Beth Winter

Bethan Winter (born 4 October 1974) is a Welsh Labour Party politician, who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Cynon Valley from 2019 to 2024.

Early life and education
Winter was born and raised in Cynon Valley. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Social Policy and a Master of Arts in Housing Studies, both from the University of Bristol. She later became a researcher and received a PhD from Swansea University in disadvantage among older people in rural communities.

Career
Winter has worked in RCT for Shelter Cymru and in Penywaun as a community worker, and has also managed a youth club and worked in a food bank. She is an official for the University and College Union.

On entering Parliament following the 2019 general election, Winter was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to Rachel Reeves as Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. However, she resigned in September 2020, when she defied the Labour whip and voted against the Overseas Operations Bill alongside 18 other Labour MPs, including two other junior office holders, Nadia Whittome and Olivia Blake.

In February 2022, following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Winter was one of 11 Labour MPs who signed a statement by the Stop the War Coalition which questioned the legitimacy of NATO and accused the military alliance of "eastward expansion". All 11 MPs subsequently removed their signatures after the Labour party threatened them with withdrawal of the party whip.

In May 2023, she called the Welsh Labour selection of prospective parliamentary candidates for the 2024 general election "undemocratic". On 7 June 2023, Winter was defeated by Gerald Jones for her party's selection to become the Labour candidate for the new parliamentary seat of Merthyr Tydfil and Upper Cynon, which will be contested at the 2024 general election. The seat was ultimately renamed Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare in the final recommendations published late in June, which also abolishes her existing seat.

Political positions
Winter is often described as being on the left-wing of the Labour Party and was a member of the Socialist Campaign Group parliamentary caucus. She has described herself as a "proud socialist."

She has supported Cymdeithas yr Iaith's campaign to introduce a Property Act, and has supported devolution of the Crown Estate to the Senedd. She has opposed construction of the AUKUS Deep Space Advanced Radar Concept at Cawdor Barracks.

In June 2024, although not specifically endorsing Welsh Independence she spoke in a rally in Carmarthen that was in favour of Welsh Independence.

Personal life
Winter has three children. Three generations of her family participated in the September 2019 climate strikes at the Senedd building.