A difficult night for Welsh Labour, but not the end of our story
3 min read
Last night’s result in Caerphilly was a difficult one for Welsh Labour.
It’s a place that has long held deep meaning for our party and our values, and the by-election was called under the most painful of circumstances. We didn’t just fight for votes – we fought to honour Hefin’s legacy and to stand by the people he served with such dedication. Though the outcome was not what we hoped for, we carried his values with us every step of the way.
I want to pay tribute to Richard Tunnicliffe, our candidate, who gave everything to this campaign.
We faced an uphill struggle. People are hurting. They want change that feels real and immediate. We must listen to that message – not just hear it, but truly listen – and respond with humility and urgency.
Plaid Cymru’s strong showing is a clear challenge. They are positioning themselves as an alternative, but their pursuit of independence risks distracting from the everyday issues that matter most: jobs, healthcare, education. Their agenda could bring economic uncertainty, putting public services and investment at risk. We must fight to regain the trust of communities we’ve represented for years and build a coalition of voters that can return us to power.
While Reform did not win, their share of the vote was significant. Many voters saw Plaid as the best option to stop them. That’s a wake-up call for us in both the Welsh and UK Labour governments.
I take responsibility as leader. This is not the time for navel gazing – it’s the time for accountability and action. We didn’t do enough to show the difference Welsh Labour makes in government. We will learn from this. We will be better.
Our ground operation driven by members, staff and volunteers, is essential. A setback like this hurts, but I want to thank Welsh Labour staff, volunteers, and every local member who gave their time and energy, alongside our UK party colleagues for their support. Together we will work to have a better understanding of where we need to change.
This is not the end of our story. We have faced tough times before and always come back stronger. We will again.
Our work to build new homes, fix roads, create jobs and bring down NHS waiting lists goes on. In the spirit of our Red Welsh Way we must now present a more powerful vision for our nation which speaks to the Wales we know we can be.
Welsh Labour is at our best when we come together, steady ourselves, do the hard work and stand up for Wales. As Welsh Labour Leader and First Minister, I’m ready and up for the fight.
Baroness Morgan is leader of Welsh Labour and First Minister of Wales
