Labour heading for crushing defeat in Wales
The party says it expects to be reduced from 30 to around 10 members in the Senedd
Labour is heading for a crushing defeat in Wales with counting underway in the Senedd elections.
The party has indicated it expects to be reduced from 30 to around 10 members in the Senedd, with a party spokesperson saying they are “deeply disappointed” they will not lead the government.
The party has been the largest at country-wide elections in Wales for more than a century and had won the most seats in the Welsh Parliament since its creation more than two decades ago.
In Wales, a Labour source indicated the party’s vote had collapsed in Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni and said it would be a “struggle” to hold on to one seat – out of a total of six – in the constituency, which includes some of its South Wales heartlands.
Baroness Eluned Morgan, the First Minister and leader of Welsh Labour, has previously said she is at risk of losing her seat in this election, where she stood in the Ceredigion Penfro constituency.
Plaid Cymru and Reform have topped opinion polls throughout this election campaign.
A Plaid Cymru source said: “From what we have so far…. It’s looking good.”
The Labour vote has “collapsed”, they added.
Helen Jenner, Reform’s deputy leader in Wales, told the Press Association things were looking “very positive” for the party but admitted Plaid Cymru had been “strong contenders”.
She said: “We are stronger in some parts than others… Some areas we’re very, very much neck and neck with Plaid, actually it’s quite reflective of what the polls have been saying.
“Obviously, we’ve done amazingly well across the border… Here, I think Plaid Cymru have been strong contenders and there might be an element of tactical voting as well.
“There is a bit of tactical voting that’s gone on, I think.
“However, I think we’re doing really, really well, and there’s pockets where we’re doing exceptionally well.”