My name is Mahaboob Basha, and I live in Swansea with my wife, our young son and daughter.

Full statement

I'm the Treasurer of the Welsh Labour Party, a UN-experienced civil servant and diplomat, a Shop Steward, and a community activist. Over two decades, it has been my honour to serve as the champion of our values in some of the grandest and most remarkable institutions in the world, and to win battles against the most stubborn opponents of working people.

But my story didn't begin in city halls or meeting rooms. It began in the heart of our communities. In conversations over garden gates. In village halls, echoing with hope. In the quiet resilience of neighbours who’ve had to do far more, with far less, for far too long. Across our constituency, I’ve listened to your stories and seen the strength of our people. I want to bring that strength to the Senedd. Not just as a representative, but as one of you.

My values are clear: fairness, strong public services, and opportunity for every family. Labour has already delivered much in Wales - free prescriptions, the most generous student support in the UK, free school meals expansion, and the Future Generations Act. But from Brecon, to Swansea, to Neath, people want delivery on the day-to-day issues: GP and dental access, the cost of living, potholes, safe school routes, apprenticeships, reliable buses, parks and libraries, safe housing, and protection from poverty.​ Ours is a community of communities - Swansea Valley, Neath Valley, and Brecon/Radnorshire, each with its own needs but shared challenges. From farming and flooding to cost-of-living struggles, from youth out-migration to elderly care, the solutions must be tailored locally but rooted in Labour values. With Labour in both Cardiff Bay and Westminster, now is the time to bring real investment back to these valleys, towns, and rural areas.​ I unite people, I build solutions, and I deliver results. I’m ready to be a visible, reachable, relentless MS for every valley, town, and village in Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd.​

Give me the chance, and I'll prove it from day one.