CAERPHILLY by-election victor Lindsay Whittle today made his first appearance in the Senedd since his historic win two weeks ago.

He promised he would represent and fight for all communities and all constituents and be a voice for Caerphilly.

Plaid Cymru gained Caerphilly in the by-election on October 24 with 47 per cent of the vote, relegating Welsh Labour’s historic 100-year reign in the area to just 11 per cent of the vote.

A similar result in next May’s Senedd election could see Labour lose most of its seats.

“I’ll give everything I’ve got to make sure the people of Caerphilly are heard loud and clear in Cardiff, and I’ll fight for every single community that means so much to me,” Mr Whittle said.

“I’m here because people wanted a strong local voice. They wanted real change. They said no to division and no to the empty promises of Reform UK.

“This result sends a clear message that Starmer’s Labour and Westminster politics can’t take Wales for granted anymore.

“The old order is breaking down, and Caerphilly has shown that change is on the way,” Mr Whittle said to cheers in the chamber.

Change and Labour’s record dominated First Minister’s Questions, which was taken by Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies in Eluned Morgan’s absence.

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth accused Labour of failing to learn from its mistakes and delivering the same disappointing results for Wales.

He said the two-year NHS waiting times had gone up, despite the government’s original promise to eradicate all two-year waits by 2023.

“But not only are we accustomed to government failure in health, but failings are now built into Wales’ new literacy programme too,” Mr ap Iorwerth said.

“That’s the damning verdict of an expert who quit the Welsh government’s literacy panel, saying it’s not fit for purpose.”

Mr Irranca-Davies added: “The leader of Plaid Cymru says that nothing has changed, but this government has made a difference through all the years that we have faced down Tory austerity.”

The Deputy First Minister said the government wanted to talk to opposition parties about its draft budget and its priorities and invited them to take part in discussions about priorities and funding.