Labour not a threat at Caerphilly Senedd by-election, says Plaid

Labour is a spent force in the valleys, Plaid Cymru’s candidate for the Caerphilly Senedd by-election has said.

Eluned Morgan’s party has won every election in the constituency since the dawn of devolution in 1999.

But Lindsay Whittle said it was Reform – and not Labour – which was the real threat to his party in the constituency.

Labour was asked for comment.

Meanwhile Whittle’s party leader has not ruled out working with Labour on a future budget, after the first minister warned of significant cuts.

Rhun Ap Iorwerth said his party was the only “pro-Wales” alternative to Labour. The Conservatives, meanwhile, accused Plaid of being Labour’s “co-conspirators”.

Labour has dominated all Westminster and Welsh parliamentary elections since the early 1920s, and has led every Welsh government since its inception.

It is defending Caerphilly in an election triggered by the death of Labour Member of the Senedd (MS) Hefin David in August.

Whittle, who is a former Caerphilly council leader and was an assembly member for South Wales East between 2011 and 2016, was asked what he thought was the biggest threat to Plaid at the election.

“I would say Reform… Labour are not a threat any longer. They are a spent force in these valleys.

“That is coming across on the doorstep loud and clear. I have never witnessed this in my life.”

“People are afraid of illegal immigration,” he said, adding “I don’t support illegal immigration either, Plaid Cymru doesn’t support it.”

“In Abertridwr, where I live, we welcomed the Basque children from the Franco Spanish civil war. After the war on the council estate where I’m from we had lots of Polish families, Italian families.

“We are a welcoming nation. I hope people remember that – be proud of your history of welcoming people.”

He said something had to be done about illegal immigration “but the Senedd doesn’t have that power”, and added there had to be a stop to people coming across the Channel in boats.

“If Rhun ap Iorwerth is first minister after next May then maybe during his meetings with the British prime minister he could offer some ideas on how Wales could help.”

Whittle questioned how relevant the issue was to a Senedd by-election, and said he wanted to talk about cuts to local services in Caerphilly, including to libraries.

The latter plan, to close 10 libraries, is on hold after a court injunction.

Labour’s Eluned Morgan kicked off her party’s campaign on Monday by warning of significant cuts if it lost.

She said Labour would find it “tricky” to get a budget through the Senedd, with its numbers falling to 29 if it was unable to regain the seat.

Plaid Cymru refused to support Labour’s budget earlier this year, leading Labour to repeatedly accuse the party of risking billions in cuts – although that did not happen because of a deal with the Senedd’s only Liberal Democrat, Jane Dodds.

Party leader Rhun ap Iorwerth accused Morgan of “throwing around threats”.

“It’s their budget to put forward,” he said, saying Labour were making cuts in Caerphilly “left right and centre”.

Ap Iorwerth did not rule out working with Labour on a budget, however.

“It’s up to Labour to put forward a budget. A budget has to be passed. It’s up to them to figure out how to do that.”

Plaid Cymru’s party leader said the by-election “was about beginning a reset for Welsh politics ahead of next May’s Welsh general election”.

“It’s about saying 26 years of Labour-led governments is enough.”

He said Plaid was “the only party that offers an alternative, pro-Wales option”.

“This is about taking forward a positive message from Plaid Cymru about how we get to grips with made in Wales policies on health, on education, on the economy.”

Welsh Conservative Senedd leader Darren Millar said his party was the “only credible alternative” to Labour and Plaid.

He said: “Plaid have been Labour’s co-conspirators in recent years and they have broken Wales. They backed plans for more politicians in Cardiff Bay, 20mph speed limits, and facilitated Labour legislation and budgets.”