Labour Senedd members meet to decide vote on Rhun ap Iorwerth nomination
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 10
Labour Senedd members meet to decide vote on Rhun ap Iorwerth nomination
6 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 10
The decision comes before Tuesday's first minister vote after Plaid Cymru won 43 seats in the 96-member Welsh Parliament, with Labour expected to abstain rather than join Reform.
Ap Iorwerth says he wants to govern alone and seek cross-party cooperation, while Labour interim leader Ken Skates called any alliance with Reform to block him "deeply unpleasant".
Outgoing First Minister Eluned Morgan lost her seat and resigned as Welsh Labour leader after the party fell to nine seats, as Skates launched a bid to lead Labour permanently.
With Reform UK as the opposition, can a minority Plaid Cymru government survive and deliver its ambitious agenda for Wales?
Is Labour's historic collapse in Wales a temporary protest vote, or the start of a genuine shift towards independence?
Can reviving the Wales Development Agency truly transform the economy, or is it doomed to repeat the failures of the past?
2026 Senedd Election: Plaid Cymru’s Historic 43-Seat Victory Ends Labour Era, Reform UK Becomes Official Opposition
Overview
The May 2026 Senedd election marked a seismic shift in Welsh politics, ending over a century of Labour dominance as Plaid Cymru became the largest party with 43 seats. This historic change unfolded under a new proportional electoral system, fundamentally reshaping Wales’s political landscape. Labour suffered a catastrophic defeat, reduced to just nine seats, while Reform UK surged to become the official opposition. The dramatic outcome reflects widespread public desire for change and signals the start of a new era, with Plaid Cymru now tasked with forming a minority government and navigating a more fragmented, multi-party Senedd.