Politics

Concern about tethering has increased in recent months after a pony was killed on a busy Cardiff road

The Welsh Government has ruled out changing the law to ban tethering of horses. A petition calling for the end of horses being tied up, often on the side of public roads, is currently the most signed on the Senedd website, with more than 13,000 people giving it their backing.

Tethering a horse is not illegal, but the RSPCA say it is one of the “most common” equine welfare issues their inspectors deal with.

The tethering of a horse involves restraining an equine with a rope, chain, or strap to an anchor point in the ground. It restricts an equine’s ability to exercise freely, perform vital social behaviours and to forage, while also potentially restricting their access to water, preventing escape from attacks by other animals and seeking shelter or shade. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here

In March, a pony died after being hit by a car on Rover Way in Cardiff – one of a number of similar incidents that has happened on the same road this year, according to a nearby animal rescue centre.

One person who signed the Senedd petition said she almost struck two ponies on Rover Way after the incident in March, adding that “there is absolutely no reason” for ponies to be tied up on busy roads.

RSPCA Cymru say it received 122 reports concerning horses being tethered across Wales in 2025 compared to 66 in 2024. Since 2021, and up to last month, there have been a total of 471 reports.

Any petition with more than 10,000 names will be considered for a Senedd debate.

The text reads: “The suffering of tethered horses has gone on for long enough. They are tied up in unsuitable places, often along major roads. They have no shelter, veterinary help and often no food or water. This is neglect and needs to stop. How can we call ourselves civilised when this abuse is going on in full view of everyone?”

Sara, a supported of the petition, said: “I signed the petition a long time ago when it first came out after the pony died and after almost striking two ponies on Rover Way soon after, I became more passionate about change happening.

“Like lots of people, I thought that the issue was that the authorities didn’t care, but it took me a while to speak to the right people and get the truth. I spoke to those directly involved in trying to manage the animals on Rover Way ( and other areas) and keep them safe, and I heard the sadness and frustration around the fact that they do not have enough powers to do so, that the current legislation is easily abused by those who want to do so.

“Every horse on Rover Way should be in a secure large field. There is absolutely no reason for this not to happen. Same in other areas of east Cardiff.”

She went on to add: “There is absolutely no reason for ponies to be tied to roundabouts on busy roads”

The Welsh Government has a code of practice saying tethering is “not a suitable method of management of an animal” – but it remains a permissible and commonplace practice in Wales.

Under the Control of Horses (Wales) Act 2014, councils can seize horses fly-grazing, abandoned or straying on public land without lawful authority.

Where appropriate, RSPCA Cymru urges Wales’ councils to utilise this legislation; to prevent the illegal fly-grazing of horses; and to ensure community safety and prevent welfare problems from escalating.

Caerdydd Penarth MS Huw Thomas asked the First Minister about the issue in First Minister’s questions asking if he would review a 2014 act specific to horses.

He said: “There was a tragic incident earlier this year where a formerly tethered horse was hit by a vehicle and killed on one of the approach roads into Cardiff, and it’s an issue of great concern to my constituents in Caerdydd Penarth yet horses continue to be tethered along roads such as Rover Way on the road into Cardiff, creating welfare concerns, particularly in periods of extreme weather like the recent heat, and clearly posing a risk to motorists as well.

“The RSPCA reports that tethered horses reports have almost doubled and have warned that local authorities often lack the resources and the rescue capacity.”

He referenced his former role as the leader of Cardiff Council, saying: “I know from personal experience that there are practical challenges with making full use of the Control of Horses (Wales) Act 2014.

“The First Minister will appreciate, as I do, some of the cultural sensitivities surrounding this issue and he’ll want to calibrate the government’s response accordingly.

“But in view of the increase in incidents and the wider public concern, can the First Minister outline his position on the banning of the tethering of horses and will he commit to reviewing the Control of Horses (Wales) Act 2014?”

