Hywel Williams

Hywel Williams was first elected as a Plaid Cymru MP in 2001. Born in Pwllheli in Caernarfonshire, he read Psychology at Bangor University. Before entering politics, Williams spent his early career working as a mental health social worker in Dwyfor. He then joined Bangor University’s Centre for Social Work, initially as a project worker but progressing to become head of the centre by 1993. Williams left in 1995 to pursue a career as a freelance lecturer, writer, and consultant. Most of his work since this time has been conducted in Welsh and centred on social work, care and policy. During the same period, Williams became spokesman for the Child Poverty Action Group in Wales and advised the House of Commons Welsh Affairs Committee. His career in Westminster began in 2001 when he was elected as the MP for Caernarfon, holding the seat for Plaid Cymru with a comfortable majority of 7,449. Following his election, he joined the Welsh Affairs Committee and went on to serve on a succession of other select committees including the Panel of Chairs, the Science and Technology Committee, the Speaker’s Advisory Committee on Works of Art and the Committee for Exiting the European Union. Between 2015 and 2017 he served as Plaid Cymru’s Westminster leader and has served as the party’s spokesperson on a range of issues, including for Work and Pensions from 2001 to the present. Up until the new parliament was elected, Williams chaired the APPG on Catalonia.