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THIS should have been the headline in all the newspapers in their reporting of the outcome of the Welsh elections. Instead, most of our rather lazy and London-centric media chose to report how Welsh Labour “hung on,” “failed to obtain a majority” or managed to “hold back a Tory onslaught.”
So let me put the record straight. It was a resounding and spectacular victory for Welsh Labour: our best result since the beginning of devolution.
At the start of the election campaign it was predicted we would suffer our worst ever results, possibly going as low as 22 seats. Nationalists and Tories gloated and predicted a Labour armageddon.
BBC News
Published
image captionHappier times: Leanne Wood celebrates winning Rhondda at the 2016 Welsh election
Plaid Cymru s aim to reach beyond its heartlands took a big step back in the Senedd election, the woman who lost her Rhondda seat to Labour has said.
Ex-Plaid leader Leanne Wood said the party needs a new strategy to win ground in south and north east Wales.
She said the party s goal of Welsh independence would be difficult to achieve if it only polls well in areas it has traditionally gained support.
Ms Wood said she would stay in public life in some form, some way .
Election losses for Labour prompts further rightward shift by Starmer
The opposition Labour Party suffered massive losses in the “Super Thursday” elections throughout the UK.
Elections were held for the devolved parliaments in Scotland and Wales, and in 143 English councils, where more than 5,000 seats were contested including 35 metropolitan and 59 district councils. Mayoral elections were contested in major cities and regions including London and Greater Manchester.
Elections for the Hartlepool’s parliamentary seat saw Labour lose for the first time in over 60 years, with a 16 percent swing to the Conservatives. This was only the second ever by-election victory by a ruling party, taking a seat from an opposition party, since the Second World War.
In Powys, Welsh Conservative newcomer
James Evans won the Brecon and Radnorshire seat, turning it blue for the first time in the Senedd s history.
James Evans MS. Picture: via County Times This is the biggest honour of my life and I will do my upmost to stand up for our community and the whole of Wales in the Senedd, he said following the result. The constituency had been held by the Liberal Democrats for the past 22 years. Mr Evans added: Today the people pressed the reset button, they wanted a fresh start in Brecon and Radnorshire, they wanted a new voice to represent them.