The First Minister replied: “Tethering, clearly, is not unlawful, as the member said, but it is a practice that does raise significant welfare concerns. There are no plans to review legislation at this point in time, but the Animal Welfare Act 2006 does require horse owners to meet welfare needs, including shelter, diet, healthcare and behavioural needs.

“It’s very, very clear to me and to this Government that tethering is unsuitable for long-term use.

“The equine code of practice, though, sets conditions, including access to food, water, shelter and supervision around this.

“Alternatives are very much encouraged and it is then around the enforcement of animal welfare laws in general as to whether those animals are being treated well or not with this practice, which is clearly worrying.”

Labour say that Plaid Cymru is making the wrong call over £327m of cash that has come to Wales via a decision made in England

This week, the Plaid Cymru government lost a Senedd vote brought by Labour. The debate was about funding for additional learning needs (ALN).

It centres on whether £327m that has come to Wales via a decision made by the UK Government should be spent exclusively on ALN. The Plaid-led government say because the debts which led to the payment didn’t exist in Wales in the same way the money shouldn’t just be used for ALN and have put in the general pot to pay for other things. But political opponents say it should have been spent to help under-pressure schools.

Lynne Neagle, former education minister, has written this piece about why she thinks that’s the wrong decision

The Welsh Government must urgently put more funding into schools to support children and young people with additional learning needs.

There are over 40,000 children and young people in Wales with additional learning needs. And these are some of the most vulnerable learners in our schools and communities.

Investing in the right support is absolutely crucial to making sure these children, young people and their families can be happy, well, and reach their full learning potential.

But at the moment, Plaid Cymru’s first set of spending measures does not include an extra penny for this purpose.

Investing more funding in support for additional learning needs is the right thing to do.

It’s the right thing to do for these children and young people. It’s the right thing to do for their families and it’s the right thing to do for our schools.

Giving young people the best possible chance in life has always been my focus, including during my two years as education secretary.

For me, it wasn’t about a career. It is something so much more than that. Every child, no matter their background, deserves the chance to get on. And for far too many kids, the odds are stacked against them. That means we must focus on the quality of the support.

But we can’t get away from the fact that there’s so much more to be done, and that means schools need more funding.

The UK Government’s decision to invest in support for councils, schools, and children with special educational needs and disabilities means that there is an extra £327 million now available to the Welsh Government.

The need is there – it’s crystal clear. Our schools are under extreme pressure and the demand for additional learning needs support in Wales is rising. Children and young people’s needs require more complex, intensive and long-term support, and school reserves just don’t have enough headroom to absorb the rising costs.

That’s why, in the spring, the Welsh Local Government Association reported that the growing complexity of need was creating unsustainable financial strain.

They said that education was “one of the most acute pressures highlighted by councils” as “ALN spending accounts for more than a quarter of all school budget pressures”.

And that’s why every single Welsh council – of every political stripe – and the teaching unions have called for this money to go to schools.

And NAHT Cymru have launched a petition calling for the consequential funding to go to support additional learning needs in Wales.

And yet – despite all this – Plaid Cymru have not allocated a single penny of the £327 million that’s available for children with additional learning needs to schools in Wales in their first set of spending measures.

I cannot make this clear enough – councils, schools, and children and young people with additional learning needs urgently need this investment.

Why should Welsh councils, schools and children miss out?

And I know the Government has said that we need a more long-term solution. But waiting for the recurring funding in 2028-29 just won’t cut it for those children and young people who need this support now.

Welsh councils, schools and children with additional learning needs simply cannot wait that long.

That’s why it’s so deeply concerning to see Plaid Cymru try to fund their uncosted manifesto pledges at the expense of schools and children with additional learning needs.

Giving our children and young people the best possible start in life is one of the most important things a government can do. It’s a duty, and Welsh Labour is calling on this government to step up.

Columnist Dylan Jones Evans asks what an era of power sharing in the Senedd may mean for Wales

23:01, 02 May 2026

Since devolution began twenty-seven years ago, Welsh politics has been shaped by Labour’s dominance, even when that dominance has depended on agreements with others.

