Two Powys politicians have been named in the Shadow Cabinet in the Welsh Senedd.

Russell George has been named Shadow Health Minister, in a move that represents a change from the Economy brief he held in the last Senedd.

He will work in the department alongside newly-elected Brecon and Radnorshire MS James Evans, who has been promoted to Shadow Minister for Mental Health, Wellbeing and Mid Wales.

Party leader Andrew RT Davies said the team was “brimming with energy and ideas” and that he was “excited to see a new shadow cabinet full of talent and expertise from outside parliament enter the political fray in Wales."

Mr George said he is "delighted to take on this important role".

He said: "Not just because health takes up half of the Welsh Government budget but for too long health in Mid Wales has been forgotten.

“Our health service has had its most difficult year in its existence, and it is only with the hard-word and dedication of our NHS professionals and care staff that we have been kept safe.

“It is essential that they are rewarded but more importantly given the facilities they need to provide the care that they want to give.”

Mr Evans said he is "extremely excited" to begin his new role, and hopes to bring in policies to tackle the rise in male mental health related issues.

He said: "Mid Wales is my home and a place I believe has been ignored by the establishment in Cardiff Bay for way too long. I will tour the region, listen to the voices of those who want to improve our region and work with them to ensure the long-term prosperity for our area.

"Championing mental health has been one of my main aims since being elected as a Senedd Member and I have ambitious plans to raise topics that have been ignored by politicians for too long.

"Suicide prevention, mental health services, substance misuse and armed forces and veterans’ health have been on the agenda for some time and I look forward to proposing new policies to improve legislation for those in need.

"However, there are also topics that simply aren’t being taken seriously by the Welsh Government, such as the negative effects of social media on young people, male and female body dysmorphia and how online companies are promoting harmful lifestyles to our young people.

"All of these issues need raising, discussing and addressing, and I am determined to give mental health the time and recognition it deserves.”

Welsh Conservative leader, Andrew RT Davies said: “After our best ever Welsh election result, this is a new team brimming with energy and ideas to tackle the big challenges Wales faces as we come out of the pandemic.

“Our immediate priority will be working in the national interest to protect livelihoods and ensure our economy gets on the road to recovery and we build back better after the most difficult period we’ve seen in peacetime Britain.

“My team will do the job that families, workers and businesses in Wales want to see from us – holding Labour to account, putting forward positive policy alternatives as we build a real alternative and ensuring that, through strong opposition, we deliver better government.”