FORMER Ceredigion MP Mark Williams has been chosen as the Liberal Democrat candidate for the next General Election.

Mr Williams was MP for Ceredigion from 2005-2017, when he lost his seat to Plaid Cymru’s Ben Lake.

Party members have reselected Mr Williams as their candidate for the next General Election, which is scheduled to take place no later than January 2025.

Since 2017 Mark has resumed his teaching career and has remained active in a range of local voluntary organisations and charities.

He and his wife, Helen, who runs the local community Hwb, live in Borth with their four children.

Commenting on his selection Mark Williams said: “I am delighted to once again be our candidate in my home constituency, the place where we live, where my children have grown up and thrived, and in which I passionately believe has so much potential.

“Ceredigion is a wonderful place in which to live, but all too often is overlooked by UK Government Westminster and the Welsh Government in Cardiff Bay.

“That is why Ceredigion needs a strong voice to champion it in Parliament and why I’m going to be working hard to win back the seat and put Ceredigion’s interests first. Standing up for local communities has always been the defining characteristic of the Liberal Democrats.

“The Liberal Democrats’ commitment to internationalism, protecting our natural environment, standing up for carers and reforming our democracy are things I’m really looking forward to talking to residents about on the doorstep.

Responding to the news Cllr Elizabeth Evans, Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Ceredigion County Council said: “I am delighted that Mark has been selected as our Westminster candidate for the next election. I, along with my council group colleagues look forward very much to campaigning with Mark on issues which matter most to the residents and businesses of the County.

“Mark is a committed campaigner and he hasn’t really taken his foot off the peddle once leaving Westminster, working in his local community and campaigning across the County on many issues. “Mark is well respected, with a proven track record of getting things done. I know he cannot wait to get back on the campaign trail. “

Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader and Senedd Member for Mid & West Wales Jane Dodds added: “I am thrilled to see that Mark Williams has been reselected to stand as our candidate in Ceredigion where we have a real chance of winning the seat back.

“Mark has the experience, drive and compassion to be a loud voice for Ceredigion in Westminster and has my full support, both as Welsh Party Leader and as the Senedd Member for Mid and West Wales.

"I'm looking forward to getting stuck into the campaign to get Mark back into Parliament."