Whilst some would argue that the result has been a stable political system, waiting lists have grown, the economy has underperformed, housing pressure has intensified, and the same arguments about productivity, poverty, and public services have been rehearsed year after year.

With the polls currently suggesting that no party will secure an overall majority in the Senedd, the country’s future may depend on whether parties can agree on enough specific measures to pass budgets, shape legislation and keep a government in office. Indeed, when you read all six manifestos, there is a suggestion that the parties are much closer than their campaign language suggests.

The biggest issue is health, and every party, from Labour to Reform, begins with the same judgment: that the NHS in Wales is under severe strain and that public confidence has been badly damaged. That matters because, in a Senedd without a majority, health is the obvious ground for agreement.

Labour wants to focus on new hospitals and shorter waiting times, while Plaid Cymru is promising surgical hubs and a stronger link between health and care. The Liberal Democrats want to expand care capacity to relieve pressure on hospitals, and the Conservatives say they would declare a health emergency. Despite agreeing on almost nothing else, Reform and the Greens both argue that urgent intervention is needed.

There are profound differences over how the NHS should be funded, managed and reformed, but there could be enough overlap for an administration to secure backing for a pragmatic programme to cut waiting lists, expand planned care and tackle the indignity of corridor care. In a hung Senedd, that is likely to be the first test of whether politicians can accept that compromise is not weakness if it gets patients treated sooner.

Childcare is one of the few policy areas where there is some agreement, even if they differ on whether expansion should be universal or targeted. Plaid Cymru and the Lib Dems want a universal childcare offer from nine months, whilst the Greens back universal childcare from nine months, and the Conservatives support extending free childcare for children from nine months to four years. Labour has again made childcare expansion one of its main promises.

This is not a minor point, as childcare is increasingly treated as economic infrastructure that helps parents return to work and supports family incomes. If Wales ends up with no party in command, childcare expansion looks like one of the easiest areas for a cross-party deal.

The economy offers a similar, if more limited, opportunity, and no party argues that Wales is performing as it should. Labour wants a new industrial strategy; Plaid and the Conservatives are proposing a National Development Agency; and the Liberal Democrats are talking about changing business rates. Even Reform, for all its populist language, frames its offer around backing business, rewarding work and cutting waste.

That does not amount to a shared economic philosophy, but it does suggest room for agreement on measures such as reforming business rates, improving support for apprenticeships and simplifying business support. Those are not glamorous policies, but they are the sort of interventions a minority government could get through in the next four years.

Housing is more politically divided, but even here, there are points of common agreement. Labour, Plaid Cymru, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens all argue that Wales needs more affordable and social housing, stronger action on homelessness and a bigger state role in fixing a market that is failing too many people. The Welsh Conservatives are more focused on planning reform, whereas Reform places less emphasis on expanding social housing.

So housing is not an issue on which all six parties can meet in the middle, but if the arithmetic points to a centre-left understanding, it is an area where that agreement could become substantial.

Then there is the environment, where Net Zero remains a dividing line, especially with Reform. However, on issues such as river pollution and water quality, there is a much broader consensus than many might expect. Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the Greens, the Conservatives and Reform all promise, in one form or another, tougher action on polluted rivers and sewage discharges, and that ought to be enough to support tougher enforcement.

Tax is the one example where consensus will be hardest to reach. Labour says it will not raise Welsh income tax, whilst the Conservatives and Reform want tax cuts. In contrast, the Liberal Democrats leave the door open to a temporary rise to fund social care, Plaid wants broader tax powers and a more progressive framework, and the Greens want much wider tax reform. That is not a basis for easy agreement, nor are the constitutional questions, with Plaid remaining fundamentally different from those of the Conservatives, Reform and the Liberal Democrats.

What should we conclude from all this? A Senedd without a majority need not mean paralysis, and it is unlikely there will be a grand coalition around a shared view of the country’s future, as the ideological divides are too deep. But it may produce a more negotiated politics in which parties are forced to agree on specific measures in areas where the public is demanding action.

After nearly three decades in which Welsh politics has been shaped by one party’s dominance, such a shift would be significant. The frustration in Wales is not simply that politicians disagree, but that we still face the same problems as we did two decades ago.

If no party has a majority, the next government will be judged not by the elegance of its agreements but by its ability to make the Welsh state work better. Therefore, the real test may not be who comes first on election night, but whether the next Senedd can make difficult compromises that lead to shorter waits, better services and a stronger economy.

Labour Cabinet Office minister Josh Simons was accused of commissioning surveillance of journalists

Labour MP Josh Simons has stepped down as a Cabinet Office minister following an inquiry into claims that a think tank he headed before joining Government commissioned surveillance of journalists.

Labour Together, regarded as one of the most influential bodies within Labour circles, was accused of paying Apco Worldwide £36,000 to investigate reporters who had written articles about its work.

An inquiry by Sir Keir Starmer’s ethics adviser concluded that Mr Simons had not violated the Ministerial Code, but the Makerfield MP said he had “become a distraction from this Government’s important work”.

Mr Simons had faced mounting pressure to quit and had maintained that Apco had been engaged to look into an unlawful hack. In a letter to the Prime Minister, ethics adviser Sir Laurie Magnus said Mr Simons now accepted that the terms he had agreed with Apco were “wider than he had understood” and that he had acted “too hastily in confirming their appointment”.

Sir Laurie said Mr Simons had acted “in good faith” and noted that the MP acknowledged the “perceived gap between his public statements and what he now accepts appears to be a more extensive scope has been damaging”, reports the Express.

He added: “I see no basis for advising you of any breach of the Ministerial Code by Mr Simons but you will wish to consider, in the light of this distraction and potential reputational damage, whether he continues to hold your confidence as a member of your Government.”

The Prime Minister said he accepted “with sadness” the resignation of Josh Simons from his position as a Cabinet Office minister.

“I want to express my thanks for the commitment, focus, and energy you have brought to ministerial office,” he said in his response to Mr Simons’ resignation letter.

Sir Keir added: “In accepting your resignation, I also want to place on record that the Independent Adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus, found no breach of the Ministerial Code. I am grateful for your full and proactive cooperation throughout his work. I understand that, to avoid any ongoing distraction from delivering the Government’s mission, you have taken the difficult decision to step aside. I respect that decision, and I look forward to continuing to work with you in driving forward the Government’s priorities.”

In his resignation letter, Josh Simons stated: “I welcome that Sir Laurie Magnus has cleared me of breaching the Ministerial Code. It was important to me to complete this process to prove that I behaved with integrity and that my public statements have been truthful and honest.

“Nonetheless, it is clear that my remaining in office has now become a distraction from this Government’s important work. For that reason, and with sadness and regret, I offer my resignation. It has been an honour to serve this great country.

“The work of reporters like Gabriel Pogrund, Harry Yorke, and Henry Dyer sustains our democracy. With rigour and objectivity, they hold those in positions of power to account. In an age when trust in politics is low, anything perceived to be an attack on their integrity and independence deserves thorough investigation. As I have said many times, I never sought to smear these newspaper reporters.”

Apco was commissioned to investigate the “sourcing, funding and origins” of coverage in 2023 regarding Labour Together’s failure to declare more than £700,000 in donations. The think tank was fined £14,250 in September 2021 for delayed reporting of donations between 2017 and 2020, after a self-referral to the Electoral Commission.

Shadow Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart said Sir Keir Starmer ought to have dismissed Mr Simons sooner. In a post on X, he wrote: “Labour waited to refer the case to the Independent Adviser to delay judgement until after the by-election (fat lot of good that did). Need full investigation into Labour Together now.”

Close allies of Mr Simons maintain he has done the “responsible thing” to bring an end to the “distraction”, and that he never sought to smear or investigate journalists. They insist he “won’t be quiet on the backbenchers” but will argue passionately for change that benefits the country.

