Voters go to polls in Caerphilly byelection that could mark historic shift for Wales | Welsh politics
Voters will go to the polls on Thursday in a by-election that could mark a historic shift in Welsh politics.
Labor has run the Welsh parliament since the devolved administration was established in 1999, and Caerphilly is one of its strongholds.
But opposition parties hoping to form the next Welsh government are running fierce campaigns in the south Wales constituency.
Polling stations open at 7 a.m. and close at 10 p.m., and the results are expected to be announced early Friday.
Recent polls predict Plaid Cymru and Reform UK will be the two largest parties in Wales next year. The result in Caerphilly could be a precursor to the Senedd elections in May and is likely to be viewed as such by the winning party.
The by-election also took place in the run-up to a vote on the next Welsh government budget, putting further pressure on the Labor campaign. When passing the budget in March, the government needed the help of an opposition member to narrowly complete the budget.
Although Labor is the largest party in the Senedd, it does not have a majority and January’s budget vote could become even more difficult if the party loses its Caerphilly seat.
Speaking at a press conference in Caerphilly last month, Nigel Farage announced Reform candidate Llyr Powell and promised to “throw everything away” at the campaign.
Plaid Cymru candidate Lindsay Whittle is a long-serving councilor for Penyrheol ward and leader of the group on Caerphilly council. Labor candidate, financial analyst and broadcaster Richard Tunnicliffe.
Candidates nominated by other parties are Gareth Potter from the Conservatives, Gareth Hughes from the Greens and Anthony Cook from the pro-independence party Gwlad. Steve Aicheler is running for the Liberal Democrats and Roger Quilliam is Ukip’s candidate.
The by-election was held after the death of Labor politician Hefin Wyn David, who was first elected in Caerphilly in 2016. The inquest into his death will be held in April.
