Shav Taj

Shavanah Taj (born 1976) is a Welsh trade unionist and Labour Party politician. She has been leader of the Wales TUC since 2020. She has served as a Member of the Senedd (MS) for Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf since May 2026.

Early life Taj's father Mohamed Taj Khan came to the UK from Pakistan in 1958 and became a shop steward and health and safety representative in Port Talbot and Cardiff steelworks. and when she was 14 years old organised an anti-racism campaign. She went on to study at Coleg Glan Hafren, the University of Glamorgan and the University of the West of England. She was the second woman to hold the position and the first BAME person to do so.

In May 2025 Taj revealed she had had informal conversations about standing for election to the Senedd. In December 2025 it was announced that Taj had won a Labour Party ballot to be placed top of the closed list of prospective candidates for the Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf constituency at the 2026 Senedd election.

On 19 May 2026 Taj was appointed as Labour's spokesperson in the Senedd for employment, equalities and economic transformation.

Personal life Taj lives in Cardiff. She is married and has two daughters.