A further ally added: “In stepping aside despite being cleared, Josh has shown he’s the type of person to take responsibility and put the long term direction of the Government first. He’ll not give up his energy in driving the party and this country forward.”

Sir Keir issued a statement as Iran retaliated after the US launched an assault on the Tehran administration

Keir Starmer says that British planes “are in the sky today” in the Middle East after Iran struck targets across the Middle East in retaliation for US-Israeli military action against Tehran.

American and Israeli forces launched an assault on Iran on Saturday morning in what both nations characterised as a “pre-emptive” operation against a Tehran administration allegedly pursuing nuclear weapons development.

The offensive triggered a response from Iran, with missiles reportedly fired at Israel and nations throughout the Middle East.

Read more: Dubai hotel erupts into flames after attack on The Palm

Britain did not participate in the Iranian strikes, and the Government has instructed UK citizens in certain areas of the Middle East to “shelter in place”.

Addressing the media on Saturday afternoon, Sir Keir stated that British aircraft in the region were “in the sky” as part of “co-ordinated regional defensive operations to protect our people, our interests and our allies”.

In a collective statement with the French and German leaders, Sir Keir condemned Iran’s response “in the strongest terms”.

The three leaders stated: “Iran must refrain from indiscriminate military strikes. We urge the Iranian leadership to seek a negotiated solution. Ultimately, the Iranian people must be allowed to determine their future.”

Sir Keir’s remarks follow his chairing of the Government’s emergency Cobra committee meeting before holding discussions with allies including France’s President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The joint statement added that the three nations were “in close contact” with international partners including the US and Israel.

In his own statement from Downing Street, Sir Keir said he had also spoken to Middle Eastern leaders as he urged Iran to return to the negotiating table.

He said: “It is vital that we prevent further escalation and return to a diplomatic process.

“We want to see peace and security and the protection of civilian life.

“Iran can end this now. They should refrain from further strikes, give up their weapons programme and cease the appalling violence and repression against the Iranian people.”

Saturday’s assault follows rising tensions across the region, with the US deploying a fleet of warships and aircraft to pressure Tehran.

Discussions between the US and Iran concerning Tehran’s nuclear programme concluded on Thursday without reaching an agreement.

On Saturday, Israeli authorities stated the strikes – designated Operation Roaring Lion by Israel and Operation Epic Fury by the US – were designed to “thoroughly degrade the Iranian terrorist regime and to remove existential threats to Israel”.

In a video uploaded to his Truth Social platform, US President Donald Trump described the attacks as “a noble mission”.

He said Iran had “attempted to rebuild their nuclear programme and to continue developing long-range missiles that can now threaten our very good friends and allies in Europe, our troops stationed overseas and could soon reach the American homeland”. Dame Emily Thornberry, chair of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, stated it was “absolutely right” that the UK had not participated in the strikes.

She further commented that there was “no legal basis for this attack”, and told the Press Association that the UK should “prepare for shipping, oil facilities and military bases with Western troops, including British, to be attacked”.

Sir Keir revealed that security measures at British bases had been heightened to “their highest level”, whilst the Government was “reaching out to UK nationals in the region” to provide support.

It has been reported that the UK previously declined US requests to utilise the Diego Garcia base in the Indian Ocean for launching strikes on Iran.

Richard Tice of Reform UK questioned whether such a request had been denied again, suggesting that a refusal could have “seriously damaged the special relationship”. He commended the US and Israel for acting to “protect us all in the West by destroying the dangerous Iranian regime”.

His leader, Nigel Farage, urged the Prime Minister to “change his mind on the use of our military bases and back the Americans in this vital fight against Iran”.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch expressed her support for the strikes on Iran, labelling the Tehran government as a “vile regime” that “carries out attacks on the UK and on our citizens”, seeks to develop nuclear weapons and “brutally repressed pro-democracy protests only months ago and murdered thousands of its own people”.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called on the Prime Minister to exclude the possibility of British bases being utilised for “future unilateral US strikes”.

He said: “The Iranian people deserve to live free from a brutal regime. Donald Trump’s unilateral and illegal military action won’t deliver freedom, peace and security. It will only unleash more bloodshed.”

The Fairmont Hotel in Dubai is reportedly on fire following an alleged missile attack as Iran retaliates against US and Israel strikes across the Middle East

A hotel on The Palm in Dubai is reportedly ablaze following an alleged missile strike this afternoon.

Photographs purportedly from the scene depict The Fairmont Hotel in Dubai engulfed in flames.

The fire occured just hours after Donald Trump announced that the US had initiated ‘major combat operations’ in Iran overnight.

It has not been verified that the fire was called by an Iranian strike. But Iranian state media has been reporting that an attack has been launched on Dubai.

The government of Dubai’s Media Office said “an incident occurred in a building in the Palm Jumeirah area”. Emergency response teams attended and the fire is now “under control”, according to the Dubai government. Four people were injured and have been taken to hospital.

Other Iranian attacks have been launched on US bases and civilian sites. Kuwait’s Public Authority for Civil Aviation says a drone targeted Kuwait International Airport, causing minor injuries and limited material damage to one of the terminals.

it follows what Israel’s defence minister said was a ‘preventative attack’ against Iran. Israel Katz stated the strikes were being conducted “to remove threats”, whilst observers in Tehran reported hearing explosions.

Simultaneously, the US is also participating in Israel’s strikes against Iran, according to the Associated Press, with “dozens” of strikes across Iran. In response, Iran has launched attacks on Israeli and US military targets throughout the Middle East, reports the Mirror.

Earlier today in Dubai, people sought shelter as a loud explosion was heard near the Marina, whilst in Abu Dhabi, the UAE’s capital, a fatality was reported after debris fell on a residential area.

Updated guidance on the FCDO website advises British nationals in Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait to immediately seek shelter.

“Remain indoors in a secure location, avoid all travel and follow instructions from the local authorities,” the update read.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has issued a statement saying UK jets are in the skies following the US and Israeli assaults but did not take part in the initial military strike. He condemned Iranian retaliation

The by-election saw a monumental victory for the Greens and a huge defeat for Labour

In the early hours of Friday morning the latest UK by-election results were announced with the Green Party winning in Gorton and Denton, Greater Manchester. It was a historical victory for the Greens and a serious blow for Labour in a seat that has long been seen as a stronghold.

So much so that less than two years ago they won the seat in the 2024 General Election with a 13,413 majority.

Hannah Spencer, a plumber from Manchester, has been elected to Parliament as the Green Party’s first ever Westminster by-election winner.

It is a by-election that has reflected new trends emerging in UK politics with plenty of lessons to be learnt. So what does the Gorton and Denton by-election tell us? For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here.

Green Party vote sky rockets

This by-election has been monumental for the Green Party. As well as being the party’s first parliamentary by-election win, it is its first seat in north England. Taking home the win, Hannah Spencer received a staggering 14,980 votes, a vote share of 40.7%.

Second was Reform with 10,578 votes, Labour came third with 9,364 votes, the Conservatives picked up 706 votes and the Liberal Democrats, 653.

Many underestimated the threat of the Green Party, with the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Labour’s Andy Burnham, who wanted to stand in Gorton and Denton but was blocked by his own party, saying Reform was Labour’s biggest opposition.

In recent by-elections, the Greens have often received less than 5% of votes with the highest in 2023 being 10.2%. Today, the results showed that they almost quadrupled their voter base.

In her victory speech, Ms Spencer said: “I am no different to every single person here in this constituency. I work hard. That is what we do.

“Except things have changed a lot over the last few decades, because working hard used to get you something. It got you a house, a nice life, holidays, it got you somewhere.

“But now, working hard, what does that get you? Because talk to anyone here and they will tell you, the people work hard but can’t put food on the table, can’t get their kids school uniforms, can’t put their heating on, can’t live off the pension they worked hard to save for, can’t even begin to dream about ever having a holiday, ever.

“Because life has changed. Instead of working for a nice life, we’re working to line the pockets of billionaires. We are being bled dry.”

People are not showing up to the ballot boxes

The voting polls opened at 7am on Thursday (February 26) and shut at 10pm in Greater Manchester.

However, most people across the Gorton and Denton area did not show up and cast their vote in the by-election.

On Friday morning, election officials revealed the turnout was 47.62%, with 36,903 votes cast.

In comparison, the turnout in the 2024 General Election was 47.8 per cent, with 36,560 votes cast.

Labour and Conservatives no longer top dogs

The results for Gorton and Denton have shown that the political parties that once fought it out election after election to run the country are losing popularity. In the 2024 General Election Labour received a 13,413 majority – 50.8% of the vote – but in the by-election their vote share fell by 25%.

The Conservatives only received 706 votes in Gorton and Denton, compared to the 2,888 they received in 2024.

Family voting concerns

Fury has arisen after election monitoring organisation, Democracy Volunteers, reported witnessing “concerningly high levels of family voting” at the polling stations yesterday.

Family voting is an illegal practice when family members enter a voting booth together and collude or direct the vote.

By-election officials expressed their frustration, stating they had received no such reports during polling day and challenged why the organisation had failed to flag these serious claims earlier.

The organisation stated it had witnessed the “highest levels of family voting at any election in our 10-year history of observing elections in the UK” during Thursday’s ballot.

John Ault, director of Democracy Volunteers, commented: “Today we have seen concerningly high levels of family voting in Gorton and Denton. Based on our assessment of today’s observations, we have seen the highest levels of family voting at any election in our 10-year history of observing elections in the UK.

“We rarely issue a report on the night of an election, but the data we have collected today on family voting, when compared to other recent by-elections, is extremely high.”

Calls for Keir Starmer to resign

Sir Keir Starmer has said the loss at Gorton and Denton was “very disappointing”. This comes after former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said the result “must be a wake up call,” and that “it’s time to really listen – and to reflect.”

She continued: “Voters want the change that we promised – and they voted for. If we want to unrig the system, if we want to make the change we were sent into Government to make, we have to be braver. A labour agenda that puts people first. That’s what all of us across our movement need to rededicate ourselves to this morning.”

Asked by reporters if he had considered resigning, Sir Keir Starmer said he would “keep on fighting” as well as pledging to “fight against extremes in politics” on both the left and the right.

Plaid Cymru has launched their plan for their first 100 days in government if they were to win the Senedd election at an event at their party conference in Newport. The 60-page bilingual document which was like a mini manifesto was big on launching plans but lacked specific details.

On Saturday, February 28, the media gathered for the press conference and unveiling of their plan, the first party in Wales to produce such a plan of action. Minutes before Rhun ap Iorwerth was due to speak to members of the press they were informed he would not be answering any questions at the press conference.

As journalists quickly read through the mammoth document, which contained 88 bullet points setting out various action Mr ap Iorwerth’s government would take in the first 100 days, the party leader continued to hammer home points on waiting lists and childcare, which have been a theme of this party conference.

In total, the document set out that they would commission a total of 13 reviews and audits, meaning they are promising to commission something new each week. For the biggest stories in Wales first sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Included in these was the commissioning of an independent review on the performance of the NHS in Wales, focusing on waiting lists, which the party leader told journalists was a “scandal”. There was however a lack of information as to how much they intend on cutting down waiting lists in this time frame.

He also said his party would develop a roadmap to cut out the spending on private agency staff in the NHS by 2030.

Much of the document contained plans to develop targets, commissions, reviews, roadmaps, and to begin work on policy the party have already announced, such as their plans to substantially expand the free childcare provision in Wales.

Mr ap Iorwerth said: “We will work with local authorities and childcare providers on plans to urgently complete the rollout of 12.5 hours of funded childcare for all two-year-olds.”

Alongside these plans, developing new school swimming programmes was mentioned twice, and planning for the rollout of the new libraries in primary schools scheme was all mentioned.

