Plaid Cymru Wins Caerphilly Senedd By-Election

Plaid Cymru’s Lindsay Whittle won the Caerphilly Senedd by-election, taking the seat long held by Labour with a 3,848-vote majority. Whittle received roughly 47% of the vote after a swing of nearly 27% away from Labour, while Reform UK finished second on about 36% and Labour fell to third with roughly 11%. Turnout was just over 50%. The by-election was triggered by the death of Labour MS Hefin David and followed polling that showed surges for Plaid and Reform. Commentators said the result exposed Labour’s vulnerability on its left after recent policy shifts and local scandals, while Reform’s immigration-focused “small boats” campaign dominated debate despite failing to win the seat. Welsh Labour leaders, including First Minister Eluned Morgan and Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca‑Davies, acknowledged the setback and vowed to refocus on bread-and-butter issues, and the result is being treated as a potential bellwether ahead of May’s Senedd elections.