# Joyce Watson

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Welsh Senedd Member

For the New Zealand scientist, see [Joyce Watson (chemist)](/source/Joyce_Watson_(chemist)).

Joyce Watson Watson in 2016 Member of the Senedd for Mid and West Wales In office 3 May 2007 – 7 April 2026 Preceded by Lisa Francis Succeeded by Seat abolished Personal details Born 1955 (age 70–71) Party Welsh Labour Spouse Colin Watson Children 3 Alma mater Swansea University

**Elizabeth Joyce Watson** (born 1955) is a [Welsh Labour](/source/Welsh_Labour)[1] politician who was a [Member of the Senedd](/source/Member_of_the_Senedd) (MS) for [Mid and West Wales](/source/Mid_and_West_Wales_(Senedd_electoral_region)) from [2007](/source/2007_National_Assembly_for_Wales_election) to [2026](/source/2026_Senedd_election).

## Career

Watson was educated at Manorbier School, Cosheston School and Cardigan Comprehensive before going on to [Pembrokeshire College](/source/Pembrokeshire_College) in 1990. In 1993, she studied [politics](/source/Politics) at [Swansea University](/source/Swansea_University), later gaining an honours degree at the same time as running Labour's successful parliamentary campaign for [Preseli Pembrokeshire](/source/Preseli_Pembrokeshire).[2]

An active [Labour Party](/source/Labour_Party_(UK)) member, Watson was elected to [Pembrokeshire County Council](/source/Pembrokeshire_County_Council) at the inaugural elections in [1995](/source/1995_Pembrokeshire_County_Council_election), capturing a seat in [Haverfordwest](/source/Haverfordwest) from the Independents. She retained her seat in [1999](/source/1999_Pembrokeshire_County_Council_election) and [2004](/source/2004_Pembrokeshire_County_Council_election). She was leader of the Labour group on Pembrokeshire Council for six years.

Watson was elected as an [Assembly Member](/source/Member_of_the_National_Assembly_for_Wales) for [Mid and West Wales](/source/Mid_and_West_Wales_(Senedd_electoral_region)) in [May 2007](/source/2007_National_Assembly_for_Wales_election).[2] and re-elected in 2011, 2016 and 2021. Watson has sat as a [Labour Co-operative](/source/Labour_Co-operative) member since 2021.[3]

She is currently a member of the [Senedd Commission](/source/Senedd_Commission), the corporate body for the Senedd, with responsibility for equalities and Senedd staff.[4] She sits on the Senedd’s Equality, Local Government & Communities committee and chairs the Cross-Party Groups on Construction and Human Trafficking.[5]

In 2016 she was elected chair of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) British Islands & Mediterranean region,[6] having previously chaired the Wales branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA). She has represented Wales on the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly (BIPA) and the Council of Europe's Congress of Local & Regional Authorities.

She is involved in a number of high-profile campaigns. She champions the White Ribbon cause, enlisting support to End Violence against Women. In 2010 she wrote *Bordering on Concern*, a report on Human Trafficking in Wales. Following its publication, the Welsh Government appointed the UK's first anti-Trafficking commissioner. In 2009 she launched the Women in Construction network; she continues to work with employers and trade bodies to get more young people and women into the construction industry.[7]

She stood down as an MS at the [2026 Senedd election](/source/2026_Senedd_election).[8][9]

## Personal life

She is married to Colin and has three children, Heather, Fiona and William.[2] and has run several businesses – public houses, restaurants and retail outlets in [Ceredigion](/source/Ceredigion), [Carmarthenshire](/source/Carmarthenshire) and [Pembrokeshire](/source/Pembrokeshire).[7]

Watson's father was a prisoner of war during the [Second World War](/source/Second_World_War), and upon his return to the UK he was suspected of being a German spy. This was because he spoke [Welsh](/source/Welsh-language) as a first language and very little [English](/source/English-language) but had learnt some [German](/source/German-language) while overseas. Following his ordeal he brought up his children only speaking English.[10] Watson is now learning Welsh, and her children were all educated in Welsh medium schools.[2]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Joyce Watson MS"](https://senedd.wales/people/joyce-watson-ms/). *senedd.wales*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-NatAss_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-NatAss_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-NatAss_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-NatAss_2-3) ["Assembly Member Biographies: Joyce Watson"](http://217.140.43.190/memhome/mem-profile/mem-mid_west_wales-2.htm). National Assembly for Wales.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Annual Review 2021"](https://party.coop/wp-content/blogs.dir/5/files/2022/06/Annual-Report-2021-FINAL.pdf) (PDF). [Co-operative Party](/source/Co-operative_Party). Retrieved 16 July 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["The Commissioners and their role"](https://web.archive.org/web/20191106163135/http://www.assembly.wales/en/abthome/about_us-commission_assembly_administration/Pages/abt-commission-membership.aspx). Archived from [the original](http://www.assembly.wales/en/abthome/about_us-commission_assembly_administration/Pages/abt-commission-membership.aspx) on 6 November 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Find a Member – redirect"](https://senedd.wales/help/find-a-member-redirect/). *senedd.wales*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Plenary 14/06/2017"](https://record.assembly.wales/Plenary/4297). *Welsh Parliament*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-About_Joyce_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-About_Joyce_7-1) ["About Joyce"](http://www.joycewatson.org.uk/about-joyce/). *Joyce Watson | Mid & West Wales*. Retrieved 30 May 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Mansfield, Mark (25 January 2025). ["Joyce Watson announces she is stepping down at next Senedd election"](https://nation.cymru/news/joyce-watson-announces-she-is-stepping-down-at-next-senedd-election/). *Nation.Cymru*. Retrieved 25 January 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Moules, James; Green, Daniel (20 October 2025). ["Who are the Labour Senedd members who are standing down at next election?"](https://labourlist.org/2025/10/senedd-election-2026-labour-ms-standing-down/). *LabourList*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Welsh soldier was war spy suspect"](https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/mid_/8248350.stm). BBC. 11 September 2009.

