Plaid Cymru Wins Historic Caerphilly By-Election, Defeating Labour and Reform UK

Plaid Cymru has made history by winning the Caerphilly Senedd by-election for the first time.

The Welsh nationalist party secured 15,960 votes, with candidate Lindsay Whittle, aged 72, becoming emotional as the result was announced. Having stood as a Plaid candidate 13 times since 1983, Mr Whittle will now serve as Member of the Senedd until next year’s elections.

The contest had been viewed as a close battle between Plaid Cymru and Reform UK, and the outcome represents a significant setback for Nigel Farage’s party. Reform’s candidate Llyr Powell received 12,113 votes, a substantial improvement from the 495 votes the party earned in 2021, but still fell short of victory.

The result also marks a devastating loss for Labour, which had held Caerphilly since the Senedd’s creation in 1999, as well as the Westminster seat for over a century. Labour’s candidate Richard Tunnicliffe came third with 3,713 votes. The party described the outcome as occurring under “tough circumstances” and amid “national headwinds.”

Voter turnout was 50.43%, notably higher than in 2021.

In his victory speech, Mr Whittle paid tribute to the late Hefin David, the previous Labour MS for Caerphilly, saying:

“He will be a hard act to follow. I’ll never fill his shoes, but I promise to walk the same path.”

Mr Whittle praised the involvement of young voters and said the result sent a strong message to both Cardiff and Westminster:

“This is Caerphilly and Wales saying we want a better deal for every corner of our country. Wales is at the dawn of new leadership and a new beginning.”

He humorously added that Plaid’s win was “better than scoring the winning try for Wales in the Rugby World Cup,” and vowed that the party could replicate its success in the May 2026 Senedd elections.

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth told Sky News that the result reflected widespread disillusionment with Labour:

“I’ve met countless lifelong Labour voters who backed us this time—not reluctantly, but because they believe in the change we’re offering.”

He acknowledged some tactical voting from Labour and Conservative supporters aiming to block Reform but insisted the momentum was genuine and growing.

First Minister Eluned Morgan congratulated Mr Whittle and said Welsh Labour was “listening and learning” from the result, admitting that change had not come quickly enough for voters.

Both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats failed to retain their deposits in the by-election.