Date set for Caerphilly by-election after death of local MS

Local TV

Hefin David’s death last month shook the Welsh political world, but after tributes were paid, reality has now come to pass, and the seat must be filled. A by-election was announced and the date has been set for Caerphilly constituents to hit the polls in October.

Transcript

00:00The Welsh political world came together in August, when Heaven David, Senate member for

00:07Caerphilly since 2016, suddenly passed away. Tributes have been paid across the political

00:14spectrum in Wales since his death, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer calling him a powerful

00:18voice for Wales, among a number of politicians and organisations praising him and his achievements.

00:24As so often happens though, the realities of politics have to come into effect, and

00:29a by-election that no one would have wanted, or expected, has to happen within three months

00:34of the Senate seat being vacated. Here is the date of Heaven David's death.

00:40The Welsh Parliament has announced that the by-election will take place on October 23rd and will likely

00:45be the last of its kind ever in Wales, given the changing Senate voting system which will

00:49replace by-elections with a party list system. It's also the last chance for parties to get

00:56a feel for the political landscape and make an impact before the proper campaigning starts

01:01for the election next year.

01:03It will be a chance for us all to see exactly where people's heads could be. According to

01:09the opinion polls, it's Plaid Cymru and Reform UK with the best chances of being the biggest

01:13party in the Senate next year, and it will be telling to see how Labour, Heaven David's

01:18party, do. They had a majority of 5,000 last election, but that could easily be at risk.

01:24It's not the by-election that people would have asked for. It's come in with a backdrop

01:29of sad news for politics in Wales, and for constituents who have been served by Heaven David for almost

01:35a decade. It could be emotional at times, but it will definitely be telling. James Beach

01:40Watkins, reporting for Local TV.

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