:William Powell (Liberal Democrat politician)

Powell attended Talgarth Community Primary School{{Cite web|last=Mosalski|first=Ruth|date=2021-03-28|title=Senedd election 2021: Who is standing in Brecon and Radnorshire?|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/senedd-election-brecon-radnorshire-candidates-19559293|access-date=2021-08-28|website=WalesOnline|language=en}} and Gwernyfed High School,{{Cite web|title=William Powell sends a personal message about his views on Gwernyfed High School Closure – FYI Talgarth|url=http://talgarth.fyinetwork.co.uk/my,31761-William-Powell-sends-a-personal-message-about-his-views-on-Gwernyfed-High-School-Closure|access-date=2021-08-28|website=talgarth.fyinetwork.co.uk}} gaining a scholarship to read Modern Languages (French and German) at Pembroke College, Oxford.{{Cite web|title=Powell is Liberal choice|url=https://www.mywelshpool.co.uk/viewernews/ArticleId/10629/Powell-is-Liberal-choice|access-date=2021-08-28|website=mywelshpool|language=en-US}} He is a qualified teacher and has taught French and German at a number of schools in Wales and the Marches. Latterly, William was Head of German at Hereford Sixth Form College, where he was also the European Officer.{{Cite web|title=William Powell|url=https://senedd.wales/people/william-powell/|access-date=2021-08-28|website=senedd.wales|language=en-GB}}

In 1998 he was awarded County Winner of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society Agri-Environment Award.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}

Powell has consistently attended the annual Cilmeri commemoration to mark the last battle of Prince Llywelyn.{{cite web|date=2013-03-01|title=Featured articles|url=http://culture.cymru/featuredarticles_84601.html|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129004315/http://culture.cymru/featuredarticles_84601.html|archive-date=2018-01-29|website=culture.cymru}}{{cite web|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/llywelyn-last-memorial-planned-group-8236451|title=Llywelyn the Last memorial planned by group dedicated to his memory|first=Rachael|last=Misstear|date=5 December 2014|website=WalesOnline}}

Powell represented Talgarth ward on Powys County Council since 2004 and has been active in rural regeneration projects, including the restoration of Talgarth Mill, of which he is a founder Director. He is also a Member of the FUW, a Governor of Talgarth CP School and Gwernyfed High School. He is also a member of the Lloyd George Society, where he serves on the Committee. He is a former member of the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority.

For many years Powell has been one of the central figures in the European Movement in Wales.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}} He was a founding Board Member of Wales in Europe and is an active Member of Wales Council European Movement, which he chaired for over a decade. In addition, he is a Council Member of the European Liberal Democrats (ALDE) which includes Liberal sister-parties from across Europe. In 1999 he stood for the Pro-Euro Conservative Party in the European election in Wales but joined the Liberal Democrats shortly afterwards.

He was elected as the first Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for the Mid and West Wales region in the elections in May 2011.{{cite web|title=Wales elections – Mid and West Wales|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/election2011/region/html/19844.stm|publisher=BBC News|work=Vote 2011|accessdate=17 May 2011}} Following the election he was Welsh Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Environment, Sustainable Development and Rural Affairs.

Within the Assembly, Powell was Chair of the Petitions Committee[http://www.senedd.assembly.wales/mgCommitteeDetails.aspx?ID=218 Petitions Committee – Fourth Assembly], National Assembly for Wales. throughout the 4th Assembly and a member for the Environment and Sustainability Committee.{{cite web|url=https://www.assembly.wales/en/bus-home/committees/Pages/Committee-Profile.aspx?cid=225|title=Committee Profile|website=National Assembly for Wales}} He represented the Welsh Liberal Democrats in the National Assembly on both the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly (BIPA). He was also Chair of the Cross Party Group on Europe.

