Tom Giffard

Tom Giffard (born 1 April 1991) is a Welsh Conservative politician who served as Member of the Senedd (MS) for the region of South Wales West from 2021 to 2026.

Background Giffard is a second language Welsh speaker. He firstly became a Learning Support Assistant in a Welsh Language primary school. He then went on to complete his studies at Swansea University, receiving a BA in History and Politics.

Political career

Upon his graduation, he then went on to work as a Community Liaison Officer within his region of South Wales West before organising campaigns and working with volunteers in both Swansea and Bridgend. Britain's first transgender member of Parliament.

Giffard was a councillor for Brackla on Bridgend County Borough Council from 2017 to 2022. He worked as the leader of the Conservative group on the council until his election to the Senedd in 2021. He was elected as a Conservative Member of the Senedd for South Wales West in 2021. Shortly after being elected he was appointed as Shadow Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport. He was reshuffled to be Shadow Minister for Education and the Welsh Language in April 2024.

In June 2023, Giffard read a speech generated with ChatGPT in the Senedd, celebrating Wales' win in the World Cup of Darts that year. He said to the BBC that he used it "to show just how advanced the technology is becoming". In July of the same year he was criticised by then First Minister Mark Drakeford for a 'colonial mentality' when he said that Wales is "given £1.20 for every £1 spent in England" on the health service.

In the 2026 Senedd election, he was an unsuccessful candidate in the Gŵyr Abertawe constituency.