Wales have voted. People wanted change and that is reflected in the results with Labour suffered an agonising defeat. The day of the results was an earthquake to the political landscape of Wales and had shockwaves all the way to Downing Street.
We knew this would be an interesting election and that it would be close. The polls indicated that it would be a two-horse race between Plaid Cymru and Reform UK. Plaid Cymru won the most seats in the seventh Senedd but fell short of the required 49 seats for a majority.
This means that passing legislation may be difficult as the Welsh Government would have to either be a coalition or ensure cooperation agreements as was seen between Plaid Cymru and the Labour Welsh Goverment in 2021. Plaid Cymru won a total of 43 seats across the 16 constituencies. Labour lost a significant amount, leaving them with only 9 out of the 96.
One of the seats they lost was Ceredigion Penfro where First Minister, Eluned Morgan was standing. After the counting, the result came at 17.00 where Plaid Cymru won 3 seats, Reform 2 and Conservatives 1 leaving no room for the Welsh Labour Party Leader. Following the announcement, Eluned Morgan resigned as the leader of the party and in a media huddle insisted that she took responsibility for the loss of Labour and emphasised that Sir Keir Starmer was not on the ballot paper in this election.
On Saturday, it was announced that Ken Skates would be the one to temporarily take the reins of the Welsh Labour Party. Within 14 days of the election, the Senedd must hold its first Plenary where a Presiding Officer is appointed as well as a new First Minister. As the party with the most seats in the Senedd, -- is the likely candidate to become the next First Minister.
This appointment must be made within 28 days of the election (by June 3) or Wales face another election. However, this outcome is unusual and has never been the case in the previous six Senedd elections. After being chosen, the First Minister will then form a government by appointing Ministers for policy areas such as Education, Health, the Welsh Language and the Economy.
She did not have a ‘favourite’ role if she were to serve
The members of this team (the Cabinet) will be formed by members of the leader’s party. Rhun ap Iorwerth said that his intention is to run a minority government in the Senedd. Elin Jones, MP for Ceredigion Penfro, has been a Member of the Senedd after every election.
In 2007, Jones served as the Minister for Rural Affairs in the One Wales Government and therefore it is expected for her to take an important role in any Plaid Cymru Welsh Government. Speaking after the result in Ceredigion Penfro, she told me that she would be ready to help Rhun ap Iorwerth and did not have a ‘favourite’ role if she were to serve.