May 08, 2026 - 712 views
Wales is witnessing one of the most dramatic political upheavals in its devolved history as multiple reports suggest First Minister Eluned Morgan is set to lose her Senedd seat and Welsh Labour concedes it will not form the next government.
The bombshell developments came as results began to emerge from across Wales in the first Senedd election fought under the expanded 96-member parliament system.
Labour’s deputy first minister admitted the party would not lead the next Welsh Government, marking a stunning collapse for a party that has dominated Welsh politics since devolution began in 1999.
Both Reform UK and Plaid Cymru have made major early breakthroughs, winning the first two declared constituencies — Casnewydd Islwyn and Pen-y-Bont Morgannwg — in a fiercely contested race that could reshape the political future of Wales.
Celebrating Reform UK’s success in Casnewydd Islwyn, newly elected MS Dan Thomas described his party as “the people’s army”, as Reform candidates and supporters hailed what could become the party’s biggest electoral breakthrough in Wales.
Meanwhile, Plaid Cymru’s Delyth Jewell said the election represented a “battle for Wales’ soul”, adding that voters had clearly demanded change after years of Labour-led government.
The early results point towards a deeply fragmented Senedd, with Plaid Cymru and Reform UK emerging as the dominant challengers while Labour suffers catastrophic losses across large parts of the country.
Turnout also appears set to break records, with early indications suggesting participation could rise above 50% for the first time in a devolved Welsh election — a sign of the enormous public interest in what is rapidly becoming a historic political moment.
Counting is continuing throughout Wales, with the full composition of the next Senedd expected to become clear later this evening.
