Labour's historic grip on Welsh politics has been shattered, with the party finishing third in the Senedd election and Plaid Cymru set to form a minority government. After more than 100 years as the most successful election-winning machine in the democratic world, Welsh Labour secured just nine seats in the expanded 96-seat parliament, marking an 'astonishing' collapse according to analysts.
First Minister Eluned Morgan became the first UK government leader to lose their seat while in office, falling in her Ceredigion Penfro constituency. She resigned immediately, with former cabinet secretary Ken Skates appointed interim leader. 'The people of Wales have rejected us and we owe it to them to listen,' Morgan said, receiving prolonged applause at the count.
Plaid Cymru's message that a vote for them was the only way to stop Reform UK resonated with voters, despite the introduction of a more proportional electoral system. The party's success in Cardiff, winning half of the 12 seats, underscored Labour's collapse even in traditional strongholds. 'Genuinely everywhere you look, it's hard to identify any solid territory they can actually rebuild on,' said Professor Richard Wyn Jones of Cardiff University.
Labour's decline has been attributed to multiple factors, including Keir Starmer's unpopularity and perceived disregard for Wales. Last year, 11 Labour Senedd members wrote to the prime minister accusing his administration of 'constitutional outrage' over devolution promises. After nearly 30 years of Labour management, Welsh public services lag behind other UK nations in poverty, education, and NHS performance, with the party unable to blame Westminster as it had under Conservative governments.
