Wales First Minister loses seat in Senedd election

Wales’ political landscape has been jolted by a landmark defeat: First Minister Eluned Morgan has lost her Senedd seat in a crushing election for Welsh Labour.

Her defeat makes history as the first time a sitting Welsh leader has been unseated in an election to the Welsh parliament.

Labour has governed Wales since the Senedd was created as the National Assembly for Wales in 1999, and the party has remained the country’s largest political force for more than 100 years.

Ms Morgan’s exit caps a punishing day for Labour in Wales and across the wider UK.

She assumed office during a period of deep instability for Welsh Labour, after former first minister Vaughan Gething survived only five months in the post.

Her departure comes as Labour braces for its representation in the Senedd to fall from 30 members to roughly 10, with a party spokesperson saying they are “deeply disappointed” not to be in a position to lead the government.

Earlier today, Welsh Labour’s deputy leader appeared to acknowledge what would amount to a historic defeat in the Senedd elections, after voters across Wales went to the polls yesterday.

A Welsh Labour spokesperson said: “This has undeniably been a very difficult election for Welsh Labour.

“We now expect to lose several hardworking and respected Members of the Senedd. We thank them for their service to their communities.

“It is looking like Welsh Labour will return a group of around 10 MSs – which will at least allow a vocal Labour opposition, even though we are deeply disappointed about not being able to lead a government.”

Under Wales’ new voting system, the country is divided into 16 constituencies, each electing six Members of the Senedd, for a total of 96 seats.

Huw Irranca-Davies, the deputy first minister, indicated Labour was unlikely to regain power in Wales as counting continued nationwide.

When the BBC asked whether Labour would be able to form the next Welsh government, he replied: “I don’t think we’re going to be in that situation.”

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has already said he accepts responsibility for a “tough” set of local election results in England, where Labour has lost hundreds of councillors.

Throughout the Welsh campaign, opinion polls consistently placed Plaid Cymru and Reform ahead.

A Plaid Cymru source said: “From what we have so far… It’s looking good.”

The Labour vote has “collapsed”, they added.