## External links

- [Joyce Watson AM Website](http://www.joycewatson.co.uk/)

- [Welsh Labour Party Website](https://web.archive.org/web/20150701194753/http://www.welshlabour.org.uk/)

- [Website of the Welsh Assembly Government](http://new.wales.gov.uk/?lang=en) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20060615094839/http://new.wales.gov.uk/?lang=en) 15 June 2006 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

- [Senedd member page](https://senedd.wales/people/joyce-watson-ms/)

Senedd Preceded by Lisa Francis Member of the Senedd for Mid and West Wales 2007 – 2026 Succeeded by seat abolished

v t e Members of the Senedd 2021–2026 6th Senedd Labour (29-30) Mick Antoniw Hannah Blythyn Dawn Bowden Jayne Bryant Hefin David (died Aug 2025) Alun Davies Mark Drakeford († till Mar 2024) Rebecca Evans Vaughan Gething († Mar-Jul 2024) John Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Mike Hedges Vikki Howells Jane Hutt Huw Irranca-Davies Julie James Jeremy Miles Eluned MorganR† († since Jul 2024) Julie Morgan Sarah Murphy Lynne Neagle Rhianon Passmore Jenny Rathbone David Rees Jack Sargeant Ken Skates Carolyn ThomasR Lee Waters Joyce WatsonR Buffy Williams Conservatives (14-16) Natasha AsgharR Andrew RT DaviesR († till Dec 2024) Paul Davies Gareth Davies James Evans ( –Jan 2026) Janet Finch-Saunders Peter Fox Russell George ( –Apr 2025) Tom GiffardR Altaf HussainR Mark IsherwoodR Joel JamesR Laura Anne JonesR ( –Jul 2025) Samuel Kurtz Darren Millar † († since Dec 2024) Sam RowlandsR Plaid Cymru (12-13) Rhys ab OwenR ( –Nov 2022) Cefin CampbellR Luke FletcherR Heledd FychanR Llŷr Huws GruffyddR Peredur Owen GriffithsR Mabon ap Gwynfor Siân Gwenllian Rhun ap Iorwerth † († since June 2023) Delyth JewellR Elin Jones Adam Price († till May 2023) Lindsay Whittle (since Oct 2025) Sioned WilliamsR Liberal Democrats (1) Jane DoddsR† Reform (0-2) James Evans (Jan 2026– ) Laura Anne JonesR (Jul 2025– ) Independent (0-1) Rhys ab OwenR (Nov 2022– ) Russell George (Apr 2025– ) Llywydd (presiding officer): Elin Jones † = Party leaders R = Regional MS

