Senedd Politics Overview

Senedd Politics — Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Last updated: 10 June 2026 — Mark Drakeford leads Welsh Labour campaign for Andy Burnham in Makerfield by-election; Reform UK candidate Tony Thomas faces questions over local addresses in Rhyl South by-election

Current Situation

Plaid Cymru became the largest party in the Senedd for the first time ever following the 7 May 2026 Senedd election, ending 27 years of Labour dominance in Wales. This was the first Senedd election under the new proportional representation system.

Rhun ap Iorwerth is the First Minister of Wales, leading Wales' first ever Plaid Cymru government.

2026 Senedd Election Result

Labour's First Minister Eluned Morgan lost her own seat. Reform UK's Dan Thomas stood in the election. The Green Party won their first ever Senedd seats.

Plaid Cymru formed a government without a majority — requiring support from the Liberal Democrats and/or Greens.

Plaid Cymru Government Cabinet

First Minister: Rhun ap Iorwerth Deputy First Minister: Sioned Williams (also child poverty + childcare portfolio)

Deputy Ministers:

• Nerys Evans — Public & Preventative Health
• Delyth Jewell — Social Care, Mental Health & Women's Health
• Mark Hooper — Transport
• Cefin Campbell — Skills & Tertiary Education

Reform UK Cymru Shadow Cabinet

Announced 19 May 2026 — sources: @RUKWales, @RightTrackGB, @ReformDaily_ on X/Twitter.

Key Recent Developments

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100-Day Priorities

• Cutting NHS waiting lists
• Raising standards in schools
• Creating jobs and supporting businesses
• Tackling child poverty (including £10 child payment pledge)
• Helping households with cost-of-living crisis
• Standing up for Wales

FMQs — Key Exchanges (First FMQs, 19 May 2026)

Rhun's first FMQs as First Minister. Main exchanges:

• Dan Thomas (Reform) — accused ap Iorwerth of being "distracted by constitutional issues" for raising Welsh independence
• Rhun confirmed he brought up independence with Starmer in their first post-election phone call
• Starmer reportedly "open" to discussing more Senedd powers
• Rhun set out the six core missions for the first 100 days (see above)

Note: Full Hansard transcript not yet indexed on the Senedd Record. Video available at senedd.tv (search "Plenary 19 May 2026"). As of 25 May 2026, videos are now available for both the 12 May and 19 May plenaries.

Independence Position

• Plaid has ruled out a referendum in this first term
• Will establish a national commission to build the case for Welsh independence
• Rhun confirmed he raised independence directly with Starmer in their first post-election call
• Starmer said to be "open to a conversation" about more Senedd powers
• Reform's Dan Thomas accused ap Iorwerth of being "distracted by constitutional issues"
• 25 May 2026 — Plaid Cymru launches public messaging campaign demanding control over the Crown Estate, arguing Wales' natural resources should be managed in Wales, not Westminster

Reddit Highlights

Key Figures

• Rhun ap Iorwerth — Plaid Cymru leader, First Minister of Wales
• Sioned Williams — Deputy First Minister
• Adam Price — Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity & Energy; former Plaid leader
• Elin Jones — Finance Minister; former Presiding Officer
• Elfyn Llwyd — Counsel General; returns to frontline politics
• Llŷr Gruffydd — Minister for Rural Resilience & Sustainability; environment/farming portfolio
• Anna Brychan — Education Minister; former NAHT director; leading review of Welsh history in schools
• Eluned Morgan — Former Labour First Minister, lost her seat
• Dan Thomas — Reform UK Cymru leader, Leader of the Opposition
• Helen Jenner — Deputy Leader of Reform UK Cymru, Shadow Education & Welsh Language
• Cai Parry-Jones — Reform MS, Shadow Finance & Government Efficiency (laptop-gate)
• Llŷr Powell — Reform MS, Chief Whip & Business Manager
• James Evans — Reform MS, Shadow Health, Prevention & Sport
• Laura Anne Jones — Reform MS, Shadow Food, Farming & Rural Affairs
• Jason O'Connell — Reform MS, Shadow Economy & Transport
• Francesca O'Brien — Reform MS, Shadow Local Government, Housing & Planning
• Sarah Cooper-Lesadd — Reform MS, Shadow Children, Young People & Skills
• Christiana Emsley — Reform MS, Shadow Fairness, Families & Communities
• Louise Emery — Reform MS (Clwyd), Shadow Culture, Tourism & Hospitality
• Lee Waters — Former Labour transport minister; architect of 20mph default speed limit; described Labour's collapse as "existential crisis" on Sunday Supplement (31 May 2026)
• Ken Skates — Interim leader of Welsh Labour (post-election)
• Mark Drakeford — Former First Minister; blames UK Labour for collapse, backs Burnham for PM
• Dr Gaz Thomas — Reform MS (Pen-y-bont Bro Morgannwg); appointed Derek Roberts as special adviser

