I WOULD like to take the opportunity to thank everybody who voted in the Assembly elections last week. It was fantastic to see turnout up from five years ago, and although it fell some way short of turnout in the general election it was a positive step forward.

It is a huge honour and privilege to have been returned to serve as the AM for South Wales Central for the third time. I have really enjoyed representing the area I was born and brought up in since I was first elected in 2007, and I look forward to helping many more people over the next five years.

I would like to pay tribute to all candidates who stood – in a democracy it is vital that people put themselves forward for election and I congratulate all candidates for this, whether they were ultimately elected or not. I would like to pay tribute to Vaughan Gething on his re-election as AM for Cardiff South and Penarth, and to Conservative candidate Ben Gray for a well fought campaign.

In the Vale, Ross England fought an excellent campaign that placed local issues at the heart of it. Be it putting a stop to proposed parking charges or working hard to prevent excessive housing development, Ross has made many significant achievements for our area and he should be proud of all he has done.

It is testament to Jane Hutt that she succeeded in being returned as the Vale’s AM and I would like to congratulate her. She is well regarded and despite our political differences, I look forward to working alongside her over the next five years to deliver for the Vale.

Andrew RT Davies

South Wales Central Regional AM