Plaid Cymru Take Caerphilly in By-election

@SunshineGirl It will be interesting to see how well Reform councils can actually run services provided by local councils. My guess is that they will find some savings just as many incoming Westminster government's do. But ultimately I suspect that the electorate in those areas where Reform controls the council will find that Reform are no better at delivering their promises than any of the other political parties are.

@gandalf1957 I am sure that there are some talented and dedicated Reform councillors out there, but the overwhelming impression is that they are disappointed that they cannot influence immigration or tax policy from the shires. Some of them seem as disinterested in representing their county constituents as Farage does of representing the people of Clacton-on-Sea.

@SunshineGirl "the proof of the pudding will be in the eating" and I think as it becomes apparent that Reform's running of local and county councils isn't some hugely effective new discovery that their popularity will wain.

Other than on immigration on which they have been vocal, i don't know what Reform's policies are.

Labour were hugely vocal on immigration whilst in opposition too, and were going to reduce illegal immigration by legal means "smashing the gangs" as we were told by a former Director of Public Prosecutions turned Party Leader - which many believed - why wouldn't they given his background? And how has that worked? I've only seen one prosecution in the UK of a so called gang type leader arrested whilst the Tories were in office so I'm guessing that hasn't worked. I notice that Stephen Kinnock was unable to tell us on QT last night how many gangs had been smashed or how many prosecutions made - I wonder why? ......

As some have already said easy to make often un-costed promises in opposition very different to deliver in government, yet we the electorate fall for these easy promises from the political parties time and again.

@gandalf1957 It's fair to say Labour's in "Big Trouble" I never thought Caerphilly would elect any other Political Party, the Senedd elections are in six months time, maybe Plaid Cymru could make vast gains.

@senghenydd In my opinion it is no maybe - it's a dead cert. However historically Wales was Liberal in many areas. My great uncle was a liberal councillor through the 1950s and 60s. I think rural West Wales the area in which he was a councillor may actually go LIB Dem.

@Strictmichael75 We have a very unpopular government in Westminster I'm sorry for the Labour government in Wales I honestly think they've done their best, we have Senedd elections in six months time Labour will get hammered.

@senghenydd there comes a time when the public become fed up with a political party's lack of performance in office. James Callaghan discovered that in 1979 and 18 years later John Major discovered it too. More recently the Tories re-discovered it last year and the Parliamentary labour Party at Westminster must have realised that come the next UK general election their large majority will disappear just as Boris Johnson's 2019 majority did last year. Keir Starmer may then realise that it isn't only the Tories that have "......learnt nothing", but his party too.

@gandalf1957 Excellent you've nailed it.

Plaid Cymru haven't impressed me or any of my friends and neighbours and yet their voters stayed loyal, Labour voters simply defected, their in power and are simply not doing what the majority wants.