PLAID CYMRU defeated 100 years of history today when they won the Caerphilly Senedd by-election taking the seat from Welsh Labour.

Lindsay Whittle received 15,961 votes, more than 47 per cent of the total, with a swing from Labour of almost 27 per cent.

Labour has held the Senedd seat for the 26 years of the Welsh Parliament, and the Westminster seat for 100 years, but Richard Tunnicliffe trailed in third with just 11 per cent of the vote.

A jubilant Mr Whittle said: “Listen Westminster, this is Caerphilly, and Wales, telling you we want a better deal.

“We are at the dawn of new leadership, we are at the dawn of a new beginning and I look forward to playing my part for a new Wales.”

The victorious Plaid candidate paid tribute to Hefin David, who had served as Member of the Senedd for Caerphilly since 2016, and died in August.

Reform UK was hoping to win its first seat at the ballot box in the Caerphilly constituency and pledged to “throw everything” at its campaign, with Nigel Farage visiting three times.

But Plaid emerged victorious with a majority of 3,848 votes on a high turnout of more than 50 per cent.

The turnout was higher than any Senedd election since devolution in 1999.

Reform candidate Llyr Powell got 12,113 votes after a rancorous campaign that had targeted migrants, despite fewer than 3 per cent of the population of Caerphilly coming from abroad.

Plaid leader Rhun ap Iorwerth said: “The people of Caerphilly have spoken loud and clear.

“They’ve chosen hope over division, and progress over the tired status quo, and backed Plaid Cymru’s positive, pro-Wales vision.

“This result shows that Plaid is no longer just an alternative, we are now the real choice for Wales, the only party able to stop billionaire-backed Reform.”

First Minister Eluned Morgan said: “This was a by-election in the toughest of circumstances, and in the midst of difficult headwinds nationally.

“Welsh Labour has heard the frustration on doorsteps in Caerphilly that the need to feel change in people’s lives has not been quick enough.

“We are listening, we are learning the lessons, and we will be come back stronger.”

Welsh Labour Senedd members gather together today to consider the result and what they can do to revive their fortunes.

But with Labour’s vote dropping to 11 per cent the party faces a wipeout at the May 2026 Senedd election.