"The Labour party's century-long dominance in Wales has few parallels in the democratic world. Emerging as the largest party in every general election since 1922, Welsh Labour has also won all six Senedd polls following devolution in 1999. In Tim Price's acclaimed play, Nye, Aneurin Bevan declares: I am a Welshman. I am a socialist. For millions of voters in past generations, that merging of national and political identity was an everyday fact of life."
"NHS waiting lists a devolved matter remain far too high. But Mr Gething's successor, Eluned Morgan, is also paying the price for a failure to sufficiently distinguish Welsh Labour from the increasingly unpopular Westminster version. Labour's refusal to lift the two-child benefit cap, and its ill-conceived attack on disability benefits, have seen swathes of progressive voters embrace Plaid as a more authentic advocate of classical social democratic values."
Wales has experienced uninterrupted Labour dominance since 1922 and across all six Senedd elections since devolution. Recent polling shows Plaid Cymru leading at 30% with Reform UK close behind and Labour trailing at 14%, suggesting a potential seismic shift. A Caerphilly Senedd by-election offers an early test of these trends. Local scandals, including a donations controversy involving Vaughan Gething, and high NHS waiting lists have damaged Labour's reputation. Perceived alignment with unpopular Westminster policies, such as maintaining the two-child benefit cap and contentious attacks on disability benefits, has driven progressive voters toward Plaid. Reform UK is eclipsing the Conservatives on the right.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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