Labour victory in Wales ‘better result’ than the SNP in Scotland, says Senedd Member

Labour’s result in Wales was better than the SNP’s victory in Scotland, according to one Senedd Member.

“Although you would not think it from the media, it was a better result in terms of seats than the SNP in Scotland,” Swansea East representative Mike Hedges said in an article for LabourList.

Labour won exactly half the seats in the Senedd, while the SNP fell one short. However, Labour did so on only 39.9% of the vote, while the SNP got 47.7%.

This is due to the fact that there is an almost equal number of constituency and list seats in Scotland, while in Wales two-thirds are constituency seats.

“It was an excellent result for Labour, returning to the 30 seats won in 2011,” Mike Hedges said.

“The party gained back Rhondda. Vale of Clwyd was lost, but replaced by a North Wales regional seat giving a net gain of one and, importantly, Labour now holds half the seats in the Senedd.”

He added: “Positive lessons to be learnt include that candidates matter, and incumbency is a huge advantage. Across Wales, only one sitting Senedd member was defeated – and that was Leanne Woods in Rhondda.

“Rhondda was won by Buffy Williams a well known local community activist who lives in the Rhondda. Ticking the three boxes: Labour, local and active within the constituency.

“This can be observed by her action on Sunday, the day after being elected, taking up flooding problems in the area.”