Election Showdown: Who Will Claim the Caerphilly Seat?

The Caerphilly by-election is heating up as the candidates have been confirmed for the ballot taking place on 23 October. This crucial election follows the passing of Hefin David, the Labour Senedd Member. The Welsh Labour party has selected Richard Tunnicliffe, a local children’s publisher, to defend the seat, while Plaid Cymru’s Lindsay Whittle and Reform UK’s Llŷr Powell are positioning themselves as strong contenders.

In total, there are eight candidates vying for a chance to represent this pivotal constituency:

  • Conservatives - Gareth Potter

  • Green Party - Gareth Hughes

  • Gwlad - Anthony Cook

  • Labour - Richard Tunnicliffe

  • Plaid Cymru - Lindsay Whittle

  • Reform UK - Llŷr Powell

  • UKIP - Roger Quilliam

  • Welsh Liberal Democrats - Steve Aicheler

This by-election marks the first Senedd contest since 2018, with the new Member of the Senedd (MS) only expected to serve for about seven months before the 2026 Senedd election in May. The Caerphilly seat has a long history with Labour, being held since the establishment of the National Assembly in 1999. Notable former members include Ron Davies and Jeff Cuthbert, who resigned to serve as the Gwent Police and Crime Commissioner.

To engage the community, BBC Wales is organizing a live debate for the candidates on 15 October, providing an opportunity for locals to participate in the electoral process.

Samuel wycliffe