As Chair of the Assembly's Petitions Committee, he was central to a number of successful petitions, including one on term-time school holidays,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-34978221|title=Some term-time holiday fines 'unfair'|first=Sarah|last=Hibbard|date=7 December 2015|via=www.bbc.co.uk}} one calling for the construction of a second Dyfi bridge{{cite web|url=http://www.senedd.assembly.wales/documents/s34759/10.10.2014%20Correspondence%20-%20Minister%20for%20Economy%20Science%20and%20Transport%20to%20the%20Chair.pdf |title=Info |publisher=www.senedd.assembly.wales |date= |accessdate=2021-05-11}} and a further one which successfully resulted in the reinstatement of the Diabetes Reference Group for Powys.{{cite web|url=http://www.senedd.assembly.wales/documents/s35959/13.01.2015%20Correspondence%20-%20Petitioner%20to%20the%20Chair.pdf |title=Petition |publisher=www.senedd.assembly.wales |date= |accessdate=2021-05-11}}

In January 2014, the BBC{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-25897872|title=AM warned on inappropriate behaviour|date=25 January 2014|via=www.bbc.co.uk}} and Western Mail{{cite web|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/lib-dem-am-william-powell-6594464|title=Lib Dem AM William Powell given formal warning on inappropriate behaviour|first=James|last=McCarthy|date=25 January 2014|website=WalesOnline}} reported that Powell had been given a formal warning by the Liberal Democrats for inappropriate behaviour towards a young female party activist.

In July 2014,{{cite web|url=http://www.brecon-radnor.co.uk/article.cfm?id=114&headline=AM+hits+out+at+sacked+minister§ionIs=news&searchyear=2014|title=AM hits out at sacked minister|date=9 July 2014|website=Brecon & Radnor Express}} Powell hit out at Alun Davies AM for seeking to gain personal information on him and four other Assembly Members, Andrew RT Davies, Llyr Huws Gruffydd, Kirsty Williams and Antoinette Sandbach, regarding EU farming subsidies received by their respective family businesses. Alun Davies believed this caused a conflict of interest, however the Minister's actions led directly to his sacking by First Minister Carwyn Jones and Alun Davies subsequently issued a personal apology to all AMs involved regarding EU farming subsidies received by their respective family businesses.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-28227502|title=Sacked minister apologises to AMs|date=9 July 2014|via=www.bbc.co.uk}}

In 2015 Powell was shortlisted for the Wales Green Energy Awards in recognition for his support for renewable energy throughout his time as an Assembly Member. He spoke about the topic during Plenary sessions, and worked with energy companies to try and advance their case, whilst at the same time ensuring that the communities and businesses he represents have their voices heard.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}

For the 2016 Welsh Assembly election, Powell ran in Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, coming sixth with 837 votes (3%).{{cite web|title = Election results for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, 6 May 2016|url = https://business.senedd.wales/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=258|website = Senedd Cymru|access-date = 26 April 2025}}{{cite news|title = Carmarthen East and Dinefwr - Welsh Assembly constituency - Election 2016|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/wales-constituencies/W09000015|work = BBC News|access-date = 26 April 2025}}No Liberal Democrat AMs were returned in any of the regions, with Powell having unsuccessfully headed the party list in Mid and West Wales.{{cite web|title = National Assembly for Wales elections (Regions): The 63 candidates in Mid and West Wales|url = https://whocanivotefor.co.uk/elections/naw.r.mid-and-west-wales.2016-05-05/mid-and-west-wales/|website = Who Can I Vote For?|access-date = 26 April 2025}}{{cite news|title = Mid and West Wales - Welsh Assembly electoral region - Election 2016 - BBC News|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/wales-regions/W10000006|work = BBC News|access-date = 26 April 2025}}{{cite news|title = Welsh Assembly election: Lib Dem leader steps down - BBC News|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2016-wales-36230820|work = BBC News|date = 6 May 2016|access-date = 26 April 2025}}{{cite news|title = Welsh Assembly election 2016 - results - BBC News|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2016/wales/results|access-date = 26 April 2025}}

He was re-elected as a County Councillor for Talgarth in Powys in 2017.

Ahead of the 2021 Senedd election, Kirsty Williams, Minister for Education and the member for Brecon and Radnorshire, announced that she would not be seeking re-election.{{cite news|title = Education Minister Kirsty Williams MS to stand down at next Senedd election|url = https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2020-10-27/education-minister-kirsty-williams-ms-to-stand-down-at-next-senedd-election|work = ITV News|date = 27 October 2020|access-date = 14 May 2025}}