Twitter/X Discussion

Source: Nitter (via Docker on Windows PC), 26 May 2026

Key X/Twitter narratives about Welsh politics:

• Plaid Cymru government formation widely celebrated: "Diolch! Rhun comes from a very strong nationalist background — this is the 1st time Cymru has approached self determination in 600yrs"
• Reform UK corruption allegations: "Corrupt Reform UK had access to unlimited money for the Senedd elections and Plaid Cymru had hardly any. Yet Plaid Cymru beat Reform's uneducated paper candidates good and proper"
• The Baffler article on "Welsh identity at a crossroads" shared widely — analyses Plaid Cymru's win and what it means for Welsh nationalism
• Reform MS Ukraine flag controversy: "England's Reform in Wales condones Russia's war crimes... demands Wales removes Ukrainian flag flying outside the Senedd. Plaid Cymru has no Russian bribed agents in its ranks"
• Reform MS Nazi salute photo resurfaces: "An Elected Plaid Cymru Senedd member once said she 'hates the English as a race, as people, as a country'" — context: this is a Reform MS falsely attributing hate speech to a Plaid MS
• Pro-independence cooperation: "Pro-independence governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland should work together to secure powers to hold independence referendums" — Plaid Cymru MS Kiera Marshall
• Plaid Cymru governance questions: "Plaid Cymru is in — but how good are they at governing? Setting benchmarks early, showing progress, and making sure voters actually notice are key in modern politics"

Official Sources & How to Find FMQs Transcripts

The Senedd publishes records at:

• Written Record (Hansard): record.senedd.wales — search by keyword, filter by "Transcripts" and "Plenary" meeting type
• Video archive: senedd.tv — search "Plenary" by date
• Senedd Research: research.senedd.wales

Note: Post-election (May 2026) transcripts have not yet appeared in the search index as of 25 May 2026. The last indexed plenary transcripts are from the Sixth Senedd (up to 23 March 2026). Senedd TV now has two Seventh Senedd plenary videos — Plenary 12 May 2026 (swearing-in/election of FM) and Plenary 19 May 2026 (first FMQs) — plus a Business Committee meeting on 21 May 2026.

Sources

• BBC — Rhun ap Iorwerth reveals ministerial team

• BBC — Rhun confirms he raised independence with Starmer

• BBC — Labour expected to lose Senedd

• BBC — Cost of living measures a 'missed opportunity', says First Minister

• BBC — Reform MS says Senedd shouldn't fly Ukraine flag

• BBC — Welsh Government childcare offer

• BBC — FM doesn't give start date for free childcare expansion

• BBC — Drakeford links Labour collapse to lack of new powers

• BBC — Muck spreading ban doesn't work, says minister

• BBC — Senedd offices set for major refurbishment

• BBC — Wales is a low-pay hotspot, FM tells unions

• BBC — £120m to cut wait times to be 'spent better'

• BBC — GP contracts worth £10m awarded without proper checks

• BBC — Former FM Drakeford says Andy Burnham should be PM

• BBC — Free school meals expanded to secondary pupils

• BBC — Should the Welsh first minister get an official home?

• BBC — Rhun ap Iorwerth rules out Wales-wide mobile phone ban in schools

• BBC — Corey Edwards: Former candidate who did Nazi salute made Reform adviser

• BBC — M4 congestion relief: FM makes case for roads-based solution

• BBC — Guto Harri says new FM should make 'controversial decisions'

• BBC — Will the new FM complete the journey to delivering M4 relief?

• BBC — Welsh MS patients face six-hour trips for specialist care

• Nation.Cymru — Reform leader appoints disgraced Nazi salute candidate as adviser

• Nation.Cymru — Welsh Labour couldn't afford separate party

• Nation.Cymru — Senedd elections 'second order contests'

• Nation.Cymru — Reform MS laptop complaint

• Nation.Cymru — Wales Must Define Itself

• Nation.Cymru — Recesses: what are they, who decides them, and when is the Senedd at work?

• Nation.Cymru — By-election triggered after Senedd-elected councillor steps down

• Nation.Cymru — Reform hires racist ex-candidate for Senedd role

• Nation.Cymru — MPs recommend Welsh investment promotion agency

• Nation.Cymru — Recruitment firms urge caution over zero hours contracts

• Nation.Cymru — Reform MS vows to end GB News ban in Senedd

• Nation.Cymru — New five-year regeneration blueprint approved for city communities

• WalesOnline — Former Reform candidate who appeared to do Nazi salute made adviser

• WalesOnline — Rhun ap Iorwerth makes M4 relief road case

• WalesOnline — Working class mum's life changing journey to the Senedd

• Golwg360 — Plaid Cymru victory T-shirt selling fast

• The Independent — Senedd election results

• Nation.Cymru — Call made for MSs to denounce far-right group Voice of Wales

• Nation.Cymru — Union flag will continue to fly outside Welsh Government buildings

• Nation.Cymru — After Labour: The end of Wales and the rise of Cymru

• Herald.Wales — Torfaen faces two by-elections after councillors elected to Senedd

• AberdareOnline — Welsh Conservatives renew calls for M4 relief road

• Nation.Cymru — BSA survey: Reform UK support is more than a 'protest' vote

• Nation.Cymru — First Minister predicts long Senedd term after Reform vote share clash

• Nation.Cymru — Former SNP Westminster leader offering informal advice to Plaid Cymru

• Nation.Cymru — Plaid Cymru call for abolishment of House of Lords

• BBC — Raising productivity key to higher Welsh wages, says minister

• Nation.Cymru — Plaid Cymru backs push to slash hospitality VAT to 10%

• BBC — Reform special adviser's social media featured dozens of racist and anti-Muslim posts

• BBC — Welsh Labour to set timetable for new leader after election loss

• BBC — Ministers considering whether to go ahead with council tax changes

• BBC — NHS patients promised two-year waits to be 'eliminated' in 'matter of months'

• Gov.wales — Adam Price Oral Statement: Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy Priorities

• Nation.Cymru — Plaid Cymru sets productivity target as measure of Wales' future economic success

• IFS — New Welsh Government will face big fiscal challenges as it seeks to implement its policy

• Nation.Cymru — Mark Drakeford: Council tax reform will be Plaid's first real test in government

• YouGov — How Wales voted at the 2026 Senedd election

• BBC — Welsh government demands talks with Westminster on 'unfair' rail funding

• Nation.Cymru — Call to safeguard Welsh steel as Plaid proposes Steel Bill amendments

• Gov.wales — Grassroots Pride fund open for applications

• Nation.Cymru — Drakeford leads Welsh Labour team campaigning to get Andy Burnham back in Westminster

• Nation.Cymru — Questions raised over Reform candidate's addresses as only local property is a holiday let

• Nation.Cymru

• Senedd Record of Proceedings

• Senedd TV