# Lindsay Whittle - Plaid Cymru MS # Lindsay Whittle MS — Plaid Cymru **Full Name:** Lindsay Geoffrey Whittle **Born:** March 1953 (Caerphilly, South Wales) **Party:** Plaid Cymru **Constituency:** Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni (since 2026) **Senedd Term:** Senedd Member for Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni (2026–present); previously MS for Caerphilly (2025–2026); Regional MS for South Wales East (2011–2016) **Official Senedd Page:** https://senedd.wales/people/lindsay-whittle-ms/ **Email:** Lindsay.Whittle-AS@senedd.cymru **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lindsay_Whittle **X (Twitter):** @lindsaywhittle (Plaid Cymru) --- ## Biography Lindsay Whittle was born in Caerphilly, South Wales. He lives in Abertridwr, near Caerphilly. He is a former housing manager in Cardiff, a career he pursued for 25 years. He has served as a governor for his old school, Cwm Ifor Primary. --- ## Political Career ### Local Government Whittle has one of the longest records of local government service in Wales: - **First elected** in the 1976 local elections, representing the Penyrheol and Trecenydd ward on Rhymney Valley district council, and was re-elected repeatedly until the council was abolished in 1996. - **Elected to Mid Glamorgan County Council** in 1977 (lost in 1981; contested again in 1989 and 1993). - **Caerphilly County Borough Council:** Represented the Penyrheol ward continuously from 1995, elected 7 times. - **Leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council** (1999–2004 and again 2008–2011). - **Plaid Cymru group leader** on the council from 2022 until 2025. - **WLGA spokesperson** on Equalities, Community Safety and Social Justice. - Resigned his council seat after winning the 2025 Caerphilly by-election (as he could not hold both roles simultaneously). ### National Politics (Senedd / Welsh Assembly) Whittle has stood in every Senedd (formerly Welsh Assembly) election since its formation in 1999: - **2011–2016:** Elected as a Member of the Welsh Assembly (AM) on the South Wales East regional list. Appointed Plaid Cymru spokesperson for Social Services, Children & Equal Opportunities. Retained the role under Leanne Wood (post-2012 leadership election); became spokesperson for Social Services, Equality & Older People in May 2013. Lost his seat in the 2016 election when Plaid Cymru was reduced from 2 to 1 seats in the region. - **2025 Caerphilly By-election (October 2025):** After the death of incumbent MS Hefin David (Labour), Whittle was selected as Plaid Cymru's candidate. He won with **15,961 votes (47%)** — a historic result, as this was the **first time Labour had failed to win the seat** since the establishment of the Senedd in 1999. This was Whittle's **14th time contesting the Caerphilly constituency** since 1983. - **2026 Senedd Election (May 2026):** Elected as an MS for the new **Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni** constituency, placed second on the Plaid Cymru list behind Delyth Jewell. Plaid Cymru won 3 seats in the constituency (Delyth Jewell, Lindsay Whittle, Niamh Salkeld). ### Westminster Elections Whittle has stood **ten times** for the Westminster Parliament seat of Caerphilly, first standing in the 1983 general election and in every subsequent general election except 2015. His best result was in the **2024 general election**, coming second with 21.2% of the vote. In each election, he lost to the Labour Party, who have held the seat continuously since 1918. --- ## Key Political Positions & Interests - Housing and local government - Combating homelessness (former housing manager) - Social services, equalities, and older people - NHS improvement (surgical hubs, tackling waiting lists) - Education outcomes - Childcare scheme (9 months to 4 years) - Affordable/social housing and council home waiting lists - Welsh independence and devolution --- ## Notable Quotes - **"We will not let you down"** — On the 2026 Senedd election results (Caerphilly Observer, 11 May 2026) - **"The hard work starts now"** — Following Plaid Cymru's successes in the 2026 Senedd election - **"You don't attack the vulnerable"** — On Labour's campaign tactics after the Caerphilly by-election (2025) - **"Clearly, people wanted change after 27 years of stale Labour government in Wales"** — Reflecting on the 2026 Senedd election - **"A choice for voters between a Plaid government and one led by Reform UK – and it was a question of what sort of society did we want to live in"** — Pre-election column --- ## Electoral History (Notable Results) | Election | Constituency | Party | Votes | % | Result | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | 2026 Senedd | Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni | Plaid Cymru | — | — | **Elected** (3rd PC MS) | | 2025 By-election | Caerphilly | Plaid Cymru | 15,961 | 47% | **Elected** (historic Plaid Cymru gain) | | 2024 General Election | Caerphilly | Plaid Cymru | — | 21.2% | Lost (2nd place) | | 2011 Senedd | South Wales East (Regional) | Plaid Cymru | — | — | **Elected** (Regional list) | | 2016 Senedd | Caerphilly | Plaid Cymru | — | — | Lost | --- ## Online Presence & Public Sentiment ### X (Twitter) / Social Media - Whittle has been widely discussed in connection with the **2025 Caerphilly by-election** and **2026 Senedd election**. - Noted for his distinctive **red and green suit** which has become something of a trademark. - Referenced positively for his speaking style (described as having "some pipes" — a strong orator). - Plaid Cymru colleague Níamh Salkeld expressed being "really grateful to have been elected alongside the fantastic Delyth Jewell and Lindsay Whittle." - The phrase **"you don't attack the vulnerable"** (Whittle's rebuke after Caerphilly) has been cited by multiple users criticizing Labour/Starmer. ### Reddit Discussion - **r/Wales (Jan 2026):** A discussion thread titled "Lindsay Whittle lost in Caerphilly 13 times before finally being elected in 2025. Why did Plaid keep him as a candidate for so long?" asked why Plaid persisted with a 72-year-old candidate who had been rejected repeatedly — the user was pleasantly surprised to be proven wrong. Score: 29 upvotes, 32 comments. - **r/AskTheWorld (Nov 2025):** "What do Welshmen & Non-Welshmen think about Lindsay Whittle?" — Discussion about the new Senedd member. Score: 13 upvotes, 38 comments. - **r/Wales (Oct 2025):** Caerphilly by-election megathread showed the full result: Whittle won with 15,961 votes vs Reform UK's 12,113 and Labour's 3,713. Score: 356 upvotes, 345 comments. - **r/BreakingUKNews (Oct 2025):** "Lindsay Whittle - the local boy who stood unsuccessfully in Caerphilly 13 times, then won on the 14th" — linking to the Sky News article. ### Media Coverage - **Caerphilly Observer (11 May 2026):** "'We will not let you down': Lindsay Whittle MS talks Senedd election results" — Whittle's post-election column reflecting on the campaign, the historic result for Plaid Cymru, and his priorities going forward (NHS, housing, childcare). - **BBC/Sky News (Oct 2025):** Extensive coverage of the Caerphilly by-election upset, framing Whittle's persistence as a remarkable story of political endurance. --- ## Terms of Office | Term | Start | End | |---|---|---| | 4th Assembly (South Wales East Regional) | 6 May 2011 | 5 April 2016 | | 6th Senedd (Caerphilly) | 24 October 2025 | 7 April 2026 | | 7th Senedd (Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni) | 8 May 2026 | Present | --- ## Committee Membership - **Plenary** — Member --- ## Contact **Senedd Address:** Welsh Parliament Cardiff Bay Cardiff CF99 1SN **Email:** Lindsay.Whittle-AS@senedd.cymru --- ## Key Sources - Wikipedia: [Lindsay Whittle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lindsay_Whittle) - Senedd Cymru: [Lindsay Whittle MS](https://senedd.wales/people/lindsay-whittle-ms/) - Caerphilly Observer: ["We will not let you down": Lindsay Whittle MS talks Senedd election results](https://caerphilly.observer/opinion/1058757/plaid-cymru-lindsay-whittle-reflects-on-2026-senedd-election) - Sky News: [Who is Lindsay Whittle? The man who stood unsuccessfully in Caerphilly 13 times, then won on the 14th](https://news.sky.com/story/who-is-lindsay-whittle-the-man-who-stood-unsuccessfully-in-caerphilly-13-times-then-won-on-the-14th-13456482) - Reddit: r/Wales discussion threads (2025–2026) - Nitter/X search results (May 2026) --- *File created: 23 May 2026*