Powell was selected as the Liberal Democrats' candidate for the constituency in December 2020.{{cite news|last=Jones|first=Matt|date=14 December 2020|title=Lib Dems announce William Powell as B&R candidate for May's Senedd election|url=https://www.countytimes.co.uk/news/18942909.william-powell-named-b-r-candidate-senedd-election/|access-date=2021-02-05|website=County Times|language=en}} At the time, this was the party's only seat in the Senedd.{{cite web|last=McAllister|first=Laura|date=2021-01-30|title=Where did it all go wrong for the Liberal Democrats?|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/news-opinion/go-wrong-liberal-democrats-what-19723598|access-date=2021-02-05|website=WalesOnline|language=en|quote=Brecon and Radnorshire will be a crucial seat to watch on election night, as former MS William Powell battles to hold the party's single seat.}} He was unsuccessful in defending the constituency, which saw the Conservatives take the seat with a majority of nearly 4,000 votes. Powell finished a distant second, receiving 8,291 votes (27.8%).{{cite news|title = Brecon & Radnorshire - Welsh Parliament constituency - BBC News|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2021/wales/constituencies/W09000041|work = BBC News|access-date = 14 May 2025}}

{{Cite web|url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/19288559.senedd-2021-tories-win-brecon-radnorshire-seat-powys/|title=Senedd Election 2021: Tories win Brecon and Radnorshire seat from Lib Dems|date=8 May 2021|website=South Wales Argus}} Due to losing their constituency seat, the party were entitled to representation on the regional list, with leader Jane Dodds being the only Liberal Democrat candidate to be elected. {{cite news|title = Senedd Election 2021: Lib Dem's Jane Dodds on regional win|url = https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/19288894.mid-west-wales-welsh-lib-dem-leader-jane-dodds-elected/|work = South Wales Argus|date = 8 May 2021|access-date = 14 May 2025}}Powell, himself, was placed second on the list.{{cite web|title = Senedd Cymru elections (Regions): The 66 candidates in Mid and West Wales|url = https://whocanivotefor.co.uk/elections/senedd.r.mid-and-west-wales.2021-05-06/mid-and-west-wales/|website = Who Can I Vote For?|access-date = 14 May 2025}}

In preparation for the 2024 general election, Powell was selected to be his party's candidate for Monmouthshire.{{cite news|title = William Powell selected to fight Monmouth seat for Lib Dems|url =https://www.monmouthshirebeacon.co.uk/news/politics/william-powell-selected-to-fight-monmouth-seat-for-lib-dems-693611|work = Monmouthshire Beacon|date = 3 June 2024|access-date = 26 April 2025}}{{cite news|title = Monmouthshire: Welsh Lib Dem select William Powell|url = https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/24368237.monmouthshire-welsh-lib-dem-select-william-powell/|work = South Wales Argus|date = 6 June 2024|access-date = 26 April 2025}} He came fifth, taking 2,279 votes (4.5%).{{cite news|title = Monmouthshire General election results 2024 - BBC News|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2024/uk/constituencies/W07000101|work = BBC News|access-date = 26 April 2025}}{{cite web|title = Monmouthshire general election - July 2024|url = https://electionresults.parliament.uk/elections/3634|website = UK Parliament|access-date = 26 April 2025}}{{cite news|title = 2024 UK General Election Results for Monmouthshire|url = https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2024-uk-election-results/constituencies/monmouthshire/|work = Bloomberg|date = 6 July 2024|access-date = 26 April 2025}}

Powell lives with his family on their farm in the Black Mountains near Talgarth, Powys, where his ancestors have farmed since the 18th Century.{{Cite web|title=About Me|url=https://williampowell.org.uk/en/page/about-me|access-date=2021-08-28|website=William Powell|language=en}}

On 26 March 2020, he was admitted to Nevill Hall Hospital in Abergavenny with COVID-19 symptoms.{{cite news|title=Councillor 'now conscious' after two and a half weeks in hospital with coronavirus|url=https://www.countytimes.co.uk/news/18377691.william-powell-condition-improving-two-half-weeks-hospital-coronavirus/|date=14 April 2020|access-date=27 August 2021|last=Parry|first=Anwen|website=County Times|language=en}} He spent two and a half weeks of his three-week stay in an induced coma on a ventilator.{{Cite web|last=Mosalski|first=Ruth|date=2021-04-09|title=Voters 'coming back' to the Liberal Democrats, says Senedd candidate|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/william-powell-liberal-democrats-brecon-20293902|access-date=2021-08-27|website=WalesOnline|language=en}}

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{{succession box

| title = Assembly Member for Mid and West Wales

| years = 2011–2016

| before = Nick Bourne

| after = Neil Hamilton

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{{Welsh AMs 2011-2016}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Powell, William}}

Category:Living people

Category:Wales AMs 2011–2016

Category:Members of Powys County Council

Category:Liberal Democrat members of the Senedd

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)