The results of the Welsh Parliament elections on the 8th show that Plaid Cymru won 43 out of 96 seats in the first election after parliamentary expansion, becoming the largest party in the parliament and ending the UK ruling Labour Party’s dominance of Welsh politics that lasted for more than a century.
Plaid Cymru leader Iorworth told supporters that the party would take the necessary steps to form the next Welsh government.
However, Plaid Cymru is still 6 seats short of the 49 needed for an outright majority. The far-right Reform UK holds second place with 34 seats. Labour has fallen to third place, winning only 9 seats.
First Minister Resigns as Welsh Labour Leader
Welsh First Minister Morgan lost in the Ceredigion-Pembroke constituency. At the vote count, she announced her resignation as leader of Welsh Labour, taking responsibility for Labour’s defeat in Wales.
According to British media, Morgan is not only the first sitting Welsh First Minister to lose re-election as a member of parliament, but also the first sitting head of government at any level in British history to lose her own seat while in office.
After her loss, Morgan said in a speech that election results across the UK showed that voters were deeply dissatisfied with Labour, and that the party needed to once again become "the party of working people."
She called on the UK Labour government to change course, distribute national wealth more fairly, and reduce the bias towards southeast England.
Earlier that day, UK Prime Minister and Labour leader Keir Starmer told the media that while Labour was facing unfavourable circumstances in local elections, he would not "just walk away."
In July 2024, Welsh Labour announced that Morgan had been elected as party leader. Upon confirmation by the Welsh local parliament, Morgan became First Minister of the Welsh local government, becoming Wales’ first female First Minister.
The Welsh Labour Party has led the Welsh local government since the establishment of the Welsh parliament in 1999.