Hefin David

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Hefin Wyn David (13 August 1977 – 12 August 2025) was a Welsh Labour politician who served as the Member of the Senedd (MS) for Caerphilly from 2016 until his death in 2025. He worked to help small businesses, create jobs, and improve access to education for people with additional learning needs. He also cared about communities in the valleys and families with relatives who have autism.

Born in Caerphilly, he grew up in Penpedairheol and went to Heolddu Comprehensive School. He studied Politics and Economics at Cardiff University, then earned a master’s in European Policy. He did a PGCE at the University of Wales, Newport and later earned a PhD in small business employment issues at the University of Gloucestershire. He was a senior lecturer at the University of Wales, Newport (2002–2008) and taught at Cardiff Metropolitan University (2008–2016), including courses in other countries.

In 2007 he was elected to Caerphilly County Borough Council for St Cattwg and served until 2017. He chaired the Policy and Resources Scrutiny Committee (2012–2016) and helped win a £400,000 National Lottery grant to rebuild Tir-Y-Berth village hall.

As an MS, he sat on the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs committee and the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport and International Relations committee. He helped set up Cross Party Groups on Universities and on Long Covid with Rhun ap Iorwerth. He campaigned to cap estate management charges for freeholders and to tighten fleecehold laws.

In 2022 he urged the Welsh Government to improve support for autism, ADHD and Tourette’s syndrome. He was asked by the Welsh Government to produce a report on how professionals support learners moving from education to work; the report was published in June 2023.

His partner was Vikki Howells, MS for Cynon Valley. He had two children, Caitlin and Holly, with his ex-wife Anna. He was a school governor at Heolddu Comprehensive and at Trinity Fields.

Hefin David died at his home in Nelson, Caerphilly, on 12 August 2025. In January 2026 a coroner ruled his death a suicide. His death led to the 2025 Caerphilly by-election, which was won by Lindsay Whittle of Plaid Cymru.