CAERPHILLY, Wales, 24 October (H.S.): A dramatic political shift is unfolding in a traditional Labour heartland, as votes were counted late Thursday in a pivotal Senedd by-election.

The contest in Caerphilly, triggered by the sudden death of Labour’s Hefin David, has transformed into a tense, neck-and-neck battle between Plaid Cymru and Reform UK, with multiple Labour sources conceding defeat in a constituency the party has held since 1999.

The by-election has captured national attention, drawing media from across the UK to witness a potential total and historic realignment of British politics.

A remarkably high turnout of 50.43%, a first for a Senedd by-election, has added to the night’s tension, with officials from both Plaid Cymru and Reform UK predicting a very close result. Plaid Cymru candidate Lindsay Whittle described his camp as buoyant and very positive, while Reform UK’s head of policy Zia Yusuf called it a historic day for Wales as his party contends for its first-ever Senedd seat.

For the Labour party, the night signals a significant blow. The party has held the Caerphilly seat in every Senedd and Westminster election for over a century. Wales’ deputy first minister, Huw Irranca-Davies, acknowledged it had been a tough campaign and noted that some traditional Labour supporters were tactically lending their votes to Plaid Cymru specifically to prevent a Reform victory.

With the final result expected in the early hours of Friday, the outcome is seen as a major indicator of the political climate ahead of the nationwide Senedd election in May 2026.

—————

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar