WELSH LABOUR’s attempts to cling onto its Caerphilly Senedd seat in the by-election were rocked at the weekend as the council leader resigned and said he would vote Plaid Cymru.

Caerphilly County Borough council leader Sean Morgan quit the party just days after Labour launched its by-election campaign.

The party’s hopes to retain the seat had already been hit by a row over the selection of children’s books publisher Richard Tunnicliffe.

Labour apparatchiks were accused of factionalism by left-group Welsh Labour Grassroots in the selection process.

Mr Morgan said he would vote for Plaid Cymru, and also attacked Labour for what he called a “fix” in the selection process because his deputy council leader, James Pritchard, was blocked from standing.

According to Mr Morgan, he was asked to support the selection outcome by First Minister Eluned Morgan and Welsh Labour general secretary Joe Lock.

Mr Tunnicliffe won the selection contest with just six votes out of 36, with most ballot papers spoiled.

Mr Pritchard is now the temporary council leader and will be expected to support the Labour campaign.

The First Minister was interviewed by BBC Wales on the eve of the Senedd’s return from its summer recess tomorrow and tried to emphasise the gap between her and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s policies.

Ms Morgan was asked if she would “double down” on the “red Welsh way” in light of the unpopularity of Sir Keir’s government, and Ms Morgan said she would “double down on the things that are my responsibility.

“It’s important that I’m held to account for the things that are within my power and responsibilities,” Ms Morgan said.

“That’s why the red Welsh way is important, it’s in keeping with the values of the people of Wales.”

Plaid Cymru are battling with Reform UK to win the Caerphilly seat and blasted Mr Farage’s candidate, Llyr Powell, as a “political chancer.”

The nationalists highlighted social media posts by Mr Powell, which supported the Conservatives and leader Kemi Badenoch before abandoning the party in early 2025.

Plaid Cymru’s Westminster leader Liz Saville Roberts was quoted in the news website Nation.Cymru saying: “This is yet more evidence that Reform UK is nothing but a last chance raft for sinking Tories.”