Former Plaid leader's re-election uncertain under new voting system

There is uncertainty whether the former leader of Plaid Cymru will be re-elected under the Senedd's new voting system.

People in Wales will be heading to the polls next May to vote in the Senedd election for the first time since 2021. Plaid Cymru has published its candidate list for the new constituency of Sir Gaerfyrddin, which puts Adam Price in third place.

For the first time, voters will be electing 96 members to the Welsh parliament - an increase of more than 50%. The 32 Welsh constituencies at UK general elections will be paired to form 16 larger constituencies.

Six candidates will be elected to represent each constituency, under a more proportional voting system. The order of candidates on each party's list is decided by party members.

The lower a candidate's position on each party's list, the lower their chances of being elected. In a statement to local members, seen by Sky News, the party confirmed that Cefin Campbell, its education spokesperson, had topped the list.

Former Senedd member Nerys Evans was placed second, followed by former leader Adam Price in third. Mari Arthur, who the party describes as a social entrepreneur and sustainability campaigner, completes the party's top four candidates.

After the result, Mr Price said he would "like to thank the members that showed [him] support during this process and congratulate Cefin on topping the list". Read more from Sky News:Wynne Evans leaves BBC radio show after controversyMan who made and sold poisonous diet pills jailed Mr Price quit as leader of the Welsh independence-supporting party in May 2023.

His departure came after a report into a "toxic" culture within Plaid Cymru, which found a "lack of collective leadership and governance" in responding to the issues. The party commissioned the report by a working group, chaired by Mrs Evans, who now hopes to be re-elected to the Senedd after an initial stint between 2007 and 2011.

Mr Price was ultimately replaced as leader by Rhun ap Iorwerth, who currently represents Ynys Môn in the Senedd. A Senedd poll published earlier this month placed Plaid Cymru as the party with the highest vote share, ahead of Reform UK, Labour and the Conservatives.

After its publication, Mr ap Iorwerth told Sky News his party was "ready to form" the next government in Wales..