Lindsay Whittle is a Welsh

Welsh people

The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...

 politician, a member of Plaid Cymru

Plaid Cymru

' is a political party in Wales. It advocates the establishment of an independent Welsh state within the European Union. was formed in 1925 and won its first seat in 1966...

 and an Assembly Member (AM) for the South Wales East electoral region in the National Assembly for Wales

National Assembly for Wales

The National Assembly for Wales is a devolved assembly with power to make legislation in Wales. The Assembly comprises 60 members, who are known as Assembly Members, or AMs...

.

Political career

Whittle was born in Caerphilly

Caerphilly

Caerphilly is a town in the county borough of Caerphilly, south Wales, located at the southern end of the Rhymney Valley, with a population of approximately 31,000. It is a commuter town of Cardiff and Newport, which are located some 7.5 miles and 12 miles away, respectively...

 in South Wales

South Wales

South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...

, and lives in Abertridwr, Caerphilly. He repeatedly won local council elections since he entered politics in 1976, while working for several decades as a housing manager in Cardiff

Cardiff

Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...

. He was first elected Leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council

Caerphilly County Borough Council

Caerphilly County Borough Council is the governing body for Caerphilly , one of the Principal Areas of Wales.- Current composition :- Historic results :-Electoral divisions:...

 between 1999 and 2004, and a second time in from 2008 to 2011. He is also the Welsh Local Government Association

Welsh Local Government Association

The Welsh Local Government Association represents the interests of local authorities in Wales. It is an affiliated member of the Local Government Association of England and Wales....

's spokesperson on Equalities, Community Safety and Social Justice.

He stood in every Welsh Assembly election

Welsh Assembly elections

Since its formation in 1999, there have been three Welsh Assembly elections to the National Assembly for Wales:*National Assembly for Wales election, 1999*National Assembly for Wales election, 2003*National Assembly for Wales election, 2007...

 since its formation in 1999, and in seven elections for Westminster Parliament seats in Wales for Plaid Cymru. In 2011 he was elected as Assembly Member for South Wales East in the National Assembly for Wales.

Following his election to the Welsh Assembly, Whittle stood down as leader of Caerphilly County Council, but remains as a backbench councillor.

Offices held