Plaid Cymru Tops Welsh Senedd Election, Ending a Century of Labour Rule

On 8 May 2026 the Welsh Senedd election produced a historic shift: Plaid Cymru secured 43 seats, becoming the largest party and ending more than a century of continuous Welsh Labour governance. Reform UK finished second with 34 seats, while Labour fell to nine.

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Welsh Labour had ruled since devolution began—sources cite 1997 or 1999—under a first-past-the-post system. The 2026 election used a D’Hondt proportional method with sixteen six-member super-constituencies. Main parties were Plaid Cymru (Rhun ap Iorwerth), Reform UK (Nigel Farage, Dan Thomas) and Welsh Labour (Eluned Morgan).

The Guardian

Plaid’s 43 seats, Reform’s 34, Labour’s nine, Conservatives seven, Greens two and Liberal Democrats one reflect the proportional system, where a few votes decide the final seat. Polls suggested a tight race, yet Plaid led clearly; “stop Reform” was the top motivator (14 %) followed by immigration (10 %).

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The result makes a Welsh independence referendum plausible and forces coalition or confidence-and-supply talks, ending single-party dominance. It also pressures the UK Labour government under Keir Starmer, whose unpopularity in Wales contributed to Labour’s collapse, reshaping the Celtic political landscape.

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Rhun ap Iorwerth said Plaid is ready to form a government and will seek partners sharing its goals. Eluned Morgan accepted responsibility, announced her resignation, and pledged to listen to voters. Dan Thomas warned that excluding the largest party from coalition would backfire.

The Guardian

Reform UK was accused of stoking fear about immigration, which Dan Thomas said is a key concern. At a Merthyr Tydfil rally supporters ate pizza while Thomas warned a “coalition of losers” would block Reform. Barrie Lewis claimed Labour and Plaid had “run Wales into the ground.”

The Guardian

Sources differ on whether devolution began in 1997 or 1999, a minor factual inconsistency. Polls predicted a tighter race than the final seat distribution, highlighting a gap between expectations and outcome.

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• “This is a moment 100 years in the making. We have won because we represent hope over division, credibility over chaos, and progress over stagnation.” — Rhun ap Iorwerth, Plaid Cymru

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• “Today we see the end of over a century of Labour winning in Wales.” — Eluned Morgan, Welsh Labour

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• “A coalition of losers blocking the biggest party [Reform] will backfire, if that’s what happens,” — Dan Thomas, Reform UK

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• “I’ve had enough of Labour and Plaid Cymru; they’ve run Wales into the ground,” — Barrie Lewis, Reform UK supporter

The Guardian

Plaid must negotiate confidence-and-supply or coalition deals to secure a working majority; Welsh Labour will hold a leadership contest, and discussions of a future independence referendum intensify.

The Guardian