Breaking News: Plaid Cymru wins Caerphilly Senedd by-election
Plaid Cymru has defeated Reform UK in a fiercely-fought Senedd by-election, with defending party Labour trailing in third.
Nigel Farage’s party was hoping to win its first seat at the ballot box in the Caerphilly constituency and pledged to “throw everything” at its campaign.
But Plaid has emerged victorious with a majority of 3,848 votes, and a swing of almost 27% from Labour.
The result will embolden Plaid in its efforts to enter government in Wales next year, and is a bitter blow for Labour, which had held the seat since the Senedd was first established in 1999.
Caerphilly by-election result – Lindsay Whittle elected.
Steve Aicheler – Lib Dems – 497 votes
Anthony Cook – Gwlad – 117
Gareth Hughes – Greens – 516
Gareth Potter – Conservatives – 690
Llyr Powell – Reform – 12,113
Roger Quilliam – UKIP – 79
Richard Tunnicliffe – Labour – 3,713
Lindsay Whittle – Plaid Cymru – 15,961
More follows
Support our Nation today
For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.
Da iawn chi, bobl annwyl Caerffili. “Cadwn y mur rhag y bwystfil. Cadwn y ffynnon rhag y baw.”
Contrary to the polling it wasn’t even close, with a majority of 3,848 votes Plaid won – well done Plaid.
Yes, Reform were very much touted as the prospective winners. Plaid hardly given any consideration by the British media. I hope this result has delivered a bloody nose to the establishment.
So true. I was so pessimistic yesterday.
The polling results did show it as close and each was within the margin of error. When two parties are polling close together like that it really can go either way come polling day. Sadly they don’t really show the margin of error on the graphs making it harder to see how different it might be.
I also don’t think they expected the turn out that happened. 50% of the electorate.
Record turnout for a Senedd seat. Reform has a dedicated following but they are very loud and given prominence by a mainstream media infatuated with Farage and his ilk. The quiet majority stood up and we’re counted. Da iawn!
The very best of news , A huge victory. Brought back my faith in humanity that the good people of Caerphilly wouldn’t get taken in by Reform’s toxic campaign
They must be bitterly disappointed
Farage disappeared early when he realised it wasn’t going Reform’s way
He doesn’t like losers.
Sounds like Powell’s day in the sun has come to a close
Andrew Davies has kept his head well below the parapet. Zero support for the Conservative candidate
Maybe he might be having second thoughts about jumping ship to Reform
While Reform didn’t win… Reform saw a huge 34% swing… practically absorbing Labour. On the other hand, Conservatives lost a 15% swing, with Plaid gaining a 19% swing.
Reform are a clear and present threat and while they lost this by-election (which they probably would have won if the turnout was lower) there’s a sizeable base that will fight hard come election time.
Lest we forget
Yes no doubt they are a clear and present danger
Yet the arrogance and contempt displayed .Their campaign was fought on fear and misinformation . They acted as they already had one hand on the cup They threw the Essex kitchen sink at it They thought Wales was just there for the taking.It clearly isn’t
Amazing result. Let’s now drive reform out of Wales. 🏴
For good.
To all the traitors who voted for the fascist English National Party put that in your pipes and well and truly smoke it LOSERS.
Far too many of them.
That’s the way to get people to change their mind,call them fascist traitors.
But they kind of are. If you live in a country, then support a political party from a different country, that happens to despise your country, that’s pretty much the definition of “traitor”.
As for the fascist part, that’s exactly what they are, what they want to be and what they support. I’m assuming the dictionary definition hasn’t changed of course.
If they’re all about “free speech” as they claim, they wouldn’t want to change the terminology.
I wouldn’t waste the oxygen even attempting to change their mind if you vote for the English Nationalist fascist party then you are beneath contempt even worse if you are Welsh. I presume you are one of them so suck it up loser
Da iawn Plaid Cymru.
I wonder how many of the Welsh Conservative MSs were waiting to jump ship dependent on the Caerphilly result?
Andrew Davies had shamefully shown no support in Caerphilly for Potter Not a single mention on his account
What a truly dreadful lot
He’s a dead ringer for Charlie Drake is Caer’s ‘Darling’…
Perhaps the First Minister and Drakeford will pay Rhun and Plaid a little more respect in the time they have left…