Joel James is the Member of the Welsh Parliament for South Wales Central, representing the areas of the Rhondda Cynon Taf, Vale of Glamorgan as well as Cardiff. Joel was elected to the Senedd in May 2021 and appointed to the Shadow Cabinet as the Shadow Minister for Social Partnership. Some of the key areas Joel covers include; coal tip policy, the Wales and Africa programme and public services (including community fire safety).
As a Member of the Senedd, Joel also sits on two different committees; the Petitions Committee and also the Local Government and Housing Committee. He is also the proud Chair of the Liver Disease and Liver Cancer Cross-Party Group.
Joel was born in Church Village in 1985 and attended Bryn Celynnog Comprehensive School in Beddau. He went on to gain a BA in History from the University of Bristol and even completed his postgraduate degree in Welsh History at Cardiff University.
Before entering the world of politics, Joel worked as a librarian at one of the highest-rated schools in the entire UK – Cardiff Sixth Form College. He also worked for the Rt. Hon Alun Cairns MP for the Vale of Glamorgan.
Joel first became involved in politics in 2008 when he was elected as a Conservative Councillor to Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council for Llantwit Fardre. His ascension to the council was the first time a Conservative had been elected to RCT council.
Changes to the rules in 2022 meant that Joel could not remain as a County Councillor whilst serving as a Member of the Senedd. Therefore, at the 2022 Local Government election, he stood down from the Rhondda Cynon Taf County Council. However, he continues to serve on Llantwit Fardre Community Council.