Labour dealt historic loss in Caerphilly by-election - as Plaid Cymru win seat

Plaid Cymru have won the by-election in the Senedd seat of Caerphilly for the first time.

The Welsh nationalist party secured 15,960 votes - and candidate Lindsay Whittle cried as the result was announced. Mr Whittle is 72 years old and had stood as a Plaid candidate 13 times since 1983.

He will now hold the seat until the Senedd elections next year. This by-election was widely regarded as a two-horse race between Plaid Cymru and Reform UK, and the result marks a considerable blow for Nigel Farage.

His candidate Llyr Powell received 12,113 votes - denying a victory that would have strengthened claims that Reform can convert a large lead in opinion polls into election wins. Nonetheless, the party's performance is a marked improvement on 2021, when it received just 495 votes.

More than anything, the result is a humiliating and historic defeat for Labour, who had held Caerphilly at every Senedd election since it was created in 1999 - as well as the Westminster seat for over a century. Its candidate Richard Tunnicliffe secured 3,713 votes and finished in third place, with Welsh Labour describing it as a "by-election in the toughest of circumstances, and in the midst of difficult headwinds nationally".

Turnout overall stood at 50.43% - considerably higher than during the last ballot back in 2021. Giving his acceptance speech after the result was confirmed, Mr Whittle began by paying tribute to Hefin David - who was Welsh Labour's Member of the Senedd for Caerphilly until his death in August.

"He will be a hard act to follow," Mr Whittle said. "I will never fill his shoes - but I promise you, I will walk the same path that he did." The Plaid politician described how he had been "absolutely heartened" by how many young people were involved in the by-election - and said the result sends a clear message.

He said: "Listen now Cardiff and listen Westminster - this is Caerphilly and Wales telling you we want a better deal for every corner of Wales. The big parties need to sit up and take notice.

"Wales, we are at the dawn of new leadership, we are at the dawn of a new beginning - and I look forward to playing my part for a new Wales, and in particular, for the people of the Caerphilly constituency. I thank you with all my heart." Mr Whittle quipped Plaid's victory "was better than scoring the winning try for Wales in the Rugby World Cup".

And looking ahead to the next year's elections, he added: "[This] result shows what's possible when people come together to back practical solutions and protect what matters most. "We've beaten billionaire-backed Reform and, with the same determination, we can do it again in May 2026.

Caerphilly has shown the way - now Wales must follow." Read more from Sky News:Mafia members and NBA stars arrestedPutin criticises Trump's new sanctions Speaking to Sky's chief political correspondent Jon Craig just before the declaration, Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth said: "There's clearly a real significance to the result - we are seeing the disillusionment with Labour writ large. I've heard it on hundreds of doorsteps, we've seen it in opinion polls." He conceded there was tactical voting in this by-election - with Labour and Conservative supporters alike backing Lindsay Whittle to keep out Reform.

However, Mr ap Iorwerth added: "I've spoken to literally hundreds and hundreds of people who told me - time and time again - 'I've been a Labour supporter all my life, and we're backing you this time.' "Not begrudgingly, but because they see that's the direction we're going in - not just in this by-election, but as a nation. I'm calling on people to get behind that positive change - not just today, but ahead of next May." First Minister Eluned Morgan congratulated Mr Whittle on his return to the Senedd and said: "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." The Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats were among the parties who lost their deposits..