Kiera Marshall

Kiera Marshall
MS
Official portrait, 2026
Member of the Senedd
Incumbent
Assumed office
8 May 2026
ConstituencyCaerdydd Penarth
Majority36,136 (41%)
Personal details
BornKiera Duncan Marshall
1997 or 1998 (age 28–29)
PartyPlaid Cymru
Children1
EducationGower College Swansea
London School of Economics
Occupation
  • Politician
  • researcher

Kiera Duncan Marshall (born 1997 or 1998) is a Welsh Plaid Cymru politician who has served as a Member of the Senedd (MS) for Caerdydd Penarth since May 2026.

Raised in Townhill, Swansea, Marshall studied politics and economics, and worked as a researcher for Plaid Cymru in the Senedd. She unsuccessfully stood as a candidate for Cardiff West in the 2024 general election, and was elected to the Senedd in the 2026 election.

Early life and career

Marshall was born in 1997 or 1998[1] to English parents and raised in Townhill, Swansea, Wales.[2][3] Her mother was a charity worker.[4] Marshall attended Gower College Swansea, where she studied politics at A-level, and later studied economics at the London School of Economics.[3][5] She has previously worked in hospitality and served as the deputy head of policy for the Welsh branch of the Federation of Small Businesses.[6]

Political career

Marshall had worked as the lead researcher for the Plaid Cymru Economy, Transport, and Post-16 Education group at the Senedd,[1][7] and previously volunteered for Member of the Senedd (MS) Bethan Sayed.[4]

In the 2024 general election, Marshall unsuccessfully ran as the Plaid candidate for Cardiff West. She came second, receiving 9,423 votes (21.1%), and was not elected, losing to Labour candidate Alex Barros-Curtis.[8] The result was the second largest vote share increase (12.5%) for Plaid in the election and the party’s largest in a general election in Cardiff.[6][4][7]

In the 2026 Senedd election, Marshall was elected as an MS for the six-member Caerdydd Penarth constituency, with Plaid receiving 36,136 votes (41%).[9] She was elected alongside fellow Plaid members Anna Brychan and Leticia Gonzalez.[4][10] Marshall had been placed second on the party candidates list for the constituency and had announced her candidacy on International Women's Day the same year.[7] Marshall is a member of the Senedd Legislation Committee.[11]

Electoral history

Election Seat Party Votes Percentage (%) Result Source
General, 2024 Cardiff West Plaid Cymru 9,423 21.1 Not elected [8]
Senedd, 2026 Caerdydd Penarth Plaid Cymru 36,136 41 Elected [9]

Personal life

Marshall lives in Canton, Cardiff, with her partner and daughter.[3][6] She was pregnant with their daughter during her candidacy in the 2026 election.[4] She has learnt Welsh for over four years, not being taught as a child.[7]

In 2021, Marshall was convicted of driving under the influence in Swansea City Centre on 8 May, receiving a £300 fine and being disqualified from driving for 17 months.[1] The conviction resurfaced during her 2024 parliamentary candidacy, and she issued a statement saying that at the time of the incident she had been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder due to being a victim of stalking.[1][4]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Mansfield, Mark (25 June 2024). "Plaid Cymru candidate 'deeply regrets' drink driving conviction". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
  2. ↑ "Ex-Olympian among first-time general election candidates". BBC News. 30 June 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 Gough, Joseph (30 January 2026). "Meet three young faces hoping to win a place in the historic new Senedd – The Cardiffian". Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Kiera Marshall MS: 'Growing up amid inequality in Townhill shaped my politics'". WalesOnline. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
  5. ↑ "'Politicians don't understand what young people need or care about'". WalesOnline. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 "Senedd Election 2026: The full list of candidates and constituency details for Caerdydd Penarth candidates". WalesOnline. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Price, Emily (10 March 2025). "Plaid Cymru rising star announces intention to stand in upcoming Senedd election". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  8. 1 2 "Cardiff West - General election results 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  9. 1 2 "Caerdydd Penarth - Welsh Parliament constituency". BBC News. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  10. ↑ "Caerdydd Penarth election results in full: The breakdown of Senedd Election votes". WalesOnline. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
  11. ↑ "Senedd committees: First meetings of the seventh Senedd". South Wales Argus. 22 July 2026. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
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