate.”

Candidates
Bangor Conwy Mon: Mark Edwards
Gwynedd Maldwyn: Mattie Ginsberg

Gwlad

Named after the Welsh word for country, Gwlad is officially syncretic (neither left- nor right-wing) but in practice is widely accepted as a centre-right party.

A Welsh nationalist and pro-independence party, it is fielding candidates in Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd, Ceredigion Penfro, Gwynedd Maldwyn, Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr, Sir Fynwy Torfaen, and Sir Gaerfyrddin.

Founded by Gwyn Wigley Evans in 2018 under the original name Ein Gwlad, the party has never had representation in the Senedd.

The party's manifesto includes their immediate goals should they form the next Welsh Government, and their long-term policy plans on achieving independence.

Attributing the Welsh language and culture as to how Wales avoided being “swallowed up into a ‘Greater England’”, Gwlad pledges to “maintain, encourage, and widen” Welsh cultural distinction.

They say they will extend Welsh medium education to every primary school in Wales, first in Welsh-speaking areas and then majority English-speaking regions. Secondary schools will also be Welsh medium to age 14 under a Gwlad Welsh Government.

They note, however, that Wales “belongs to all of its people, whether Welsh-speaking or not”, referencing areas such as the Vale of Glamorgan where English is predominantly spoken.

Immigration also features in the Gwlad manifesto, with the party pledging to “immediately cancel” the ‘Nation of Sanctuary’ plan – a position also held by Reform UK.

The party will also “categorically refuse” to provide accommodation for asylum seekers sent from England and will dismantle the system of hotels, army sites, and other properties set up for this purpose.

Candidate:
Gwynedd Maldwyn: Jeremy Davies

Communist Party of Britain

Standing in both Bangor Conwy Môn and Caerdydd Penarth, the Communist Party is the oldest minor party standing for election in May, having been founded in 1920.

Its manifesto, titled ‘Real Power for the People of Wales – A Manifesto for a Fair, Green, Socialist Future’, sets out plans for “a Wales where power is exercised democratically in the interests of the mass of the people, not for the profits of big business and the super-rich.”

The party pledges to “extend democracy into the workplace, giving workers collective rights over pay and conditions, restructuring, and investment decisions”, as well as strengthening trade union rights.

Describing health, social and elderly care as “public goods”, the Communist Party says it will “defend and strengthen” a fully public NHS, keeping it free from privatisation, and propose to shift health policy towards prevention by tackling poor housing, pollution, low pay, and insecurity.

As part of their proposed education policies, the party wants to abolish private education and invest in comprehensive public education.

Candidate
Bangor Conwy Môn: Jaime Fitter

The Official Monster Raving Loony Party

Standing only in Bangor Conwy Mon, the Official Monster Raving Loony Party has put forward just one candidate for the Senedd election – Sir Grumpus L Shorticus.

While the party does not have an official Senedd election manifesto, it does have a ‘Manicfesto’ available online.

The party’s pledges include making kids sit closer together on smaller desks to reduce school class sizes; having x-ray machines manned by a skeleton staff; and clearing all national debt by putting it on the party's credit card.

Candidate:
Bangor Conwy Môn: Sir Grumpus L Shorticus

Socialist Labour Party

While it does not have a specific Senedd election manifesto, the Socialist Labour Party has published its general manifesto on its website.

Standing only in Bangor Conwy Mon, they party wants to see “a world at peace with liberty, justice and prosperity for all” and above all “a socialist world”.

Emphasising it is “not prepared to collaborate with any government which supports the capitalist system”, the party calls for “the British people to own and control the means of production, distribution and exchange”.

The party does not express a position on Welsh independence and instead says “the issue of devolution or full independence for Wales, Scotland and/or devolution for regions in England can only be determined by the people of Wales and Scotland and by the people in the regions or counties of England”.

Candidate:
Bangor Conwy Môn: Kathrine Jones

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Independent candidates - Gwynedd Maldwyn

Monty Kennard

Promising a “local voice” with no party politics, party bosses, or party whip, Monty Kennard is an independent candidate standing in Gwynedd Maldwyn.

Kennard has a degree in Economics, Politics, and International Relations from Oxford Brookes University, trained as a teacher in Shropshire, and went on to work in a primary school in Wrexham.

He pledges to listen to real people, learn on the ground to reflect local communities, and to take concerns directly to the Senedd.

Russell George

Russell George, the second independent candidate in the constituency, is a former Welsh Conservative MS who now sits as an independent.

Mr George was suspended from the Conservative Party after being charged with betting offences, following an investigation into bets placed on the timing of the 2024 general election.

He is currently awaiting trial.

You can also find articles detailing the manifestos of Welsh Labour, the Welsh Conservatives, the Welsh Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru, Reform UK and the Wales Green Party.