Council ward by-election on the cards after Plaid’s Senedd win

The ballot boxes have been cleared away at Caerphilly Leisure Centre – but its result means another by-election is on the cards, due to recent rules preventing Senedd Members from also representing local authorities.

Lindsay Whittle will stand down as a member of Caerphilly County Borough Council, stopping just short of 50 years of service in local government.

Speaking at the election count in the early hours of Friday morning, the victorious Plaid Cymru candidate said he had hoped to reach that half-century milestone – but was relishing the chance to serve as Caerphilly’s new Senedd Member.

A Caerphilly Council spokesperson confirmed Mr Whittle would stand down as a councillor and a by-election would be held in the Penyrheol, Trecenydd, and Energlyn ward.

Plaid won a clean sweep in Penyrheol at the local elections in 2022, picking up all four seats – with Mr Whittle earning the most votes of any candidate across the county borough.

The council spokesperson did not say whether a date had been set for the expected Penyrheol by-election.

Caerphilly Council is currently controlled by Labour, which holds 44 of the 69 seats.