Plaid Cymru Take Caerphilly in By-election

@Picklebobble2 When they campaign for independence and Welsh language they lose support. Voters appear to have been won over by their progressive politics, more so than Reform's populism, which is some cause for optimism.

@Picklebobble2 The Plaid Cymru voters stayed loyal they held the line, whereas the Labour voters turned to Reform and Plaid Cymru won the election, in six months time Wales goes to the polls again Plaid Cymru could do very well out of this, I think they will.

@SunshineGirl Fair comment.

I'm sure the gloss will come off whatever Reform supposedly represents...if they're ever trusted further than local councils and the joke 5 seats they currently occupy in Parliament.

But again. Farage is selling Reform as a protest vote against....just about everything not 'like them'.
Fine while it lasts but ultimately even Reform voters will want help with the rates or housing or benefits or legal representation....just like every other constituent in every other ward.

@senghenydd You might be able to say 'they stayed loyal' IF they were more than a core of overall voters.
Fact is they obviously garnered more attraction because in time of strife nationalism is the ONLY perceived alternative.

@Picklebobble2 It was reported on the radio this morning that 8 out of the 10 councils that Reform control are planning to raise Council Tax next year, after having apparently failed to identify the "waste and corruption" that they were elected to eliminate.

@Picklebobble2 It's easy to be in opposition you can point out the mistakes to the current government, that's what opposition parties are for obviously the majority agrees with some of these points and governments fall.

@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.