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Plaid Cymru’s Lindsay Whittle has been sworn in as a new Senedd Member following his decisive win in the Caerphilly Senedd by-election.

Mr Whittle saw off the challenge from Reform UK’s Llŷr Powell on a night where Labour were condemned to a distant third place.

The Plaid Cymru candidate won 15,961 votes, compared to second-place Reform’s 12,113.

The new MS was greeted by enthusiastic supporters outside Caerphilly Castle on Friday morning, before heading to Cardiff Bay where he was welcomed by his new party colleagues in the Senedd.

It is the second time Mr Whittle has been elected to the Welsh Parliament. He previously represented the South Wales East region between 2011 and 2016, in what was then known as the Welsh Assembly.

He is now set to step down as councillor for the Penyrheol, Trecenydd, and Energlyn ward to take up his new role.

A long-serving councillor, Mr Whittle has served his community for nearly 50 years – and has twice led Caerphilly County Borough Council.

In 2022, he was elected with 1,975 – the highest number of votes of any councillor at that election.

A by-election will be held in the Penyrheol, Trecenydd, and Energlyn ward in due course to fill the seat left vacant by Mr Whittle – while the Plaid group on Caerphilly County Borough Council will now chose a new group leader.