v t e Members of the National Assembly for Wales / Senedd 2016–2021 5th Assembly Labour (28/29) Mick Antoniw Hannah Blythyn Dawn Bowden Jayne Bryant Hefin David Alun Davies (–Jan 2021, Feb 2021–)××× Mark Drakeford † Rebecca Evans Vaughan Gething John Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Mike Hedges Vikki Howells Jane Hutt Huw Irranca-Davies Julie James Ann Jones Carwyn Jones († till Dec 2018) Jeremy Miles Eluned MorganR Julie Morgan Lynne Neagle Rhianon Passmore Jenny Rathbone David Rees Carl Sargeant (died Nov 2017) Jack Sargeant (Feb 2018–) Ken Skates Lee Waters Joyce WatsonR Conservatives (12-10) Mohammad AsgharR (died Jun 2020) Angela Burns Andrew RT DaviesR † († till June 2018, Jan 2021–) Paul Davies († Sept 2018–Jan 2021) Suzy DaviesR Janet Finch-Saunders Russell George Mark IsherwoodR Laura Anne JonesR (Jul 2020–) David MeldingR Darren Millar Nick Ramsay (–Dec 2019, Feb 2020–)×× Mark RecklessR (Apr 2017–May 2019)× Plaid Cymru (12-10) Dafydd Elis-Thomas (–Oct 2016) Llyr GruffyddR Siân Gwenllian Rhun ap Iorwerth Delyth JewellR (Jan 2019– ) Elin Jones Helen Mary Jones (Aug 2018– ) Steffan LewisR (died Jan 2019) David LloydR Neil McEvoyR (–Jan 2018) Adam Price † Bethan SayedR Simon ThomasR (–Jul 2018) Leanne Wood († till Sept 2018) UKIP (1-7) Gareth BennettR (–Nov 2019, † Oct 2018–May 2019) Michelle BrownR (–March 2019) Nathan GillR (–Sep 2016) Neil HamiltonR († till May 2018) Caroline JonesR (–May 2019, † May–Oct 2018) Mandy Jones (Dec 2017) Mark RecklessR (–Apr 2017) David RowlandsR (–May 2019) Brexit Party (0-4) Caroline JonesR (May 2019–Aug 2020) Mandy Jones (May 2019–Oct 2020) Mark RecklessR (May 2019–) David RowlandsR (May 2019–Oct 2020) Independent Alliance for Reform (0-3) Mandy Jones (Oct 2020–) Caroline JonesR (Oct 2020–) David RowlandsR (Oct 2020–) Liberal Democrats (1) Kirsty Williams Welsh National Party/Propel (0-1) Neil McEvoyR (Jan 2020–) Independent (0-4) Gareth BennettR (Nov 2019– ) Michelle BrownR (March 2019–) Alun Davies (Jan–Feb 2021) Dafydd Elis-Thomas (Oct 2016– ) Nathan GillR (Sep 2016–Dec 2017) Caroline JonesR (Aug 2020–Oct 2020) Mandy Jones (Jan 2018–May 2019) Neil McEvoyR (Jan 2018–Jan 2020) Nick Ramsay (Jan 2020–Feb 2020) Presiding Officer: Elin Jones † = Party leaders. R = Regional MS × Member of the Conservative group but not party ×× Suspended from Conservative group 2 Jan 2020 to 13 Feb 2020 ××× Suspended from Labour group 19 Jan - 23 Feb 2021

v t e Members of the National Assembly for Wales 2011–2016 4th Assembly Labour (30) Leighton Andrews Mick Antoniw (Rosemary Butler) Christine Chapman Jeffrey Cuthbert Alun Davies Keith Davies Mark Drakeford Carwyn Jones † Rebecca Evans Vaughan Gething Janice Gregory John Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Edwina Hart Mike Hedges Jane Hutt Julie James Ann Jones Huw Lewis Sandy Mewies Julie Morgan Lynne Neagle Gwyn R Price Jenny Rathbone David Rees Carl Sargeant Ken Skates Gwenda Thomas Joyce Watson Conservatives (14) Mohammad Asghar Angela Burns Andrew RT Davies † Byron Davies (until May 2015) Paul Davies Suzy Davies Janet Finch-Saunders Russell George William Graham Janet Haworth (from May 2015) Altaf Hussain (from May 2015) Mark Isherwood David Melding Darren Millar Nick Ramsay Antoinette Sandbach (until May 2015) Plaid Cymru (11) Jocelyn Davies Llyr Gruffydd Bethan Jenkins Alun Ffred Jones Elin Jones Ieuan Wyn Jones † (leader until 2012/AM until June 2013) Rhodri Glyn Thomas Leanne Wood † (leader from March 2012) Rhun ap Iorwerth (from Aug 2013) Simon Thomas Lindsay Whittle Liberal Democrats (5) Peter Black Eluned Parrott William Powell Aled Roberts Kirsty Williams † Presiding Officer: Rosemary Butler † = Party leaders

v t e Members of the National Assembly for Wales 2007–2011 3rd Assembly Labour (26) Leighton Andrews Lorraine Barrett Rosemary Butler Christine Chapman Jeffrey Cuthbert Jane Davidson Alun Davies Andrew Davies Brian Gibbons Janice Gregory John Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Edwina Hart Jane Hutt Irene James Carwyn Jones † (leader from Dec 2009) Ann Jones Huw Lewis Valerie Lloyd Sandy Mewies Rhodri Morgan † (leader until Dec 2009) Lynne Neagle Carl Sargeant Karen Sinclair Gwenda Thomas Joyce Watson Plaid Cymru (15-14) Mohammad Asghar (until Dec 2009) Jocelyn Davies Nerys Evans Chris Franks Bethan Jenkins Alun Ffred Jones Elin Jones Gareth Jones Ieuan Wyn Jones † Helen Mary Jones David Lloyd Janet Ryder (Dafydd Elis-Thomas) Rhodri Glyn Thomas Leanne Wood Conservatives (12-13) Mohammad Asghar (from Dec 2009) Nick Bourne † Angela Burns Andrew RT Davies Paul Davies William Graham Mark Isherwood David Melding Darren Millar Jonathan Morgan Nick Ramsay Brynle Williams (died Apr 2011) Liberal Democrats (5-6) Mick Bates (until Dec 2010) Peter Black Eleanor Burnham Mike German † (leader until Oct 2008/AM until Jun 2010) Veronica German (from Jul 2010) Jenny Randerson Kirsty Williams † (leader from Dec 2008) Independent (1-2) Mick Bates (from Dec 2010) Trish Law Presiding Officer: Dafydd Elis-Thomas † = Party leaders

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Joyce Watson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joyce_Watson) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joyce_Watson?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.