The 100-day plan also states that from September 2026, Plaid Cymru will expand free school meals to all secondary school pupils in households on Universial Credit with no income limit, and says they will restrict the use of smartphones in schools for under-16s.

It also includes commisioning a “comprehensive review” into the funding of universities in Wales which they said would make sure more Welsh students are supported to study in Wales.

Mr ap Iorwerth’s plan also brought forward proposals to incorporate key United Nations human rights conventions into Welsh law and said they would work to end violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence across all areas of government.

He was also keen to state that his government would press Westminster to devolve welfare powers to Wales, on a par with Scotland, and said they would review existing Welsh benefits.

Moving on to the economy, the 100-day plan promises to set up town centre taskforces to explore the option of reformed business rates and set clear targets on the economy.

On transport, another issue Plaid have repeatedly slammed Westminster for, Mr ap Iorwerth said his party would begin negiotiations with the UK government on losses for England-only rail projects, and would prepare to launch an express coach service to link north and south Wales.

Mr ap Iorwerth’s party are currently projected to win the largest portion of the vote share in May’s Senedd elections. The latest poll carried out by YouGov on behalf of ITV Cymru Wales/Barn Cymru projected Plaid Cymru would win 37% of the vote share, to Reform’s 23% and Labour’s 10%.

In this analysis for the Manchester Evening News, Damon Wilkinson argues that Reform’s desperation became apparent in the wake of their defeat in Gorton and Denton

Damon Wilkinson Reporter

21:49, 27 Feb 2026

Sectarianism. Here in the UK, it’s a word we’re more used to hearing in connection with the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

But in the early hours of Friday, as the result of the bitterly-contested Gorton and Denton by-election was announced, it was a term Reform’s candidate Matt Goodwin used time and time again.

“I think what you’ve seen is the emergence of a dangerous sectarianism in British politics,” the GB News presenter told the press as he lamented an apparent shift of the Muslim vote to the Greens that saw Hannah Spencer claim the seat in a watershed victory.

He added: “I think the progressives were told how to vote and I think what you saw was a coalition of Islamists and woke progressives that came together to dominate a constituency.”

Asked if his ‘divisive language’ was putting people off Reform, Mr Goodwin – a former academic who was once a leading expert on the far right – used the word again.

“You seem to be implying that we should be playing the game of sectarianism to win seats,” he replied. “We reject that. We are a party that’s about national community and national unity.”

Less than an hour later he was at it once more. “We are losing our country,” he wrote on X. “A dangerous Muslim sectarianism has emerged. “We have only one general election left to save Britain.”

Soon Mr Goodwin was joined by party leader Nigel Farage. “This election was a victory for sectarian voting and cheating,” he posted on X, alluding to comments made by independent election observers who claimed to have witnessed ‘extremely high’ cases of illegal ‘family voting’ at polling stations across the seat on Thursday.

The Greens were quick to respond, describing Farage’s claims as ‘an attempt to undermine the democratic result’ that was ‘straight out of the Trump playbook’.

Professor Rob Ford – who once co-authored an award-winning book on right-wing politics alongside Mr Goodwin while the pair worked at the University of Manchester – also joined in the condemnation.

“A win this big and decisive in a seat this socially mixed is not, and cannot, be down to ‘Muslim sectarianism’,” he wrote on X. “Deeply concerning that a defeated candidate would seek to undermine the legitimacy of an election result rather than accept a simple truth: Gorton & Denton rejected him.”

Reform had come into the campaign trying to convince people their agenda was not about division and animosity. What he wanted, Mr Goodwin said in a post on his Substack page, was to ‘live in a country… where people who work hard, play by the rules and contribute are put first – where they belong’.

But once the result was announced the mask slipped. ‘Islamists’, ‘woke progressives’, ‘dangerous Muslim sectarianism’ – that’s not the language of a party concerned with ‘national unity’, as Mr Goodwin claimed.

Instead, we got a glimpse of what Reform really thought about the people whose votes they had been trying to win.