Draft:Aled Thomas (British Politician)

David Aled Thomas (known as Aled Thomas) is a British politician, agronomist and farmer who has served as the County Councillor for Johnston in Pembrokeshire since the 2022 welsh local elections, and is the Welsh Conservative candidate for the new Ceredigion Preseli constituency at the 2024 general election.

A member of the Welsh Conservatives, Thomas is the Pembrokeshire council's Conservative Group spokesman for Finance, Agriculture and the Environment.

He has also served as the Conservative Group Whip on Pembrokeshire Council since May 2023.

Following his election to Pembrokeshire County Council, he was also elected to Johnston Community Council where he is currently Vice-Chair.

Thomas is also a Local Education Authority (LEA) appointed school governor of Ysgol Caer Elen, and Chairman of the board of governors at Johnston Community Primary School.

Thomas, who is a qualified agronomist, won the Agriculture Student of The Year at the 2019 Farmers Guardian British Farming Awards.

In March 2024, Thomas announced on the social media platform LinkedIn that he had been appointed as a Justice of the Peace (JP) for England and Wales.

2024 General Election
Thomas was selected in March 2024 to stand as the Welsh Conservative candidate for the new Ceredigion Preseli constituency at the 2024 general election.

2022 Local Elections
Aled Thomas was elected as a County Councillor onto Pembrokeshire County Council in the 2022 welsh local elections, following the retirement of the incumbent member, Kenneth Rowlands. He has the smallest majority of all members of the Unitary authority, narrowly winning against Welsh Labour candidate Daniel Metcalfe by 3 votes.

Thomas is the first Conservative councillor to represent Johnston since the first elections at the formation of Pembrokeshire County Council which were held on 4 May 1995.

Political Interests
Aled Thomas is currently regional Chairman for Wales of the Conservative Rural Forum (formerly known as the Conservative Rural Action Group).

Despite being an opposition councillor, Thomas is fluent in Cymraeg and is the Member Champion for the Welsh language on Pembrokeshire County Council.

Media Appearances
In 2016, while Thomas was studying his Bachelor of Science with Honours degree in Agriculture at Harper Adams University, he appeared on S4C's welsh language show Fferm Ffactor: Brwydr y Ffermwyr as part of a team representing the university.

Personal life
Thomas lives on his family farm in Haverfordwest with his parents, both retired police detectives.

Aled Thomas is also a Commended Member (CMIAgrM) of the Institute of Agricultural Management, a member of the Future Farmers of Wales and has held positions such as Trustee and Director of both the National and Welsh Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs.