Welsh First Minister Baroness Morgan appeared to take a veiled swipe at the Prime Minister this morning after Labour’s by-election wipeout to Plaid Cymru.
The pair’s party slumped to just 3,713 votes in Caerphilly – a backslide of a staggering 34.9 per cent compared to the 2021 Senedd election.
In the early hours, the FM vented at “difficult headwinds nationally”, with Labour having lost 34 council by-elections as well as Thursday’s Senedd vote since the May 1 locals.
“This was a by-election in the toughest of circumstances,” Baroness Morgan said, referencing Welsh Labour MS Hefin David’s death in August.
“I want to thank our candidate, Richard Tunnicliffe – a good man who stood because of his desire to serve his community.”
And she congratulated Plaid’s Lindsey Whittle on his victory, hailing him for his decades of service to the Valleys town as a councillor.
Baroness Morgan continued: “Welsh Labour has heard the frustration on doorsteps in Caerphilly that the need to feel change in people’s lives has not been quick enough.
“We take our share of the responsibility for this result. We are listening, we are learning the lessons, and we will be come back stronger.”
Earlier this year, the First Minister had promised to “call out” Sir Keir’s Westminster Labour when it “gets it wrong for Wales”.
Denying a “split” in the party, Baroness Morgan vowed she would “not stay silent” if the PM took decisions “we think will harm Welsh communities”.
FOLLOW BELOW FOR LIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE DAY…
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29 minutes ago
WATCH: Christopher Hope looks at Labour’s result in the Caerphilly by-election
31 minutes ago
Appearing on GB News Breakfast today – follow live
Big names from Reform UK, Labour and the Conservatives will all be joining GB News Breakfast today following this morning’s by-election.
The People’s Channel is set to grill Cabinet Office Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds, Shadow Policing Minister Matt Vickers and Reform chairman Dr David Bull throughout the morning.
You’ll be able to follow the trio’s interviews live on GB News – and we’ll bring you all the top lines on this live blog.
about 1 hour ago
AS IT HAPPENED: Labour ousted in Caerphilly by-election as 107-year grip on ‘safe’ seat is smashed
Labour was ousted overnight in Caerphilly
| PA
Labour has been ousted in the Caerphilly by-election in a blowout to Plaid Cymru.
Lindsay Whittle of the Welsh nationalist party took home 15,961 votes, beating second-placed Reform UK’s 12,113.
Labour slumped to just 3,713 votes – a backslide of a staggering 34.9 per cent compared to the 2021 Senedd election.
Turnout came to 50.43 per cent, with a total of 33,736 ballot papers being included in the count – an increase on 2021’s 44.31 per cent.
In Westminster, the Valleys town has voted Labour since 1918 – every election since the seat existed.
In Cardiff Bay, it had done the same since devolution in 1999.
But in 2025, the party’s century-long winning streak came to an end under Sir Keir Starmer’s watch.
Labour has been ousted in the Caerphilly by-election in a blowout to Plaid Cymru.
Lindsay Whittle of the Welsh nationalist party took home 15,961 votes, beating second-placed Reform UK’s 12,113.
Labour slumped to just 3,713 votes – a backslide of a staggering 34.9 per cent compared to the 2021 Senedd election.
Turnout came to 50.43 per cent, with a total of 33,736 ballot papers being included in the count – an increase on 2021’s 44.31 per cent.
In Westminster, the Valleys town has voted Labour since 1918 – every election since the seat existed.
In Cardiff Bay, it had done the same since devolution in 1999.
PICTURED: Plaid’s Lindsay Whittle celebrates winning his Caerphilly seat on Friday morning
But in 2025, the party’s century-long winning streak came to an end under Sir Keir Starmer’s watch.
The death of Labour MS Hefin David triggered the poll in Caerphilly – and victorious candidate Mr Whittle paid tribute to him as he won.
Featured Comment“He will be a hard act to follow. I will never fill his shoes, but I promise you I will walk the same path that he did, and I can pay no finer tribute to an excellent man,” he said.
Mr Whittle added that now is an “exciting time” for Welsh politics as he laid out his challenge to Westminster.
“Wales, we are at the dawn of a new beginning. I look forward to playing my part for a new Wales,” he vowed.
“It’s better than scoring the winning try for Wales against New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup!”
PICTURED RIGHT-TO-LEFT: Labour’s Richard Tunnicliffe, Reform UK’s Llyr Powell and Plaid Cymru’s Lindsay Whittle | GETTY/PA
Meanwhile, Plaid leader Rhun ap Iorwerth took aim at “tired” Labour after his party surged to a landmark win.
“Tonight, the people of Caerphilly have spoken loud and clear,” he said.
“They’ve chosen hope over division, and progress over the tired status quo, and backed Plaid Cymru’s positive, pro-Wales vision.
“Lindsay Whittle is a tireless local champion who knows every community in this constituency inside out and will deliver real change for the people of Caerphilly.”
Though speaking to GB News just moments before the count, Labour’s Cardiff Central MP Alex Barros-Curtis insisted his party “still had plenty of time to turn it around”.
Further before Thursday’s blowout loss, one Labour source described the party’s expected defeat in Caerphilly as a “defeat for Starmerism, not for First Minister Eluned Morgan.”
They claimed that Baroness Morgan, who has served as First Minister since August 2024, had been relatively popular on the doorsteps.
Reform UK’s Zia Yusuf offered a conciliatory message in defeat – and lauded how Plaid had downed the “uniparty”.
Reform UK’s Zia Yusuf, pictured with Llyr Powell, lauded how Plaid had downed the ‘uniparty’
| X/ZIAYUSUFUK
“Congratulations to Lindsay Whittle,” he said. “Reform winning 36 per cent, up from 1.7 per cent in 2021, is remarkable.
“This is a historic realignment in Welsh and British politics. The Senedd elections next May are now a battle between Reform and Plaid.
“Who would have thought Labour would fall to just 11 per cent and the Tories to just two per cent? The uniparty vote collapsing to 13 per cent from 63 per cent four years ago.”
Mr Yusuf hinted that “hard worker” Mr Powell may yet taste success at next May’s Senedd election as he vowed: “The Reform resolve is stronger than ever.”
The rate this is going the Reform will hold every seat in the country and if this is not sending a message to the Labour government I don’t know what will bring it on that’s what I say well done Reform we’ve had enough one man has destroyed the Labour government for good goodbye Labour