CIEH Senedd manifesto – Make your voice and vote count!

This is your opportunity to use your vote and voice to shape the future of environmental health in Wales by promoting the CIEH Senedd manifesto with the political candidates that are canvassing for your personal vote in the upcoming elections.

The 2026 Senedd election will be held on 7 May 2026. There will be more members than before – 96 – and with a new voting system that aims to allocate seats more closely with parties’ share of the vote, political parties will be fighting for every vote.

Our manifesto includes policies put forward from the environmental health community in Wales.

There are three main themes:

• Securing the environmental health workforce
• Reducing health inequalities
• Stronger safeguards for consumers

We’ve shared our proposals with each party’s policy officers. We’ll know when they publish their own manifestos whether they are formally committing to support our ideas. Either way, though, it’s important that candidates and party canvassers hear on the doorstep that environmental health is important to the future of Wales.

If you’re contacted by one of the parties, ask them about their commitment to environmental health. Raise awareness of the CIEH manifesto and ask them how they feel that their party aligns with the above critical themes.

They may not know very much about the profession at first. You could start by saying that environmental health protects what matters most to everyone: the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat. You could mention our work in public health, environmental protection, housing standards, food standards and health and safety in the workplace. People live healthier lives for longer because of environmental health. These are just suggestions, you are our experts and we are asking for support to simply raise the awareness and profile of our profession.

Some parties don’t allow candidates to back other organisations’ manifestos. But you could find out whether they are likely to support us by asking them questions, such as:

• What are your plans to ensure that everyone in Wales lives in a decent home?
• Will you support calls to make sure that food providers are checked before selling food to the public?
• There are shortages in the environmental health workforce. Will you help us fill the gaps so that we can keep Wales well?

If you have such a conversation, we’re keen to hear about it. Please email us at [email protected] 

It would be helpful to know which party you spoke to (and if you spoke to a candidate, who it was) and which constituency you are in. If you don’t know, just let us have your postcode.

The run-up to the Senedd elections is a great time to talk to parties about their plans. That way, when the new Senedd starts its work, we’ll know who to talk to and who will help us champion for environmental health.

You can view the CIEH Senedd Manifesto – ‘‘Wellness Wales’ – here: https://www.cieh.org/policy/senedd-manifesto/