Plaid Cymru eyes Senedd success after historic Caerphilly by-election

Within minutes, as the results were read, over 100 years of Labor Party history collapsed.

For Plaid Cymru’s Lindsay Whittle, her 14th victory must feel like it’s been a long time coming.

This could be a sign that voters see his party as a viable alternative to Labour, with Welsh Parliament elections on the horizon next May.

The Labor Party stronghold has been breached and Plaid has attacked it.

There are lessons to be learned for the Reformation, which has such high expectations.

Despite rising across the UK, they fell short in this big test.

Its ambitions to become the biggest party after next year’s Welsh Parliament elections have been dealt a blow.

There will be questions about how effective he is in urging his supporters to vote, as the party thinks high turnout will be good for them.

Turnout was higher than previous Senedd elections at 50.43%.

This was a terrible result for Labour.

If their 11% vote share is rolled over to Wales next May, they could face a wipeout under the new proportional voting system.

Before the vote, a source told me about the concept of a good defeat; This was something the party could figure out.

This wasn’t it.

of the party Senedd members We will meet on Friday to start the difficult conversation about how we can turn this tour around.

A Labor source told me the party would need a “retail offer” – something eye-catching – to catch the attention of voters.

“People are looking for material improvements in their lives,” the source said.

“We can talk about improvements and we can talk about old problems like free prescriptions, but something new needs to make a big sale.”

Deputy first minister Huw Irranca-Davies said the party needed a “compelling story”.

First Minister Eluned Morgan should look to further differentiate herself from her UK counterparts, another source said.

He tried this with his own concept. Red Welsh Waybut he also spoke of a partnership in power.

There are benefits to Welsh Labor and UK Labor working together, but it will never be easy.

Voters in Caerphilly do not buy the idea that it is better for Wales for two Labor governments to work together.

The entire Welsh electorate could make the same decision next May.

For now, however, Caerphilly has written itself into the pages of Welsh political history.

We’re about to find out whether this result is an illuminating anomaly or a truly new chapter.