#welshlabour — Public Fediverse posts

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‘Respect the democratic vote’: Rob Stewart backs Mike Hedges after anonymous Welsh Labour call for him to quit Senedd seat

Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart has publicly thrown his weight behind Mike Hedges – declaring his “full support” for the city’s only Welsh Labour MS and insisting voters’ democratic verdict at the ballot box must be respected.

The intervention comes less than 24 hours after Swansea Bay News reported that a senior Welsh Labour figure had urged Hedges to resign mid-term to make way for Stewart – meaning the Council leader could enter the Senedd without facing the electorate again.

Stewart – who was Welsh Labour’s second-placed candidate on the Gwyr Abertawe list and was not elected last week – publicly rejected that route in a statement posted to his Facebook account on Sunday afternoon.

“Let me be clear,” Stewart said. “As a democratic nation we should all respect the democratic vote and decision of the public.”

The Council leader said Hedges had been rightly elected at the top of the Welsh Labour list and had his backing.

“Each party ranks its candidates in the new list system and Mike was top of our list and was rightly elected,” Stewart said. “He has my full support.”

Stewart also pointedly underlined how the new D’Hondt voting system works – and the fact that any seat replacement would happen without a public vote.

“Under the new system any candidate stepping down is replaced by someone from the same party – the next on their list,” he said. “There are no by-elections in this system.”

The Council leader explained the reasoning behind that mechanic, saying voters had been asked to back a party rather than an individual.

“This is because it’s a PR system,” he said. “And in that system the voters are asked to vote for a party – not a person.”

The statement marks the most significant public intervention so far from any Welsh Labour figure in Swansea on the question of mid-term resignations – and effectively shuts down the suggestion that Stewart would accept a back-door route into the Senedd.

It comes after Swansea Bay News reported on Saturday that a senior Welsh Labour figure – speaking anonymously to Welsh political journalist Will Hayward – had urged Hedges and fellow long-serving Welsh Labour MS Lynne Neagle to resign mid-term to allow second-placed candidates on Welsh Labour’s lists to take their seats.

The same source had branded Welsh Labour “functionally broken” and called for a total overhaul of the party – accusing it of a decade-long failure to confront its own decline.

Stewart’s statement neither names the anonymous source nor responds directly to the wider criticisms levelled at the party – instead focusing on the specific question of Hedges’ position and the legitimacy of the democratic process.

The Council leader’s full backing of Hedges is significant. As the second-placed candidate on the Welsh Labour list, Stewart would be the direct beneficiary of any Hedges resignation – and his public rejection of that route effectively rules out one of the scenarios floated by the anonymous Welsh Labour source.

Hedges himself has not commented publicly on the anonymous call for him to step down.

The Welsh Labour party has not formally responded to either intervention.

Welsh Labour was reduced to just nine seats at last week’s Senedd election, down from 30 in the previous Senedd, with the party wiped out entirely in six constituencies. Mike Hedges is the only Welsh Labour Member of the Senedd for Swansea.

Plaid Cymru emerged as the largest party with 43 seats, with Reform UK securing a historic 34 seats. Plaid leader Rhun ap Iorwerth is expected to lead a minority government as Wales’ next First Minister.

Stewart – who has been Council leader since 2017 – will remain in his role at Swansea Council, where Welsh Labour holds an overall majority and is expected to face the city’s voters at the council elections next year.

Our Senedd Election 2026 coverage

Mike Hedges should quit Senedd seat for Rob Stewart, senior Welsh Labour figure says
The anonymous intervention that branded Welsh Labour ‘functionally broken’ and called for two MSs to make way for new talent.

Mike Hedges warns Wales could face another election next year
The newly re-elected Swansea Labour MS on the prospect of an early Senedd election if Plaid’s first budget falls.

Gwyr Abertawe: Plaid top the poll as Reform UK and Labour also take seats
How Swansea voted – and how Mike Hedges held on as the city’s only Welsh Labour MS.

Rhun ap Iorwerth to lead Plaid minority government
What happens next as Plaid prepares to take power.

Ken Skates appointed interim Welsh Labour leader
Welsh Labour picks up the pieces after being reduced to nine seats.

https://www.europesays.com/uk/950226/ ‘Rebuilding and decoupling – the future of Welsh Labour’ #2026SeneddElection #Britain #Chancellor #DowningStreet #government #GreatBritain #HouseOfCommons #KeirStarmer #Labour #LabourParty #MPs #Parliament #PM #Politics #PrimeMinister #RachelReeves #UK #UKLabourParty #UKPolitics #UnitedKingdom #Wales #WelshLabour

SWANSEA: Mike Hedges should quit Senedd seat for Rob Stewart, senior Welsh Labour figure says in scathing attack on ‘functionally broken’ party

Newly re-elected Swansea Member of the Senedd Mike Hedges should resign mid-term to make way for new talent – and his replacement could be Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart, walking into the Senedd without facing voters again.

That is the explosive demand from a senior Welsh Labour figure who has launched a scathing attack on the party’s record – declaring Welsh Labour “functionally broken” and accusing it of a decade-long failure to confront its own decline.

The intervention – first reported by Welsh political journalist Will Hayward – comes less than 48 hours after Hedges held on as the only Welsh Labour MS for Swansea following the party’s catastrophic election defeat.

The senior Welsh Labour source, who is not named, said it was “perhaps too much to hope” that Hedges and fellow long-serving Welsh Labour MS Lynne Neagle would realise they should resign mid-term to let “talented, second-place candidates” take their seats.

That second-place candidate in Swansea is Rob Stewart – meaning the leader of Swansea Council could enter Wales’ parliament without facing the electorate again, if Hedges were to step aside.

Under the new D’Hondt voting system used at this week’s election, when a sitting MS resigns mid-term their seat passes to the next eligible candidate on their party’s list – rather than triggering a by-election.

Stewart was not elected at this week’s election. Plaid Cymru topped the poll in Gwyr Abertawe with three seats, Reform UK took two, and Hedges held on as Welsh Labour’s number one candidate. Stewart, sitting in second place on the list, missed out as Welsh Labour’s vote collapsed across the city.

The senior figure’s broader assessment of the party was devastating.

Welsh Labour, the source said, “requires a total overhaul; it is functionally broken and will not be fixed overnight.”

The defeat had been “a decade in the making” – they argued – claiming Welsh Labour had repeatedly avoided an honest reckoning with its record in government and instead chosen “to paper over the cracks.”

The source took aim at Welsh Labour’s recent campaign messaging, dismissing slogans such as “partnership in power” and “two governments working together” as vapid – and arguing the party had abandoned its mantle as the party that would stand up for Wales.

Blame for the result, they said, lay across the party – with MSs who failed to step up in the Senedd, with MPs who spent years chasing Reform UK voters and with party factions and unions who had “treated leadership contests as personality contests” or “extensions of Westminster paranoia.”

The source argued that rushing into a permanent leadership contest would be a mistake – calling instead for potential candidates to be required to listen to voters first and present a concrete plan for the future.

The intervention also called for Welsh Labour to scrap the deputy leader role entirely, or fundamentally redefine it.

And in a striking line, the source warned others not to scapegoat party staff for the defeat. “Watch out for those who pin defeat mostly on the staff,” they said – “and then ask what their voter contact rate was.”

The intervention is the latest sign of significant internal turmoil within Welsh Labour following the historic election result, in which the party was reduced from 30 seats in the previous Senedd to just nine.

It comes only hours after Welsh Labour’s new interim leader Ken Skates – elected unanimously by the new Welsh Labour group on Saturday morning – acknowledged the scale of the defeat and admitted the party “got it wrong.”

Welsh Labour has not formally responded to the comments. Mike Hedges has not commented publicly on the suggestion that he should resign mid-term, and Rob Stewart has not commented on whether he would take a Senedd seat through such a route.

The new 96-seat Senedd will sit for the first time in the coming weeks, with Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth set to lead a minority government following his party’s election as the largest in the chamber with 43 seats.

Reform UK secured a historic 34 seats and Welsh Labour just nine, with the Welsh Conservatives on seven, the Wales Green Party on two and the Welsh Liberal Democrats on one.

Swansea Bay News will continue to cover developments as the new Welsh Labour leadership contest takes shape and the new Welsh Government is formed.

Our Senedd Election 2026 coverage

Mike Hedges warns Wales could face another election next year
The newly re-elected Swansea Labour MS on the prospect of an early Senedd election if Plaid’s first budget falls.

Gwyr Abertawe: Plaid top the poll as Reform UK and Labour also take seats
How Swansea voted – and how Mike Hedges held on as the city’s only Welsh Labour MS.

Rhun ap Iorwerth to lead Plaid minority government after historic victory ends 27 years of Labour rule
What happens next as Plaid prepares to take power.

Ken Skates appointed interim Welsh Labour leader after historic Senedd defeat
Welsh Labour picks up the pieces after being reduced to nine seats.

First Minister Eluned Morgan loses seat and resigns as Welsh Labour leader
The historic moment Wales’ First Minister became the first leader of any UK government to lose her seat while in office.

#Cymru brings the biggest defeat of 2026: #ElunedMorgan, First Minister of Wales & leader of Welsh Labour.

Under #Wales's d'Hondt voting system, a party winning at least 17% of the votes in any constituency is guaranteed one of the six seats in that constituency. Cast iron guaranteed.

But in Ceredigion Penfro, #WelshLabour won only 7.3%. So no seats there for Labour.

After winning every Welsh election since the 1920s, the #LabourParty is now 3rd in the #Senedd. It's over.

#Welshpol #ukpol

GWYR ABERTAWE: Plaid Cymru top the poll as Reform UK and Labour also take seats — Mike Hedges holds for Welsh Labour

Plaid Cymru has topped the poll in Gwyr Abertawe – taking three of the constituency’s six Senedd seats in a result that confirms the political shift now sweeping across south Wales.

Reform UK took two seats and Welsh Labour took the remaining seat – with veteran Swansea politician Mike Hedges holding on as the city’s only Labour Member of the Senedd.

The result was declared this evening at the Gwyr Abertawe count by Returning Officer Martin Nicholls.

Plaid Cymru topped the poll with 25,076 votes, ahead of Reform UK on 21,641. Welsh Labour received 11,195 votes – a fraction of its previous performance in Swansea.

The Welsh Conservatives received 7,523 votes, the Wales Green Party 6,383 and the Welsh Liberal Democrats 6,262. None won a seat in the constituency.

The six new Members of the Senedd for Gwyr Abertawe are:

• Gwyn Williams (Plaid Cymru)
• Francesca O’Brien (Reform UK)
• Safa Elhassan (Plaid Cymru)
• Mike Hedges (Welsh Labour)
• Steven Rodaway (Reform UK)
• John Davies (Plaid Cymru)

Mike Hedges’ re-election ensures Welsh Labour retains a presence in Swansea – but represents a significant reduction for a party that has long counted the city among its strongholds.

Hedges was Labour’s first-placed candidate in Gwyr Abertawe. Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart, who was Labour’s second-placed candidate, was not elected.

The result also marks the election of Reform UK’s first ever Members of the Senedd for Swansea – with Francesca O’Brien and Steven Rodaway both elected.

O’Brien had earlier today predicted on BBC Radio Wales Breakfast that Welsh Labour would collapse, describing the election as a referendum on First Minister Eluned Morgan and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

Plaid Cymru’s three new MS – Gwyn Williams, Safa Elhassan and John Davies – represent a significant breakthrough for the party in a constituency where it has not historically been the dominant force.

The constituency recorded a turnout of 50.9% – just below the national average of 51.65%, which itself was a record for a Senedd election.

The Gwyr Abertawe electorate stands at 155,120, with 78,924 ballot papers issued. A total of 187 ballot papers were rejected and not counted.

In response to the result, Council leader Rob Stewart praised Hedges and said he was looking forward to him continuing to work for Swansea at Cardiff Bay.

“I want to thank everyone who voted for our Labour team in Gwyr Abertawe today,” Stewart said. “I am looking forward to Mike Hedges returning to the Senedd and continuing to work extremely hard for Swansea, as he has done since 2011.”

Stewart acknowledged the difficulty of the result. “Obviously, this is not the result we worked for,” he said. “Nationally, it has been a really difficult night for Welsh Labour and UK Labour.”

He paid tribute to Welsh Labour’s record in government. “I’m proud of what the Labour Welsh Governments have delivered for Wales over many years,” he said.

Stewart said the threat of Reform UK had been a major factor on the doorstep. “Clearly the threat of Reform has been at the forefront of many voters’ minds, and we heard on the door that when people could not give us their vote this time, they didn’t want to go to Reform and have clearly opted for Plaid Cymru,” he said.

He added that he had not detected significant enthusiasm for Plaid’s vision. “While I understand the voters’ logic, I haven’t detected any great love for Plaid’s vision for Wales,” Stewart said. “However, they appear to have done well, and we will respect that.”

Stewart said Welsh Labour had to listen carefully to voters. “We must also be prepared to reflect carefully and listen with humility to the people,” he said. “There must be no dodging, no deflection, just determination to put things right and redouble our efforts to deliver at all levels on the things we promised.”

The Council leader said his focus would now be on local delivery. “Here in Swansea, my work continues and will increase in pace,” he said. “The work Swansea Labour has been doing resonated with voters on the door, and clearly we will be standing on our record of delivery at next year’s elections.”

He pointed to investment in the city as the foundation for that record. “We’ll stand on the billion-pound investment in Swansea, the new homes, new schools, better jobs and opportunities, and our drive to keep building a better Swansea together,” he said.

Stewart said he would continue as Council leader. “As Leader of this great city, I will keep doing all I can to improve people’s lives and lead the delivery of that better Swansea,” he said.

He thanked party members and supporters. “My sincere and heartfelt thanks go to the volunteers, activists, members and supporters who gave everything to this campaign,” he said.

And he paid tribute to Eluned Morgan, who lost her own seat in Ceredigion Penfro this afternoon and resigned as Welsh Labour leader. “Special thanks also go to Eluned Morgan, who has led Welsh Labour with distinction, empathy and heart through a genuinely difficult time,” Stewart said.

Stewart also paid tribute to Rebecca Evans and Julie James, who stepped down at this election after long service in the Senedd. “I also want to wish Rebecca Evans and Julie James well in whatever they do next,” he said. “They have stepped down from the Senedd after long and distinguished service to Gower and Swansea West.”

The Gwyr Abertawe result follows a similar pattern to other south Wales constituencies declared earlier today – with Welsh Labour reduced to a single seat or wiped out entirely in the face of a Plaid Cymru and Reform UK surge.

Across Wales, polling expert Sir John Curtice has projected Plaid Cymru will win between 41 and 46 seats – short of the 49 needed for an overall majority – with Reform UK on 32 to 34.

That makes coalition negotiations almost certain to follow once all 16 constituencies have declared.

Two constituencies remain to declare this evening – Gwynedd Maldwyn and Fflint Wrecsam.

Our Senedd Election 2026 coverage

First Minister Eluned Morgan loses seat and resigns as Welsh Labour leader
The historic moment Wales’ First Minister became the first leader of any UK government to lose her seat while in office.

Sir Gaerfyrddin: Reform UK and Plaid Cymru take three seats each as Welsh Labour wiped out
Adam Price returns to the Senedd as Reform UK secures its first ever west Wales breakthrough.

Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd: Reform UK tops the poll as Jane Dodds holds on for the Welsh Lib Dems
Reform UK takes three seats in the upper Swansea Valley, Powys and Neath – with Welsh Labour wiped out entirely.

Welsh Labour bracing for historic loss as counting begins
Our overnight roundup of the political mood as counting got under way across Wales.

What does a Welsh defeat mean for Keir Starmer?
Senior Welsh Labour figures have called for the prime minister to consider his position if the result is as bad as predicted.

https://www.europesays.com/videos/23223/ Welsh leader loses seat – now what? #Channel4 #Channel4News #Channel4 #elections #ElunedMorgan #InternationalNews #KeirStarmer #Labour #LatestNews #PlaidCymru #ReformWales #senedd #UKNews #Wales #Welsh #WELSHELECTIONS #WelshLabour #WelshPolitic #WorldNews

SENEDD ELECTION: What does a Welsh defeat mean for Keir Starmer? — Labour figures call for prime minister to step down if results match predictions

A defeat for Welsh Labour in today’s Senedd election will pile fresh pressure on Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership of the UK Labour Party – with senior figures already calling for him to step aside.

Mick Antoniw, the former Welsh counsel general who did not seek re-election yesterday, has called for the prime minister to make way for a new leader if the results are as bad as predicted.

“If the results are as bad as predicted then there will have to be a change of leadership,” he said. “Not an immediate departure but a planned, orderly and open transition and an open and transparent contest.”

Antoniw described the campaign as the most difficult Welsh Labour had faced in living memory.

He said the election seemed to be “more about Downing Street and immigration than Wales.”

A former Welsh government minister has also said Sir Keir should stand down if the results are as bad as predicted.

The interventions reflect a wider mood within Welsh Labour that the prime minister has become a serious drag on the party’s electoral fortunes – a view reportedly shared by senior Welsh Labour figures throughout the campaign.

Labour sources said throughout the campaign that Sir Keir had come up negatively with voters on doorsteps across Wales.

A “grudging” acknowledgement that he had handled the UK’s response to the Iran war well had been soured, sources said, by the Lord Mandelson saga.

Despite that, several Welsh Labour MPs have indicated they are not expecting a formal challenge to the prime minister – even though one frontbencher has described the mood within the party as “at rock bottom.”

A number of MPs called instead for a bolder set of policies and for lessons to be learned from a difficult electoral picture.

Former Welsh first minister Carwyn Jones offered a more measured assessment in an interview on BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.

Asked whether he stood by the prime minister, Jones said yes – but added that things needed to change at Westminster.

“I don’t think it’s simply a question of if Keir Starmer goes everything will be fine – it’s not that easy,” he said.

But he said the broader direction of the UK Labour government needed to shift. “Do things need to change at Westminster? Yes,” he said.

“The message has to be more optimistic, we have to be more robust, we have to believe in ourselves a lot more, we have to give a sense of direction.”

He said all those things were missing at the moment. “Those are the most important things, and it’s up to Keir to show that he can provide that,” he said.

A senior Welsh Labour figure has described polling day yesterday as “awful.”

“I’ve never known anything like it,” they said. “We’ve been knocking on the doors of people who’ve consistently voted Labour in the past only to find the vast majority have voted Plaid, Reform, Green or importantly stayed at home.”

The figure said two messages had cut through with voters during the campaign – both of them deeply unhelpful for the UK government.

“The Plaid message ‘we’re the only party to stop Reform’ has really cut through. But Reform have also cashed in big time on disillusionment with Keir Starmer and our Labour government,” they said.

The framing reflects a campaign that has, in many ways, become a referendum on the UK Labour government’s first year in office.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage made that explicit when he kicked off Reform’s Welsh campaign earlier this year, describing the election as “a referendum on Starmer.”

That framing now appears to have landed.

Reform won more than 300 council seats in English local elections that took place yesterday – momentum that will further fuel calls for the prime minister to consider his position.

The Conservatives, meanwhile, lost more than 100 seats in those English elections.

A Welsh Labour defeat today would carry historic significance for the UK Labour Party.

One of the modern Labour party’s founders, Keir Hardie, was MP for Merthyr Tydfil from 1900 to 1915 – and Labour has emerged from every general election as Wales’ largest party since 1922.

The party has won every Welsh election since the Senedd was first established in 1999, and led every Welsh government since then. Health, education, transport, housing and local government in Wales have all been shaped by Labour-led administrations for more than a quarter of a century.

A defeat in Wales today would end that unbroken record – and represent the loss of one of the UK Labour Party’s deepest historical strongholds.

The implications for the prime minister will be felt beyond Wales.

Labour faces a difficult set of local elections in England later this year, plus elections to the Scottish Parliament – both of which will now be watched closely as further tests of Sir Keir’s leadership.

If the defeat in Wales is confirmed today, the party at Westminster faces a period of intense soul-searching about what has gone wrong – and whether a change at the top can reverse the slide before it becomes terminal.

The prime minister, for his part, has so far given no public indication that he intends to step down.

But the calls from senior Welsh Labour figures for him to consider his position will grow louder if the result tonight is as bad as expected.

Welsh first minister Eluned Morgan said consistently during the campaign that Sir Keir was “not on the ballot paper.”

When asked on Wednesday whether he could stay on if Labour lost in Wales, she declined to be drawn into what she called speculation.

Within hours, she may have her answer.

Our Senedd Election 2026 coverage

Welsh Labour bracing for historic loss as counting begins – and Eluned Morgan’s own seat hangs in the balance
Our overnight roundup of the political mood as counting gets underway across Wales.

Polls have closed – here’s what happens next, and how the new D’Hondt voting system works
Our complete guide to the count, the D’Hondt formula, and when results will land.

Your new MS will earn £79,817 – and the First Minister’s salary tops £174,000
What Wales’ new Senedd Members will be paid when they take their seats.

Two-thirds of Welsh voters didn’t understand the new voting system
The polling that revealed mass confusion just days before the vote.

Reform UK announces detention centres plan three days before polls open
The Reform UK announcement that dominated the final days of the campaign.

Reform UK Wales leader visits Llanelli as party targets Sir Gaerfyrddin seats
Reform’s late campaign push in our patch with Dan Thomas in Llanelli.

SENEDD ELECTION: Welsh Labour bracing for historic loss as counting begins — and Eluned Morgan’s own seat hangs in the balance

Welsh Labour is bracing for a historic defeat as counting begins across Wales this morning – with senior party sources reportedly acknowledging for the first time that the party will lose power today.

Counting in the 2026 Senedd election will get underway from 9.30am at Neath Port Talbot Council and 10am in Swansea, with the first declarations expected from 2pm.

If the result matches pre-election polling and overnight expectations, today will mark the end of an unbroken Welsh Labour winning streak that goes back more than 100 years.

The party has been the largest in every major Welsh election – Westminster and Senedd – since 1922. It has been in power in Wales, either alone or in coalition, since the Senedd was first established in 1999.

Senior Labour sources, who had previously refused to accept that pre-election polls were accurate, were last night reportedly acknowledging that the party will lose power in Wales today.

Labour insiders are also said to believe it is on a knife edge as to whether First Minister Eluned Morgan will keep her own seat in Ceredigion Penfro.

If Morgan loses, the party will face an immediate scramble to appoint a new leader of Welsh Labour in the Senedd – even on an interim basis.

That decision could come within hours of the result.

Welsh Labour campaign chair Huw Irranca-Davies issued a statement at the close of polls last night acknowledging the difficulty of the campaign.

“We know this has been a tough election campaign, fought in difficult circumstances,” he said.

“After many years in government in Wales, and with Labour now governing across the UK, there was always going to be a strong mood for change and frustration. The ongoing pressures people face from the cost of living are real and hurt deeply.”

He said the party would reflect on the result with humility. “There were many tough messages heard on the doorstep. And in the days ahead, we will reflect carefully and listen with humility to what voters are telling us. There will be no dodging. No deflection. Just determination to put things right.”

He paid tribute to Eluned Morgan’s leadership during what he described as one of the hardest moments Welsh Labour has faced.

“Throughout this campaign, Eluned Morgan has shown positive, energetic, and determined leadership in very difficult times,” he said. “She took on the challenge during one of the hardest moments Welsh Labour has faced, leading with resilience, warmth, and focus.”

Plaid Cymru – projected by the final YouGov MRP to become the largest party in the new Senedd – struck a more measured tone in its overnight statement.

A spokesperson said the party was looking forward to the results with humility and with hope.

“Throughout this election, we have heard a clear appetite for change,” they said. “People want a government that will stand up for Wales and focus relentlessly on the key issues affecting their lives.”

The spokesperson said voters had been inspired by leader Rhun ap Iorwerth. “People have told us they have been inspired by Rhun ap Iorwerth’s leadership and driven by a desire for a positive alternative to Reform UK’s chaos and division,” they said.

The Plaid statement reflects the central political dynamic of this election – a tight battle between Plaid and Reform UK, both projected by the final pre-election polls to make significant gains at Welsh Labour’s expense.

Reform UK’s momentum was further underlined overnight by results from local elections in England.

Reform won more than 300 council seats across English local authorities in voting that took place yesterday – a strong performance that will boost the party’s confidence going into today’s Senedd count.

The Conservatives, meanwhile, lost more than 100 seats in those English elections – adding to a difficult electoral picture for the official UK opposition.

In Wales, two early constituency turnout figures have been confirmed – both showing turnout in the high 40s.

Casnewydd Islwyn recorded a turnout of 47.8% according to returning officer Beverly Owen, while neighbouring Blaenau Gwent Caerffilii Rhymni recorded 47.7%.

Turnout will be a key figure to watch as the day unfolds. A higher than expected turnout is generally seen as a positive indicator for Reform UK, with the party having focused much of its campaign on mobilising voters who have not traditionally turned out at Welsh elections.

Final turnout figures across all 16 Welsh constituencies will be confirmed as counts get underway throughout the morning.

The Electoral Commission’s chief executive Vijay Rangarajan praised the running of yesterday’s polls.

“Polling station staff dealt with any issues swiftly without disruption to the poll. Millions of people were able to cast their votes, and people had access to clear, reliable information about how to take part,” he said.

He said the Commission had not seen significant deepfakes affecting the elections, but would gather evidence from voters, candidates and others to inform a full assessment to be published in the autumn.

The first Senedd declarations are expected from 2pm, with Casnewydd Islwyn, Gwyr Abertawe and Sir Fynwy Torfaen the earliest in the country.

Sir Gaerfyrddin and Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr are expected to declare around 4pm, with the latest declaration expected from Fflint Wrecsam at 5.30pm.

A complete picture of the new Senedd should therefore be clear by early evening – at which point the focus will turn to coalition negotiations and the make-up of Wales’ next government.

Swansea Bay News will be reporting live from the Sir Gaerfyrddin count throughout the day, with updates from across south-west Wales as results come in.

Our Senedd Election 2026 coverage

Polls have closed – here’s what happens next, and how the new D’Hondt voting system works
Our complete guide to the count, the D’Hondt formula, and when results will land.

Voting today? Everything you need to know about the new system
The polling-day reader service guide that helped voters navigate the new system.

Your new MS will earn £79,817 – and the First Minister’s salary tops £174,000
What Wales’ new Senedd Members will be paid when they take their seats.

Two-thirds of Welsh voters didn’t understand the new voting system
The polling that revealed mass confusion just days before the vote.

Reform UK announces detention centres plan three days before polls open
The Reform UK announcement that dominated the final days of the campaign.

Two Debenhams buildings, two very different outcomes – Senedd candidates question council priorities
The Carmarthen story that became a flashpoint for local Senedd candidates.

Reform UK Wales leader visits Llanelli as party targets Sir Gaerfyrddin seats
Reform’s late campaign push in our patch with Dan Thomas in Llanelli.

#WelshElections #Senedd2026, I’ll provide #media coverage on #Basque #radio. After #WelshLabour dominance, Wales may be entering a structural political transition: #PlaidCymru or #ReformUK are neck-and-neck.

#UKpolitics #UK #Wales

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21681376.2024.2311099

https://www.europesays.com/videos/21277/ Poll shows Plaid Cymru could overtake Reform UK to win election | Sharp End | ITV Cymru Wales #conservatives #GOVERNMENT #itv #ItvNews #ITVNewsInFull #Labour #plaid #PlaidCymru #politics #reform #ReformUK #senedd #Wales #WelshConservatives #WelshLabour #WelshPolitics #WESTMINSTER

SENEDD ELECTION: First Minister set to lose her seat as final poll predicts Labour wipeout across south-west Wales

The First Minister of Wales is on course to lose her seat at Thursday’s Senedd election, according to the final major poll of the campaign – capping what would be the worst result in Welsh Labour’s century-long dominance of devolved and Westminster politics in Wales.

The YouGov MRP poll for ITV Wales and Cardiff University, published on Tuesday evening, projects Plaid Cymru taking four of the six seats in Ceredigion Penfro – the new constituency where Eluned Morgan is Labour’s lead candidate. Reform UK take the remaining two. Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens all return zero MSs from Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion under the projection.

Across south-west Wales as a whole, the picture is similarly stark for Welsh Labour. Of the 36 Senedd seats spread across the six new constituencies covering Swansea, Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion, Powys, Neath Port Talbot, the Rhondda, Bridgend and the Vale of Glamorgan, Labour is projected to win just four.

In Gŵyr Abertawe, Plaid Cymru is projected to take three seats, Reform UK two and Labour one. Plaid lead candidates Gwyn Williams, Safa Elhassan and John Davies would be elected, alongside Reform’s Francesca O’Brien and Steven Rodaway. Long-serving Swansea East Senedd Member Mike Hedges, who tops the Labour list, would be returned – but Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart, ranked second, would not, leaving him to continue as council leader.

The picture is bleaker for Labour in Sir Gaerfyrddin. ITV Wales’ constituency analysis projects Plaid Cymru on 42% and Reform UK on 33%, with each party taking three seats. Plaid’s Cefin Campbell, Nerys Evans and former party leader Adam Price would all be elected. Labour’s Calum Higgins, who narrowly held the sixth seat in last month’s MRP, is wiped out – meaning the whole of Carmarthenshire returns no Labour Senedd Member for the first time since devolution.

In Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd, covering Neath, Swansea East, the Swansea Valley and south Powys, the seats split four ways: Plaid 2, Reform 2, Labour 1, Liberal Democrat 1. Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds holds her seat – the only Lib Dem MS projected anywhere in Wales. Plaid’s Sioned Williams would also return, while Labour’s Dr Mahaboob Basha would take the single Labour seat.

In Afan Ogwr Rhondda, Reform UK is projected to win three seats – its strongest projected performance anywhere in south-west Wales. Plaid take two and Labour one. Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies, who tops the Labour list, would survive – but sitting Labour MSs Buffy Williams (Rhondda) and David Rees (Aberavon, currently the Senedd’s Deputy Presiding Officer), would both lose their seats.

In Pen-y-bont Bro Morgannwg, the seats split between Plaid 2, Reform 2, Labour 1 and Conservative 1. Former Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies, who heads his party’s list, would return to the Senedd.

In Ceredigion Penfro, Plaid Cymru’s Elin Jones leads the list and would return to the Senedd alongside three other Plaid candidates. First Minister Eluned Morgan, Labour’s lead candidate in the constituency, is projected to lose her seat.

Nationally, the YouGov MRP puts Plaid Cymru on 33% (up four points from the previous YouGov poll), Reform UK on 29%, Labour on 12%, the Conservatives on 9%, the Greens on 8% and the Liberal Democrats on 6%.

Plaid would be six seats short of the 49 needed for an overall majority in the 96-member Senedd. The arithmetic of forming a government becomes the central question after Thursday. Every viable combination to reach 49 seats requires Labour’s involvement – either in formal coalition or by abstaining on a confidence vote.

Dr Jac Larner of Cardiff University’s Wales Governance Centre, who carried out the seat modelling, said the broad shape of Thursday’s result was now “fairly clear” but that small swings could still produce significantly different totals. “Plaid Cymru go into election day on 33 percent with Reform on 29,” he said. “Plaid appear to have opened a small gap in the final days but this still remains an incredibly close race.”

The poll also asked respondents what was the single biggest factor influencing their vote. “Stopping Reform” was the top answer at 14%, followed by immigration at 10% – despite immigration being a matter reserved to Westminster rather than devolved to the Senedd. The motivation to stop Reform skewed sharply towards younger voters, with 27% of 16-to-24-year-olds citing it compared to just 6% of those aged 65 and over.

Polls open across Wales at 7am on Thursday and close at 10pm. It is the first Senedd election to be held under the new closed-list proportional representation system, with each of the 16 new constituencies returning six Senedd Members.

https://www.europesays.com/videos/17526/ Will any of the parties be able to afford their manifesto pledges? | Sharp End | ITV Cymru Wales #conservatives #GOVERNMENT #itv #ItvNews #ITVNewsInFull #Labour #plaid #PlaidCymru #politics #reform #ReformUK #senedd #Wales #WelshConservatives #WelshLabour #WelshPolitics #WESTMINSTER

Welsh first minister calls for halt to Pembrokeshire space radar project over Trump’s “contempt for our country”

Morgan, who is also Welsh Labour leader and the party’s lead Senedd candidate in the Ceredigion Penfro constituency where the site is located, made the intervention in a Facebook video ahead of the Senedd election on 7 May.

The Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC) programme — announced jointly by the UK, US and Australia in 2023 — would see 27 radar dishes installed at Cawdor Barracks in Brawdy, with the site becoming the UK’s main contribution to the international scheme. As Swansea Bay News previously reported, the project was expected to create up to 100 long-term jobs and keep the barracks open beyond its planned closure date of 2028.

Morgan said the project should be “halted,” adding that the United States under Trump was “not the partner it once was.” She said talk of targeting civilians, undermining allies and diminishing the sacrifices of armed forces personnel was “not the conduct of a reliable ally.”

She drew a distinction between standing with partners and “giving a free pass to a US president who has threatened war crimes and shown contempt for our country,” and said the UK should pause its involvement in the radar project “until we can be confident those partnerships reflect our values and our security interests.”

Her intervention immediately drew criticism from across the political spectrum. Plaid Cymru accused Morgan of making a “last ditch attempt” to save her Senedd seat, while Reform said she was trying to distract from her record in government.

The Welsh Conservatives went further, alleging that Morgan was willing to put the UK’s national security at risk. Henry Tufnell, the Labour MP for Mid and South Pembrokeshire, also broke ranks, saying he was concerned that Morgan apparently did not want the jobs the scheme had promised for the area.

Downing Street declined to say whether the prime minister agreed with the first minister’s position. A No 10 spokesperson said the programme “will secure long-term jobs in Pembrokeshire and Wales, and help protect essential satellite communication.”

The Ministry of Defence has been progressing plans to refurbish an airfield at Cawdor Barracks to house the UK’s DARC infrastructure. The scheme has faced opposition from local campaigners, who have raised concerns about its proximity to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

The campaign group PARC Against DARC, which launched in May 2024, has been at the forefront of local opposition. The group — which counts CND, Stop the War Coalition and Extinction Rebellion UK among its national supporters — has raised concerns about the visual impact of 27 large radar dishes on the Pembrokeshire coastline, potential health risks from radiofrequency signals, and damage to tourism in an area that includes the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

A petition against the plans gathered more than 16,000 signatures, and the campaign has drawn significant cross-party political backing — with Plaid Cymru voting unanimously at its 2024 conference to officially oppose DARC, and an Early Day Motion tabled in Westminster attracting cross-party support.

The campaign also draws a direct parallel with a successful predecessor. Pembrokeshire Against Radar Campaign — known as PARC — was formed in 1990 to oppose a proposed over-the-horizon radar installation on the Dewisland peninsula. After 2,000 people marched from St Davids Cathedral to the proposed site, the Conservative government cancelled the project in 1991. Some of the original PARC campaigners are now active in the new fight against DARC.

The group has also specifically targeted Henry Tufnell over his silence on the issue, accusing the Mid and South Pembrokeshire MP of ignoring hundreds — possibly thousands — of constituent emails on the subject. That makes his public criticism of Morgan’s position all the more striking: having said nothing while his constituents demanded answers, Tufnell chose the first minister’s intervention as the moment to speak up — in defence of the scheme.

The DARC programme is designed to detect and track objects in deep space up to 22,000 miles from Earth, operating as a global network of three ground-based radar systems run jointly by the UK, US and Australia. The unique geographic spread of the three nations was cited as key to providing continuous global coverage, including the ability to detect potential threats to defence and civilian space systems.

Morgan’s comments place her at odds not only with opposition parties but with her own Labour colleagues in Westminster, creating an unusual internal divide just weeks before the Welsh Parliament election.

The Ceredigion Penfro seat, which covers the area around Brawdy and Cawdor Barracks, is expected to be one of the more competitive constituencies on 7 May, with Plaid Cymru also fielding a strong candidate in the area.

The UK government has not indicated any intention to pause or review the DARC project. No formal response has been issued by the Ministry of Defence to Morgan’s comments.

Whether Morgan’s intervention resonates with local voters — who were promised significant economic benefits from the scheme — or is seen as a political gamble in a tight election race, remains to be seen.

What is clear is that a project announced with cross-party support as a landmark moment for Pembrokeshire’s defence economy has now become one of the most politically charged issues of the Welsh election campaign.

SENEDD SHAKE-UP: Winners and losers revealed as First Minister on course to lose seat

A major new YouGov poll has sent shockwaves through Welsh politics — with projections suggesting the First Minister could lose her seat and Labour suffer heavy losses across west Wales.

The YouGov poll, using detailed constituency modelling for ITV Wales and Cardiff University, points to a Senedd transformed — with Plaid Cymru emerging as the largest party and Reform UK surging into second place.

Wales-wide picture: Plaid on top as Senedd expands

Across Wales, the poll suggests a dramatic shift in power as the Senedd prepares to expand from 60 to 96 members under a new electoral system.

Plaid Cymru is projected to win 43 seats, making it the largest party but still short of an overall majority.

Reform UK is forecast to take 30 seats — a huge leap for a party that has never fought a Senedd election before.

Labour is projected to fall to just 12 seats, with the Greens on 10, while the Conservatives collapse to a single MS and the Liberal Democrats fail to win any representation.

The key number is 49 — the threshold needed for a majority in the new Senedd.

Under these projections, Plaid Cymru and the Greens together would hold 53 seats, enough to form a government without Labour.

Analysts say the results point to a fragmented but firmly left-leaning Senedd — with Plaid in the strongest position to lead the next government.

Gŵyr Abertawe: big names miss out

In Gŵyr Abertawe, Labour would return incumbent MS Mike Hedges, who tops the party’s list.

But there would be no seat for Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart, who sits second — despite his high-profile role in recent national debates.

Reform UK would secure two seats, meaning former Conservative-turned-Reform councillor Francesca O’Brien would be elected alongside Steven Rodaway.

Plaid Cymru would return Gwyn Williams and Safa Elhassan, while West Cross councillor Chris Evans would take a seat for the Greens.

Sir Gaerfyrddin: Plaid dominance, Labour wiped out

In Sir Gaerfyrddin, Plaid Cymru is projected to dominate with four seats — returning Cefin Campbell, former Assembly Member Nerys Evans, ex-party leader Adam Price and Mari Arthur.

Reform would take the remaining two seats, with Gareth Beer — who came close to winning Llanelli at the last general election — joined by Carmelo Colasanto.

Labour is not projected to win a single seat in the constituency.

Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd: four-way split

In Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd, the result is finely balanced across four parties.

Plaid would return Sioned Williams and Rebeca Phillips, while Reform would elect James Evans and Iain Charles McIntosh.

Labour would hold onto one seat through Mahaboob Basha BEM — as previously reported when he topped Labour’s list for the area — while Neath Port Talbot councillor Nathan Goldup John would take a seat for the Greens.

The result would see Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds miss out on a seat in the constituency.

Afan Ogwr Rhondda: Labour heartland shaken

In Afan Ogwr Rhondda, Plaid is projected to take three seats, with Sera Evans, Alun Geraint Cox and Elyn Stephens all elected.

Reform would secure two seats through Benjamin McKenna and Sarah Cooper Lesard.

Labour would be reduced to a single representative — Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies — with current Rhondda MS Buffy Williams losing her place.

The result signals a major shift in one of Labour’s traditional strongholds.

Ceredigion Penfro: First Minister loses seat

In Ceredigion Penfro, Plaid would again lead with three seats, returning Elin Jones alongside Kerry Elizabeth Ferguson and Anna Nicholl.

Reform would take two seats through Susan Claire Archibald and Paul Marr, while Amy Nicholass would be elected for the Greens.

Crucially, Labour is not projected to win any representation here — meaning First Minister Eluned Morgan would lose her seat.

The constituency would also see senior Conservatives Paul Davies and Samuel Kurtz both miss out.

Big picture: political map redrawn

Across west Wales, the projections point to a dramatic political shift — with Reform UK emerging as a major force and traditional parties losing ground.

Despite the upheaval, Plaid Cymru remains the dominant party across every constituency in the region.

For voters, the implications are significant — from who represents their communities to how decisions are made on key issues like healthcare, transport and the cost of living.

With the election approaching, these results suggest one thing above all else — the political landscape in west Wales is changing fast.

And for some of Wales’ biggest political names, this could mark the end of the road.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Plaid Cymru storms ahead as shock Senedd poll predicts political earthquake
Earlier polling pointed to major shifts now playing out across west Wales.

Latest poll puts Reform and Plaid neck and neck in key battleground
South west Wales is emerging as crucial to the outcome of the election.

Experts launch “fantasy football” style Senedd election platform
New tools are helping voters track candidates and outcomes ahead of polling day.

First Minister’s surprise Swansea visit draws attention
Eluned Morgan has been out on the campaign trail across Swansea communities.

PENLAN: Selfies and fish and chips – First Minister’s ‘off-script’ surprise visit to Swansea social club

The Welsh leader made an unannounced appearance at the Penlan Social Club, catching supporters and staff off guard in a “no airs and graces” visit.

Organisers admit the night went “slightly off script” when the First Minister was found in a huddle with young people in the bar, posing for photos before her formal speech.

Ms Morgan arrived quietly and without fanfare, joining more than 80 people gathered for the launch of Welsh Labour’s new Gwyr Abertawe candidates.

Alison Martin, Club Secretary of Penlan Social Club, said: “Our regulars had no idea she was coming and were delighted to have the First Minister posing for photos in the bar.”

She added: “It’s not every day the First Minister drops in for a fish and chip supper and we’re very proud to have been part of such a special evening.”

The First Minister used the visit to set out her party’s election pledges ahead of the Senedd vote on May 7, promising a “new chapter” for Wales.

The evening also marked a changing of the guard for Swansea, with Ms Morgan paying tribute to long-serving MSs Julie James and Rebecca Evans, who are both standing down.

The new candidate list for the region is led by Mike Hedges MS, followed by Swansea Council Leader Rob Stewart, who has spearheaded the city’s regeneration.

In a move that delighted the room, Ms Morgan stayed on after the formal speeches to enjoy a supper of fish and chips supplied by local Swansea chip shop, Roma.

She also took time to meet local business owners, including Nicky Romanello from the popular chippy, who had supported the event.

The First Minister’s unannounced stop in Penlan is seen as a key moment in the lead-up to the May elections, as parties begin to ramp up their local campaigns.

Welsh Labour’s £4bn election pledge could revive controversial new Whitland or St Clears hospital plan

The commitment was made in the party’s manifesto pledges for the forthcoming Senedd elections, launched by Welsh Labour leader Eluned Morgan in Newport.

The press release states that the new £4bn “Hospitals for the Future Fund” would, over the next 10 years, fund a “hospital development in West Wales” alongside the replacement of the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff and the redevelopment of Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

This appears to refer to Hywel Dda University Health Board’s long-standing and controversial proposal for a new Urgent and Planned Care Hospital to be built near St Clears or Whitland in Carmarthenshire.

Those plans would see key services, including accident and emergency, removed from Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen and Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest, which would be downgraded to community hospitals.

Campaigners and local politicians have repeatedly raised concerns about the impact on residents in areas like Llanelli and Ammanford, who would face significantly longer journeys for emergency treatment.

Last year, Swansea Bay News reported that the new-build plan had been pushed back by at least a decade, with Hywel Dda’s chief executive saying he was making a “strong case” to the Welsh Government for immediate investment in existing sites instead.

The inclusion of a “hospital development in West Wales” in Welsh Labour’s flagship election pledge suggests the new-build plan is now firmly back on the agenda if the party wins the election.

In her speech, Eluned Morgan said: “The NHS is not just a service. It’s a promise. And we need to renew that promise. Not with slogans, but with the biggest investment programme in our history. So, we are committing £4 billion to build the Hospitals of the Future.”

She added: “Patients deserve hospitals fit for modern medicine, not more make-do and mend. Staff deserve a working environment that matches their skill and dedication. And Wales deserves an NHS built for the future, not held together by goodwill alone.”

The health board has previously argued that a new, purpose-built hospital would allow it to meet modern healthcare standards, attract staff, and provide more specialist services than are currently available across its existing sites.

Welsh Labour was contacted for clarification on whether the pledge refers specifically to the Hywel Dda new-build proposal.

Councillor denies being suspended by Labour, says he quit over Skyline

Joe Hale, who represents St Thomas, announced last week that he was becoming an independent councillor. The move came after Swansea Bay News reported that he had been suspended by the Labour Party over allegations of harassment and malicious communications.

In a statement to Swansea Bay News, Cllr Hale said he had not received any notice of suspension from the Swansea Labour Party, and that he had resigned “due to the destruction of our only green space in our ward, Kilvey Hill.”

That directly contradicts a statement issued by the office of council leader Rob Stewart last week, which said Cllr Hale had been suspended on Thursday 19 February — six days before his video announcement — “following serious allegations of misconduct being received.”

The council leader’s office said the allegations, “specifically related to malicious communications and harassment,” had also been raised with police.

Cllr Hale said he was “absolutely opposed to public money being handed over to profiteers” and questioned why the council should “subsidise a private company via the public purse” given the economic hardship facing many residents.

The council leader’s office previously pushed back on Cllr Hale’s financial claims, saying the points he raised were “ones the council has formally answered via the planning process and / or via numerous questions submitted to the council’s technical officers,” and that “Cllr Hale has not accepted the answers given to him.”

Cllr Hale also addressed claims that he should have raised his objections sooner, saying: “I have from day one and even attempted to get the council to have public meetings in St Thomas. It is a matter of record that I spoke against this at planning.”

The council’s previous statement said records showed Cllr Hale “didn’t take the opportunity to attend cabinet meetings when these matters were discussed despite having the chance to do so.”

He also responded to suggestions that his proximity to the development influenced his position. “The fact that I live in St Thomas has been used as a reason as to why I have objected to Skyline, but we have been told by the planning department that St Thomas will not be affected. Or has something changed?”

The council leader’s office had previously noted that Cllr Hale “has continued to voice his opposition to the scheme which is near to his own property.”

Cllr Hale said he had received “huge support” from residents of St Thomas and Port Tennant since announcing his resignation, as well as from work and trade union colleagues.

Cllr Hale’s statement in full:

First can i express my thanks to the residents of St Thomas and Port tennant for the huge support i have received since i announced my resignation from the Labour Party and can i thank my work colleagues and trade union colleagues for the same support and encoragement.

I have not recieved any form of notice of suspension from the Swansea Labour Party.

I resigned due to the destruction of our only green space in our ward, Kilvey Hill. The designated quiet area lost for ever and only one on the Eastside of Swansea.

I am absolutely opposed to public money being handed over to profiteers — why do we have to subsidise a private company via the public purse? Given the economic hardship many of our community are going through, giving our money to this type of venture is not what we should be doing.

Some have said i should have objected earlier and spoke up sooner. I have from day one and even attempted to get the council to have public meetings in St Thomas. It is a matter of record that i spoke against this at planning.

The fact that i live in St Thomas has been used as a reason as to why i have objected to Skyline, but we have been told by the planning dept that St Thomas will not be effected? Or has something changed?

— Joe Hale, Independent Cllr, St Thomas

M&S ROW: Council leader accuses Senedd candidate of using job losses for ‘deplorable’ election campaign

Swansea Council Leader Rob Stewart has hit back at political opponents over the closure of the city’s M&S store, calling it “deplorable” that a Senedd candidate is using the potential loss of 90 local jobs for his election campaign.

The blistering attack comes in response to criticism from Liberal Democrat Senedd candidate Sam Bennett and Swansea Lib Dem leader Cllr Chris Holley, who yesterday questioned the council’s regeneration priorities in the wake of the M&S closure announcement.

In a statement, the Labour leader launched a full-throated defence of his administration’s record while attacking the previous Liberal Democrat-led council.

“It’s deplorable that Cllr Sam Bennett is using the closure of the store with the potential loss of 90 local jobs to try and further his Senedd election campaign,” Cllr Stewart said.

The attack is politically charged, as both men are candidates in the new Gŵyr Abertawe Senedd constituency for the 2026 election. Cllr Stewart is ranked second on the Welsh Labour list, while Cllr Bennett is the lead candidate for the Welsh Liberal Democrats.

He also criticised his Lib Dem counterpart, stating, “It’s also disappointing to see Cllr Holley doesn’t have confidence in Swansea, or its traders and businesses.”

Cllr Stewart claimed his opponents “have not openly supported any of the developments in Swansea delivered over the last 11 years” and are “critics of the £1.3bn city deal.”

He also revealed that M&S has not given up on the city, stating, “M&S are actively looking for a different location in Swansea and have acknowledged the positive impact the regeneration is having.”

He then turned his fire on the record of the previous Liberal Democrat administration, which was led by Cllr Holley for much of its tenure, and controlled Swansea Council from 2004-2012.

“The Lib Dems introduced the disastrous bendy bus, continually dug up the Kingsway and introduced the mad road system, and absolutely failed to invest and support local businesses to grow,” he said.

“They have no ambition for Swansea.”

Councillor suspended by Labour Party over harassment allegations before announcing Skyline “resignation”

In a video posted to social media on Tuesday, Cllr Joe Hale announced he was becoming an independent councillor, blaming his departure on the Skyline development on Kilvey Hill and claiming “the Labour Party have left me.”

However, a statement issued by the office of Swansea Council Leader Rob Stewart has revealed that Cllr Hale was suspended days before his video announcement.

A spokesperson said: “The Labour Party suspended Cllr Hale on Thursday 19th February, prior to his announcement, and following serious allegations of misconduct being received. The allegations of misconduct, specifically related to malicious communications and harassment, were also raised with the police.”

Misinformation battle

The row comes as both Swansea Council and the developers, Skyline Swansea, have been forced to publicly counter what they describe as “misinformation circulating online” about the project.

In a social media post, the council directly addressed claims that Natural Resources Wales (NRW) knew nothing about the development, stating that NRW were consulted during the planning process. The council also refuted claims that tree felling was happening without permission, confirming that planning consent was granted in July 2025.

Skyline Swansea also issued a statement to reassure the public that access to Kilvey Hill was being maintained via a re-routed path, a move they said went “beyond minimum safety standards.”

Hale’s video claims

VIDEO: Cllr Joe Hale’s announcement posted to social media on Tuesday 25 February

In his video, Cllr Hale said he could not “remain a Labour councillor when we’re spending £50 million on what, to all intents and purposes, is the gondola gamble.” He claimed the council had already invested £8 million and was proposing to increase this to £10 million.

He added that “the last three weeks” had been “a disgrace” and claimed “people are being hurt by the actions of politicians.”

Council: Scheme near his property

Responding to the video, the statement from the council leader’s office questioned Cllr Hale’s motivations, stating that he “has continued to voice his opposition to the scheme which is near to his own property.”

It continued: “The points Cllr Hale raises are ones the council has formally answered via the planning process and / or via numerous questions submitted to the council’s technical officers. Cllr Hale has not accepted the answers given to him.”

The statement also noted that “the records show Cllr Hale didn’t take the opportunity to attend cabinet meetings when these matters were discussed despite having the chance to do so.”

“Extremely concerning” posts

The statement described Cllr Hale’s recent social media activity as “extremely concerning.”

“While Cllr Hale is entitled to campaign on any matter, it was extremely concerning to see Cllr Hale recently share posts which constituted malicious communications and harassment and contained abusive language and threats directed at his former colleagues,” it said.

No response

Cllr Hale was contacted for comment on his suspension and the allegations but had not responded by the time of publication.

Politicians demand action as M&S closure sparks row over council “vanity projects”

Liberal Democrats have accused Swansea Council‘s Labour leadership of making “ridiculous” assurances about the impact of multimillion-pound regeneration schemes, pointing to recent claims that the new library would drive footfall to M&S.

Meanwhile, Plaid Cymru’s Sioned Williams MS has written to the Welsh Government demanding support for the 92 staff facing redundancy, describing the closure as a “sickeningly familiar story” of high streets losing historic stores.

The political fallout comes just days after M&S confirmed it will shut its Oxford Street store later this year, ending nearly a century of trading in the city centre.

Welsh Liberal Democrat lead Senedd candidate Cllr Sam Bennett said: “Time and time again the Labour Council Leader has assured us that the massive city centre projects would be the saving of the high street, and this announcement raises big questions.

“At the most recent Council meeting the Leader went as far to say how people were celebrating that the move of the library meant they could now go to M&S, this now sounds ridiculous.”

Cllr Chris Holley, Leader of the Opposition on Swansea Council and Welsh Lib Dem Group Leader, went further, claiming the council had privately assured them M&S would remain once the Yr Storfa development opened.

“We have continually asked and been told that Labour’s vanity projects would be the saving of our high street, and even been told in a meeting M&S would stay once Yr Storfa had opened,” he said.

“This is deeply embarrassing for Labour, and is a tragedy for the city centre workers and shoppers as the Swansea high street takes another blow.”

The Liberal Democrats say they have long called for cheaper and easier parking to encourage city centre use, alongside reforms to business rates and VAT cuts to support high street retailers.

Torsten Bell, Labour MP for Swansea West, struck a more conciliatory tone, expressing “deep disappointment” at the closure and focusing on the impact on staff and customers.

“This decision will be a blow to the many loyal customers who regularly use the store, and for the dedicated employees, some who have worked for M&S over many years,” Mr Bell said.

“They need to be shown the dignity and respect they deserve, while it’s vital they are treated fairly during this difficult time. I have already contacted Senior M&S Managers, with a meeting arranged for next Friday to discuss this further.”

Mr Bell noted the closure comes “at a time when the City Centre has seen huge regeneration at key sites and more top retailers showing confidence in Swansea.”

Sioned Williams MS, Plaid Cymru Member of the Senedd for South Wales West, drew parallels with M&S’s departure from Neath in May 2024, saying the closures represent more than just job losses.

“As with Marks and Spencer’s departure from Neath in May 2024, this is more than losing a job or losing a shop, it’s losing a piece of local history,” she said.

“The Oxford Street store is an important part of many people’s lives, not least for the 92 who work there currently. During its 100 year presence in Swansea, there will have been people who have given their working lives to this store and loyal customers who have helped build this company’s multimillion pound profits.”

Ms Williams said she had written to the Welsh Government asking what support will be offered to staff, and will be writing to M&S to urge them to retain a full-line store in the area.

“I’m glad to see the company not ruling out maintaining a presence in Swansea, but that location should be in the city centre, and not out of town,” she added.

The closure announcement has raised questions about the effectiveness of Swansea Council’s regeneration strategy, which has seen millions of pounds invested in projects including the Copr Bay arena, the new library and museum complex, and the ongoing Yr Storfa development.

M&S has indicated it is considering alternative locations in the Swansea area, but has not confirmed whether any replacement store would be in the city centre or at an out-of-town retail park.

The Oxford Street store, which has traded for nearly 100 years, is expected to close later in 2026, with staff consultations now underway.

Political battle erupts as Llanelli Rural Council approves 8% council tax rise – bringing three-year increase to 47%

The decision will affect residents across communities outside Llanelli town centre, including Llwynhendy, Pemberton, Five Roads, Bynea, Dafen, Felinfoel, Swiss Valley, and Glyn.

Opposition councillors from Plaid Cymru and Independent groups condemned the decision, warning it will place a further burden on households during the ongoing cost of living crisis, following an “eye-watering” 32% increase last year.

But Council Leader Cllr Rob Evans hit back, claiming the opposition councillors themselves were responsible for driving up the precept by insisting on ward-specific projects – and accused them of hypocrisy for criticising allowances while earning approximately £20,000 per year as County Councillors.

Cllr Alex Evans, Leader of the Opposition, said the decision shows “the administration is out of touch with the priorities of ordinary residents.”

“People are already struggling to get by. Forcing them to pay almost 50% more in council tax than just three years ago is just not on — that is why we had to vote against the proposed budget tonight. Residents are being asked to pay more while council leaders spend on luxuries,” he said.

Opposition councillors also criticised continued spending on councillor attendance payments, along with a leased car and chauffeur to escort the Chair of Council to events. An optional attendance payment allows councillors to claim £15 for each meeting they attend, with several meetings lasting less than 10 minutes in 2025, and the shortest lasting only three minutes.

“Opposition councillors and residents will rightly question the judgement and priorities of Labour councillors after refusing to scrap attendance payments and return the leased car,” Cllr Evans added.

Opposition councillors contrasted the move with neighbouring Llanelli Town Council which voted to freeze its tax.

The council has since moved from being Labour-run to a new Independent administration and has committed to scrapping councillor payments.

Cllr Sharen Davies, Independent member who also voted against the budget, challenged the administration’s claim that the tax rise was driven in part by the Canolfan Llwynhendy project.

“This development has been funded largely through grants and partner support. It should not be used as a smokescreen to justify excessive tax rises. Llwynhendy residents deserve investment and improvements in our community,” she said.

“This tax hike is completely unacceptable and will put serious financial pressure on our residents. Labour must rethink this further tax increase and start cutting back on unnecessary luxuries.”

However, Council Leader Cllr Rob Evans strongly rejected the criticism, pointing out that the Council’s administration is a coalition of Labour, Independent, and Plaid Cymru members – not a solely Labour-led authority.

He said the current Council has inherited a significant backlog of issues from the previous administration’s “lack of foresight” when adopting numerous new projects and asset transfers.

Cllr Evans explained that last year’s 32% increase was driven by unavoidable commitments, including £107,000 required in the Llwynhendy/Pemberton Ward to complete the new Canolfan Llwynhendy build and to fund unexpected drainage works at Gwili Fields in Cllr Sharen Davies’s ward, recruitment of additional staff to support growing community facilities, and replacement of a grounds maintenance vehicle.

He said this year’s 8% rise primarily reflects investment in Plaid Cymru and Independent wards, including £40,000 for refurbishing a play area for the Five Roads/Glyn Ward – Cllr Alex Evans’s ward – and further investment in Canolfan Llwynhendy.

“It is important to note that had Councillors Alex Evans and Sharen Davies not insisted on these additional ward-specific projects, this year’s rise would have been closer to the general cost of living and would have eased financial pressure on local households. For a Band D property, the increase equates to 28 pence per week,” Cllr Evans said.

On the Chairperson’s car, he said the Council continues to maintain a car and driver because the Chair must represent the Council at numerous civic events across the community, and not all Chairpersons are able to drive. “This support ensures the Chair can fulfil the role effectively and inclusively,” he added.

Regarding councillor allowances, Cllr Evans said Llanelli Rural Council is one of the largest and most ambitious town and community councils in Wales, and as a result, councillors face increasing demand on their time to meet governance and regulatory requirements.

“The role is no longer entirely voluntary in practice. Members dedicate substantial time to reading agendas, reports, and background papers, in addition to attending meetings. The meeting allowance ensures councillors are not out of pocket for fulfilling their duties,” he said.

He added:

“It must also be acknowledged that the councillors quoted in the opposition press release are themselves County Councillors. County Councillors receive a basic salary of approximately £20,000 per year, and for context this is more than the rural council’s entire budget.”

The council’s administration said it remains committed to transparency, responsible financial management, and ensuring that all communities within the Council area benefit from sustained investment and high quality services.

THE £14BN RAIL ROW: Swansea West MP hails ‘generational’ investment—but Lib Dems claim city has been ‘abandoned’

Swansea West MP Torsten Bell has moved to reassure residents that the city is at the heart of a long-awaited £14 billion rail upgrade pipeline. The plan, endorsed by the Prime Minister and First Minister, crucially includes the Swansea Bay Metro, a new station in Cockett, and the long-campaigned-for electrification of the main line beyond Cardiff to Swansea.

‘At Last’: Swansea Featured Heavily

Mr Bell, who also serves as a UK Treasury Minister, claims to have helped secure Swansea’s place in the multi-billion pound vision. He argues that the new pipeline marks the end of years of “underinvestment” by previous governments.

Torsten Bell MP said:

“Swansea has been let down by years of underinvestment in our rail system. I’m proud to play a part in putting that right. Securing this major step forward for Swansea has been a top priority for me from day one.”

The ‘Swansea Bay Metro’ Vision

Documents released by Transport for Wales (TfW) reveal the scale of the ambition for the region. The proposed Swansea Bay and West Wales Metro includes:

• Seven New Stations: Locations including Cockett, Landore, and Winch Wen are slated for development to better connect local communities.
• Increased Frequency: New Metro services running initially every 30 minutes, with the potential to increase to four trains per hour.
• Regional Upgrades: A new half-hourly service between Swansea and Pembrey & Burry Port, and a new station at St Clears in West Wales.
• Electrification: A “step-by-step” programme to decarbonise the rail network across the Swansea Bay area.

‘Jam Tomorrow’ or Real Investment?

However, the Welsh Liberal Democrats have hit back, branding the announcement as “falsely claiming” a £14 billion commitment. They point out that while the pipeline is valued at £14bn, the actual confirmed funding from last summer’s Spending Review is just £445 million—almost all of which is concentrated in the Cardiff and Newport corridor.

Sam Bennett, Lib Dem candidate for Gŵyr Abertawe, said:

“Swansea is Wales’ second city, yet it has been completely overlooked while funding is concentrated almost entirely around Cardiff. Announcing big projects without the funding to deliver them is exactly the kind of politics people are fed up with.”

The Funding Dispute

A spokesperson for Mr Bell’s office clarified that while funding is confirmed in individual Spending Reviews, this is the first time a UK government has committed to a long-term pipeline developed alongside the Welsh Government. They argue that this promise should be judged on the current government’s “record of actually delivering.”

The Liberal Democrats remain unconvinced, highlighting the lack of a “firm commitment” to a specific date for the electrification of the line to Swansea—a move local businesses say is essential for the success of the ports at Port Talbot and Milford Haven.

Is this a ‘game-changer’ for Swansea or just more empty promises? Have your say below.

Swansea councillor warns Welsh pubs risk being ‘left behind’ as business rates row deepens

Welsh Liberal Democrat councillor, Sam Bennett — who represents Swansea’s Waterfront ward and is standing for the Senedd in Gŵyr Abertawe — said ministers must “urgently change course” to stop Welsh venues being placed at a competitive disadvantage.

The row erupted after the UK Chancellor announced extra relief for pubs and music venues in England, cutting an average £1,650 from their bills next year. The support does not apply in Wales, and the Welsh Government has yet to confirm whether it will introduce a similar scheme.

When pressed in the Senedd by Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds, the First Minister declined to commit to matching the English package, saying she needed to examine the details first.

Bennett said that hesitation was already causing alarm among Swansea Bay businesses facing rising costs, staff shortages and falling footfall.

Cllr Sam Bennett said:

“Pubs and hospitality businesses are at the heart of our communities, but too many are being pushed to the brink. Scaling back business rates relief now would be a serious mistake.

Support cannot stop at pubs alone. Cafés, restaurants and other hospitality businesses are facing exactly the same pressures.”

Industry leaders warn Wales is becoming uncompetitive

Concerns over Wales’ business rates system intensified this week after a BBC report highlighted the widening gap between Wales and England.

The broadcaster spoke to Philip Thomas, Wales director of the Society of Independent Brewers, who said his Treforest brewery would pay no business rates at all if it were located just across the border in Somerset.

Thomas warned that the disparity was “impacting on our ability to compete”, with English rivals — who pay nothing — selling beer into Welsh pubs.

His comments echo growing frustration across the sector as new valuations and the end of pandemic‑era relief push bills sharply higher from April.

Analysis by UK Hospitality shows the sector’s business rates bill in Wales is set to rise from £83.1m this year to £135.7m by 2028‑29.

Political pressure grows — even within Labour

The political tension deepened after Gower MP Tonia Antoniazzi, who chairs Westminster’s All‑Party Parliamentary Beer Group, publicly welcomed the Chancellor’s decision to cut business rates for English pubs.

She said she had been “pushing for pubs to get a fairer deal” and thanked the Chancellor for listening — but made no reference to Wales, where pubs will not receive the same support unless the Welsh Government chooses to replicate it.

Welsh Government: ‘More to say soon’

A Welsh Government spokesperson said ministers were finalising plans for additional support and would announce details soon.

They insisted that almost half of Welsh pubs already receive Small Business Rates Relief, and more than a quarter pay no rates at all.

But Bennett said Swansea Bay businesses cannot wait much longer for clarity.

Cllr Sam Bennett said:

“Without urgent action, we risk losing viable, well‑loved businesses that communities in Swansea Bay simply cannot afford to lose.”

MPs accuse WRU of “stitch‑up” as political pressure intensifies over Ospreys’ future

The row has deepened over the past fortnight as the WRU presses ahead with plans linked to the proposed sale of Cardiff Rugby to Y11 — a move that has left the Ospreys facing uncertainty beyond next season and triggered a wave of criticism from players, supporters and local leaders.

Swansea West MP Torsten Bell said he had held fresh meetings with both the WRU and Y11 in the past 48 hours and claimed it was now “clear” that the union was attempting to use Cardiff’s financial collapse to sideline the Ospreys from any future regional structure.

Torsten Bell said:

“It’s now clear that the WRU are trying to use Cardiff going bust to try to force the Ospreys out of professional rugby. They promised an open transparent process to decide which clubs would continue – but are trying to deliver a behind‑closed‑doors stitch‑up to prevent the Ospreys even being able to compete in that process.”

He said support was growing for an Extraordinary General Meeting of the WRU, warning that confidence in the union’s leadership was collapsing.

Torsten Bell said:

“Demand for an EGM is building as people see the chaos being driven by those who are meant to be stewarding our national game. It’s hard to see a way forward now that doesn’t involve a change in leadership at the WRU.”

His intervention follows weeks of mounting frustration across Welsh rugby. Ospreys players have already issued an ultimatum demanding clarity, while Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart has said legal options are being examined if the region is forced out.

Now Swansea East MP Carolyn Harris has added further pressure, calling the situation “deeply troubling” and urging the WRU to halt the process immediately.

Carolyn Harris said:

“It is deeply troubling that proposals are being advanced which would put the future of the Ospreys at risk, particularly when so much work has been done locally to support their move to St Helen’s and secure a sustainable future for top‑flight rugby in Swansea.”

She said supporters and players deserved transparency, not decisions “imposed without proper justification”.

Carolyn Harris said:

“The WRU should pause this process now. Decisions of this scale must be fair, transparent and clearly in the best interests of Welsh rugby as a whole. Supporters, players and communities deserve clarity and reassurance.”

The WRU has faced repeated criticism in recent weeks after senior executives were grilled by MPs in a stop‑start committee hearing that offered little detail on the Ospreys’ future. Ospreys coaches and players have also described meetings with union bosses as confusing and uninformative.

With political pressure now intensifying from both of Swansea’s MPs, the WRU is facing renewed calls to explain how the regional game will operate beyond next season — and whether the Ospreys will be allowed to remain part of it.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Swansea Council blasts WRU over Ospreys threat
The council warns the region faces being wiped out under proposed changes.

Ospreys chief breaks silence on WRU plans
Senior figures respond after confirmation of Cardiff Rugby’s proposed sale.

Players issue ultimatum as crisis deepens
Squad members demand clarity on the region’s future or will consider their options.

WRU bosses grilled by MPs
A tense committee hearing offers little detail on the Ospreys’ long‑term position.

Legal options examined as uncertainty grows
Swansea Council says all avenues are being explored to protect regional rugby.

#PlaidCymru surges in #ITV #ITVcymru poll for the #Senedd. https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2026-01-13/plaid-cymru-surges-ahead-of-reform-as-labour-in-fourth-place-in-latest-itv-poll

#Plaid up 7 points to 37%, which I think is an all-time record.

This poll would give Plaid Cymru 45 seats out of 96, just 4 short of an overall majority. It would give Greens #GPEW 11 seats, allowing a Plaid/Green coalition a comfortable working majority without #WelshLabour.

If the result in May is close to this, it be an earthquake in Weish Politics and #ukpol. The Labour century in #Cymru #Wales is over. ❤️

New figures reveal Wales set to lose £6bn in rail funding row

Billions lost, investment bypasses rural Wales

Wales is set to miss out on another £1.3–£1.6 billion in transport funding after the UK Labour Government confirmed Northern Powerhouse Rail will go ahead as an “England and Wales” project.

The scheme, designed to link Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds, will not include a single centimetre of track in Wales. By classifying it as “England and Wales”, the Treasury avoids triggering Barnett consequentials that would have delivered funding for Welsh rail.

It follows similar decisions on HS2, the high‑speed line between London, Birmingham and Manchester, and East‑West Rail, which links Oxford and Cambridge. Together, those projects have already cost Wales up to £4.3 billion in lost investment. Combined, campaigners say Wales could now be short by around £6 billion.

Scotland and Northern Ireland cash in

While Wales is left empty‑handed, Scotland is set to receive £2.7 billion and Northern Ireland just under £1 billion as a result of Northern Powerhouse Rail.

A Treasury spokesperson said:

“Wales will benefit from £445 million of rail investment over the next decade — the biggest ever funding boost for Welsh rail.”

Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens has also defended the classification of projects like HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail as “England and Wales” schemes, arguing that Wales benefits indirectly from improved connections across the UK rail network.

Welsh Government stresses cooperation

First Minister Eluned Morgan said:

“We will continue to press for further commitments, including electrification of the North and South Mainlines, which remain vital for Wales’s future.”

She added that the settlement would deliver “significant extra investment in rail infrastructure” and emphasised the need for cooperation between governments.

Opposition parties cry foul

Plaid Cymru Westminster leader Liz Saville Roberts MP said:

“Wales is owed billions from HS2 and now Northern Powerhouse Rail. Labour has failed to address chronic underfunding of our railways, and our communities are paying the price.”

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth also accused Labour of leaving Wales “short‑changed again” and said the First Minister had “no influence” over her Westminster colleagues.

Lib Dems demand devolved powers

Welsh Liberal Democrat Westminster spokesperson David Chadwick MP said:

“This Labour Government is deliberately depriving Welsh communities of billions of pounds in transport funding, whilst expecting a pat on the back for delivering crumbs.

Labour has the power to change the system and stop these funding scandals, but has made its position clear — they are happy for Wales to be left behind, paying for megaprojects in England whilst our own rail and transport infrastructure collapses.”

Mid and West Wales left behind

Local campaigners say the funding gap is most keenly felt in Mid and West Wales, where rail services remain patchy and major projects have stalled.

Carl Peters‑Bond, independent candidate for the new Caerfyrddin constituency in next year’s Senedd elections, said:

“We’re told Wales is getting investment, but Mid and West Wales see none of it. Communities from Carmarthen to Aberystwyth are crying out for rail connectivity, yet billions are being spent on lines hundreds of miles away. It’s a betrayal of rural Wales.

Both Westminster and Cardiff need to stop playing politics and start building the infrastructure our communities desperately need. People here don’t want excuses — they want action.”

West Wales line campaign highlights the gap

The row comes just days after campaigners renewed calls for funding to restore the Carmarthen to Aberystwyth rail line, axed in the 1960s.

As Swansea Bay News reported at the weekend, supporters say reopening the line would transform connectivity across West Wales, boost the economy, and cut car dependency. Campaigners argue that the billions Wales is missing out on could easily fund projects like the Carmarthen–Aberystwyth line, yet instead the money is being spent on rail schemes in England.

Creaking infrastructure, growing anger

With rail electrification stalled and public transport under strain, campaigners warn the funding gap leaves Wales at risk of falling further behind.

The row adds to growing pressure on Labour to explain why Wales is repeatedly excluded from consequential funding, while neighbouring nations benefit.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Fresh cash call to bring back lost West Wales rail line
Campaigners launch crowdfunding bid to reopen the Carmarthen–Aberystwyth line, as Senedd row intensifies.

MP calls for devolved rail powers after £6.6bn project delivers nothing for Wales
David Chadwick MP demands rail powers for Wales after East‑West Rail confirmed as “England and Wales” scheme.

Chancellor’s £445m for Welsh rail investment criticised as “measly”
Rachel Reeves’ pledge of £445m over ten years branded inadequate compared to billions for Scotland and NI.

#CarlPetersBond #CarmarthenToAberystwythRailLink #DavidChadwickMP #EastWestRail #ElunedMorganMS #HS2 #HS3 #LizSavilleRobertsMP #NorthernPowerhouseRail #PlaidCymru #politics #railInvestment #RhunApIorwerthMS #UKLabour #WelshLabour #WelshLiberalDemocrats

First Minister Eluned Morgan tops Labour’s Senedd candidate list for Ceredigion Penfro

Under Labour’s rules, incumbent Members of the Senedd are automatically placed at the top of their constituency lists. Morgan has represented Mid and West Wales on the regional list since 2016 and became First Minister in 2024, having previously served as Health Minister and International Relations Minister.

Just two of Labour’s candidates on the Ceredigion Penfro list have direct links to the area. Marc Tierney, Morgan’s current office manager, is a county councillor for Narberth Urban and Cabinet Member for Young People, Communities and the Wellbeing of Future Generations. Joshua Phillips, a local activist, chairs Welsh Labour’s Solva & St Davids Branch, is vice chair of Solva Community Council, and is founder of the Edge Festival as well as director of Solva Gin.

Other names on the list include Margaret Greenaway, Swansea‑based President of The Open University Students’ Association; Tansaim Hussain‑Gul, a Cardiff‑born British Gas worker and trade union activist; Luke Davies‑Jones, a chartered accountant and Unite union member born in Swansea and now living in Cardiff; and Peter Huw Jenkins, a county councillor for Llandaff on Cardiff City Council.

Labour’s candidate list for Ceredigion Penfro

Eluned Morgan
First Minister of Wales and incumbent MS, automatically placed at the top of Labour’s slate.

Marc Tierney
County councillor for Narberth Urban, Cabinet Member for Young People, Communities and Wellbeing of Future Generations, and Morgan’s current office manager.

Joshua Phillips
Local activist, chair of Welsh Labour’s Solva & St Davids Branch, vice chair of Solva Community Council, founder of the Edge Festival and director of Solva Gin.

Margaret Greenaway
Swansea-based President of The Open University Students’ Association (OUSA).

Tansaim Hussain-Gul
Cardiff-born British Gas worker and trade union activist.

Luke Davies-Jones
Chartered accountant and Unite union member, born in Swansea and living in Cardiff.

Peter Huw Jenkins
County councillor for Llandaff on Cardiff City Council.

New constituency and projections

Ceredigion Penfro is one of the new multi‑member constituencies created under Senedd reforms, combining parts of Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire. Each of the new constituencies will elect six Members of the Senedd using proportional representation, replacing the old mix of constituency and regional seats.

Polling averages suggest Labour could secure around two seats in Ceredigion Penfro, with Plaid Cymru expected to perform strongly in the area and Reform UK also polling competitively. That would give Labour a foothold in a constituency where Plaid has historically dominated, but where Pembrokeshire’s Labour vote could now play a bigger role under the new boundaries.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Sarah Murphy tops Labour’s Senedd candidate list for Pen‑y‑Bont Bro Morgannwg
Labour confirms Sarah Murphy will head the slate in the new Pen‑y‑Bont Bro Morgannwg constituency.

Ammanford deputy mayor tops Labour’s Senedd list for Carmarthenshire
Labour names Ammanford deputy mayor as lead candidate for Carmarthenshire under new Senedd boundaries.

BAME and union activist tops Labour’s Senedd list for Neath, Swansea East and Brecon
Labour selects a BAME trade union activist to lead its candidate list in Neath, Swansea East and Brecon.

Swansea council leader ranked second on Labour’s Senedd candidate list for Gwyr Abertawe
Swansea Council leader placed second on Labour’s candidate list for the new Gwyr Abertawe constituency.

Reform UK pulls ahead as Plaid slips and Labour edges back in new Senedd poll
Latest polling shows Reform UK gaining ground as Plaid falls back and Labour edges forward.

Plaid’s big win in Caerphilly reshapes the Senedd debate
Plaid Cymru’s victory in Caerphilly reshapes the political debate ahead of the next Senedd election.

#candidates #ceredigion #ceredigionPenfro #elunedMorgan #elunedMorganMs #firstMinister #labour #pembrokeshire #senedd #seneddElection #seneddElections2026 #welshLabour

Sarah Murphy tops Labour’s Senedd candidate list for Pen‑y‑Bont Bro Morgannwg

Latest polling suggests Labour are likely to secure two of the six seats in this constituency at the 2026 Senedd election.

Sitting Bridgend MS heads the slate

First on the list is Sarah Murphy, who has represented Bridgend in the Senedd since 2021. She previously worked as Head of Events for Welsh Labour, Research Analyst for Lee Waters AM, and Communications Manager for Anna McMorrin MP. Before her election she chaired Sustainable Wales, a Porthcawl‑based charity supporting community‑led sustainable development.

Former council leader takes second place

Second is Huw David OBE, the former leader of Bridgend County Borough Council between 2016 and 2024. He was awarded an OBE for public service and his contribution to local government in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list in 2022.

Vale deputy mayor ranked third

Third on the list is Carys Stallard, a former BBC journalist who now serves as Labour councillor for St Brides Major on the Vale of Glamorgan Council. She is currently Deputy Mayor of the Vale of Glamorgan, chairs the Glamorgan Heritage Coast Advisory Group, and sits on the Place Scrutiny and Planning Committees.

Politics & Senedd News

Follow the latest updates on Senedd candidate selections, party rankings, and polling across Wales.

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Trade union organiser joins the slate

Fourth is Jonathan Cox, a trade unionist and community organiser who founded Citizens Cymru Wales. A former adviser to David Miliband MP, he says he has worked with Mark Drakeford MS on the Real Living Wage in social care, with Jane Hutt MS to welcome Syrian refugees to the Vale, and with Carwyn Jones MS to introduce the Real Living Wage in Welsh Government.

Bridgend councillor takes fifth spot

Fifth is Jon‑Paul Blundell, a Bridgend councillor for the Cefn‑Glas ward. He chairs the Communities, Environment and Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee and was previously Cabinet Member for Education.

Barry councillor and wellbeing champion ranked sixth

Sixth on the list is Helen Payne, a Vale of Glamorgan councillor for the Cadoc ward in Barry. She was previously Projects Manager for Llamau, supporting vulnerable young people. Payne is the council’s Mental Wellbeing Champion, chairs the Investigating Committee, and serves as Vice Chair of the Start Well Scrutiny Committee.

Former cabinet member joins at seven

Seventh is Rhys Goode, a councillor for the Nant‑y‑moel ward on Bridgend Council. He has served as Cabinet Member for Housing, Planning & Regeneration (2023–24) and Cabinet Member for Wellbeing & Future Generations (2022–23). Goode was Head of Terrence Higgins Trust Cymru from 2022 to 2024, and has held senior communications roles at Klana and JustGiving.

Porthcawl councillor completes the list

Eighth is Neelo Farr, a trade unionist and councillor for Porthcawl on Bridgend Council. She is Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Economic Development and Housing, with a professional background as a mental health social worker.

Constituency boundaries

Pen‑y‑Bont Bro Morgannwg is one of 16 new Senedd “super constituencies” created for the 2026 election. It combines the Bridgend and Vale of Glamorgan parliamentary areas, covering major towns including Bridgend, Barry, Cowbridge, Llantwit Major, Pencoed and Porthcawl. The constituency will elect six Members of the Senedd under the new proportional voting system.

Electoral outlook

While Murphy heads the slate, Labour’s prospects in Pen‑y‑Bont Bro Morgannwg are limited. Polling suggests the party is in line for just two seats in this constituency, with Plaid Cymru and Reform UK also competing strongly as Labour’s support edges back.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Ammanford deputy mayor tops Labour’s Senedd list for Carmarthenshire
Calum Higgins heads Labour’s slate in Carmarthenshire under the new Senedd voting system.

BAME and union activist tops Labour’s Senedd list for Neath, Swansea East and Brecon
Dr Mahaboob Basha confirmed as Labour’s lead candidate in Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd.

Swansea Council leader ranked second on Labour’s Senedd list for Gŵyr Abertawe
Rob Stewart placed second on Labour’s candidate list for the Swansea “super constituency”.

#barry #bridgend #carysStallard #cllrHuwDavid #cllrJonPaulBlundell #cllrNeeloFarr #cllrRhysGoode #cowbridge #helenPayne #jonathanCox #llantwitMajor #penE28091yE28091bontBroMorgannwg #pencoed #porthcawl #sarahMurphyMs #seneddElection #seneddElections2026 #valeOfGlamorgan #welshLabour

Llongyfarchiadau Caerffili!

#PlaidCymru has decisively won the #Caerphilly #Senedd by-election, with 47.4% of votes. It's a 27% swing from #WelshLabour and 11% margin over #ReformUK. The collapse of Welsh #Labour in its heartland is devastating, as is the wipeout of the #WelshConservatives.

Plaid is confurmed as the leading force to oust the disgraced so-called "Labour Party" in #Senedd26, and Labour has lost its majority in the Senedd.

100 years of Labour dominance in #Wales #Cymru is over

@Fife4Europe I've boosted it of course, but, too little too late IMO. Reading the room at #senedd #cymru yesterday I'd say Labour have lost Wales to the fascists. = #noreturn #WelshLabour & #ElunedMorgan is well hard but I've seen this at Westminster, the money / landowning elites have got the bit between their teeth. ✊ #solidarity

Most #cymraeg #welsh #labour I've met are diametrically opposed to #LINO #Starmer . Is that an argument for a new and distinct group #WelshLabour #LabourCymraeg ? Asking for a friend , obvs. 😎 ✊

Aren't we all?

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/may/06/welsh-labour-first-minister-says-she-is-losing-patience-with-starmers-policies

#Stamer #UKPOL #UKpolitics #Labour #WelshLabour

Fascinating poll for #Wales

- 2nd place for #UKGeneralElection is now a 3-way fight between #PlaidCymru , Tories and Reform. #UKLabour lead.

- #WelshLabour drop puts them just 4 points ahead of Plaid in #Senedd poll

https://nation.cymru/news/new-poll-points-to-tory-wipeout-in-wales/

Big row brewing in #uklabour party.

Shadow Welsh Secretary denying her #WelshLabour colleagues the #HS2 money #Wales is owed and refusing their devolution demands.

#ukpolitics #WalesPol #labour #generalelection

https://nation.cymru/news/shadow-welsh-secretary-criticised-after-patronising-and-contemptuous-s4c-interview/

Da iawn #MarkDrakeford - a brilliant and passionate speech on behalf of the most vulnerable in society. His #WelshLabour colleagues and #WelshGovernment should reflect long and hard on his case for reforming school holidays to help children in the poorest families. 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy99jy1p3kpo

#Senedd #Wales #WalesPol #Cymru #ysgolion #addysg #Labour

Da iawn #MarkDrakeford - a brilliant and passionate speech on behalf of the most vulnerable in society. His #WelshLabour colleagues and #WelshGovernment should reflect long and hard on his case for reforming school holidays to help children in the poorest families. 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy99jy1p3kpo

#Senedd #Wales #WalesPol #Cymru #ysgolion #addysg #Labour

Da iawn #MarkDrakeford - a brilliant and passionate speech on behalf of the most vulnerable in society. His #WelshLabour colleagues and #WelshGovernment should reflect long and hard on his case for reforming school holidays to help children in the poorest families. 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy99jy1p3kpo

#Senedd #Wales #WalesPol #Cymru #ysgolion #addysg #Labour

Da iawn #MarkDrakeford - a brilliant and passionate speech on behalf of the most vulnerable in society. His #WelshLabour colleagues and #WelshGovernment should reflect long and hard on his case for reforming school holidays to help children in the poorest families. 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy99jy1p3kpo

#Senedd #Wales #WalesPol #Cymru #ysgolion #addysg #Labour

This bloke is finished. Mired in controversy from the very start.

He likes to look tough. Instead, he's showing himself to be a total amateur, keen to delete Covid WhatsApps, just like Bojo the Clown did.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckv7ve8k82no

#wales #cymru #welshgovernment #welshlabour #labour

@fkamiah17 I heard Ken Skates on #BBCRadioWales this morning. Really disappointing - clearly moving towards a Tory-lite agenda that doesn't recognise the need for radical change away from climate and society-wrecking car dependency. Credit to #LeeWaters for trying to change things. Now I'm depressed. #GoodMorningWales #WalesPol #ukpolitics #WelshLabour #Labour #transport #Senedd

🥳

He's got big shoes to fill — Drakeford was an outstanding leader and First Minister, the very model for future FMs — but I was very happy to cast my vote for Vaughan.

#wales #cymru #Labour #WelshLabour

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/mar/16/vaughan-gething-to-become-welsh-first-minister-after-labour-leadership-win

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🌹

#Labour #WelshLabour

IT CAME

#Labour #WelshLabour #Wales #Cymru #Llafur

IT CAME

#Labour #WelshLabour #Wales #Cymru #Llafur

IT CAME

#Labour #WelshLabour #Wales #Cymru #Llafur

IT CAME

#Labour #WelshLabour #Wales #Cymru #Llafur

IT CAME

#Labour #WelshLabour #Wales #Cymru #Llafur