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Plaid Cymru councillor Lindsay Whittle is the first candidate confirmed to stand in next month’s Senedd by-election in Caerphilly.
The by-election will take place on Thursday October 23, and comes following the passing of Labour’s Hefin David, who had served the constituency in the Senedd since 2016.
The funeral of Dr David, who died on August 12 aged just 47, was held on Monday September 1.
Hundreds of mourners gathered to pay their respects, with services held at St Catwg’s Church, in Gelligaer, and Thornhill Crematorium.
Penyrheol ward councillor Whittle, who was among the attendees at Dr David’s funeral, is currently his party’s group leader on Caerphilly County Borough Council, and has led the council on two separate occasions.
He previously represented the South Wales East region in what was then known as the National Assembly for Wales between 2011 and 2016.
It will be the sixth time he has stood for election to the Welsh Parliament.
Cllr Whittle finished second to Labour’s Chris Evans in the Caerphilly constituency at last year’s UK General Election.
“The circumstances of this by-election, which arose after the death of Hefin David, are of course tremendously sad and my thoughts remain with Hefin’s loved ones.” said Cllr Whittle.
“The people of Caerphilly deserve a passionate local representative in the Senedd. I’m determined to offer a positive agenda, to give this area a fair deal.”
Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth praised Cllr Whittle’s “long record of standing up for his community” and said he would be a “real asset in the Senedd”.
Mr ap Iorwerth highlighted issues such as NHS waiting lists, school funding, and council cuts – and said: “People locally feel let down and taken for granted by the Labour Government.
“After 26 years of Labour, people are increasingly unhappy with how Wales has been run. They see overstretched services, wasted opportunities and little ambition and they’re looking for change.
“Voters in Caerphilly know that they can trust Plaid Cymru to put Wales’s interests first every time.”
Welsh Labour, the Conservatives, and Reform UK are among the parties expected to announce their by-election candidates in due course.
The by-election comes just seven months before the 2026 Senedd Elections.
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