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Plaid Cymru has turned to a familiar name in Caerphilly politics for the upcoming Senedd by-election, selecting Lindsay Whittle as their candidate.

Cllr Whittle is no stranger to voters. This is his seventh election standing for a seat in Cardiff Bay and he has also stood in ten UK General Elections.

A councillor for more than four decades, and a former leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council, he also represented South Wales East in the Senedd (or Welsh Assembly as it was) between 2011 and 2016.

Plaid Cymru has suggested it is ahead of Reform and Labour in opinion polls in Caerphilly and it is hoping to capitalise on the unpopularity of budget cuts imposed by the controlling Labour group on Caerphilly County Borough Council.

Supporters say Cllr Whittle’s experience and record of campaigning make him the strongest challenger for the seat. Critics argue that, after years in politics, he represents the past rather than the future.

Plaid Cymru supporters are sensing an opportunity to finally make their mark on the Caerphilly constituency. Not only are party activists talking up their chances in the by-election, it seems the party is ploughing in resources – financial and human.

Following Labour’s start to the campaign the previous day, a launch event was held at Plaid Cymru’s newly-leased election office in Castle Street on Tuesday September 9.

South Wales East Senedd Member Peredur Owen Griffiths was busy moving boxes of party leaflets and Cllr Whittle’s long-time party colleague, friend, and election agent John Taylor (an Aber Valley councillor) was marking off canvassing maps.

Other Senedd Members, including South Wales East’s Delyth Jewell, were also there to show their support alongside Cllr Whittle and party leader Rhun Ap Iorwerth.

This by-election was called following the sudden death of Labour MS Hefin David and before addressing supporters, Mr Ap Iorwerth took a moment to remember Dr David.

In his interview with Caerphilly Observer, Cllr Whittle was also quick to pay tribute to his political rival and described their relationship as “very good”.

“I was his first opponent [in 2016] and he beat me by 1,500 votes – the closest we’ve ever come to winning this seat – but I am deeply saddened we are here with a by-election no-one in political circles wanted whatsoever.

“I’d been for a pint with him, and I think in politics there’s too much viciousness. The general public are fed up with it. They want to know what you are going to do for them.

“We had different ideas, but by and large we had very similar ideas – just different ways of going about it.”

While Labour opted to go with a ‘fresh face’ in Richard Tunnicliffe, Plaid members have selected Cllr Whittle once again for an election.

“I would like to think I am an experienced campaigner and I’m still enthusiastic, which is important. I’ve desperately tried to retire and I can’t do it.

“Since I left the Senedd I’ve got four volunteering jobs – which I am committed to during this campaign – and I just can’t retire. It’s not for me.”

Cllr Whittle’s popularity among local Plaid members doesn’t seem to show signs of waning – he has been selected second on the list, behind Delyth Jewell, for the Senedd election in May – when a new voting system is introduced.

But what does Cllr Whittle, who represents Penyrheol on the council, say he and Plaid can do for Caerphilly in the Senedd?

“I wouldn’t insult Hefin’s memory by saying I’ll be a strong voice for Caerphilly, because he was a strong voice for Caerphilly too,” said Cllr Whittle.

“I would like to carry that on, but my voice will be slightly different. I want to help young people with additional learning needs, very similar to Hefin.

“Because I work as a volunteer in two local schools, I know the issues teachers, parents, and the pupils face.”

Cllr Whittle said he also wants to explore why “our best educated young people” leave for university and decide to live elsewhere.

“I’m not saying ‘born in the valley, live in the valley, die in the valley. But what I am saying is there must be opportunities for them to return.”

Education and economic opportunities for people is high on the agenda for the party. Cllr Whittle stressed his own background as a youngster leaving Caerphilly Boys Grammar School with one O-level.

“I realised when I was making crash helmets that perhaps I should have paid more attention to my teachers.”

A stint at Pontypridd night school gaining A-levels saw Cllr Whittle go on to work in personnel. Redundancy and unemployment then preceded a 27-year period working for housing association Hafod.

Cllr Whittle stepped down from that role in 2006 and then became council leader for a second time in 2008, before becoming an Assembly Member in 2011.

With all of his election and political experience, it’s fair to say he is a seasoned campaigner.

So what is the party’s strategy when it comes to Reform, often accused of attracting disproportionate media attention?

“If Reform win, they won’t be able to stop the boats at all – even if they get 40 or 50 Senedd Members. The Senedd doesn’t have the power to stop a single boat, and that’s a fact,” he said.

“We’ve got a tradition in this valley going back to the 1930s when we welcomed the Basque children during Franco’s Spanish Civil War. After the Second World War people came from Europe and lived in these valleys.

“In my street, we had Polish families, Italian families, a Cockney family, and an Irish family. We’ve had the Vietnamese boat people.”

Referring to the Welsh Government’s Nation of Sanctuary plan for refugees, which has been criticised by Reform, but broadly supported by Plaid Cymru, Cllr Whittle said money had been spent helping Ukrainians fleeing the Russian-led invasion of their country.

He conceded that illegal immigration was an issue for people and that he shared those concerns. However, he pointed to Brexit as one of the causes.

“If the Brexit people hadn’t persuaded others to leave the European Union, where we had the Treaty of Dublin, we could send people back to France.

“We didn’t have these poor people before Brexit, but now we do and we are duty-bound to look after them.”

The Conservatives are expected to announce their candidate for the by-election, being held on October 23, later this week, with the Liberal Democrats following early next week.

Reform has also yet to announce a candidate, despite speculation it would do so at its recent party conference.