Support quality, independent, local journalism…that matters

From just £1 a month you can help fund our work – and use our website without adverts. Become a member today

Plaid Cymru’s Lindsay Whittle has said he will “fight like a Trojan” for Caerphilly in a victory speech made the day after his party’s historic Senedd by-election win.

Addressing national media and party supporters outside Caerphilly Castle on Friday October 24 he said: “It seems just like yesterday as a 15-year-old schoolboy I was standing with the crowds as Phil Williams tried to put the Phil in Caerphilly and tried to create history.

“Well, yesterday the people of Caerphilly created their own history and we put Caerphilly on the map firmly.

“I have received messages of goodwill not only from all corners of Wales but from Scotland, can you believe France, can you believe Australia, Spain and Canada.

“That is a mark of how important yesterday was to Wales and the world, because now I believe the world is watching Wales and watching an emerging nation start to control our lives again.

“What was the famous phrase that no one likes me using, especially our comms people – they’ve all gone pale – grab your brains by the throat and take control of your lives again.

And that’s the message and I will work like a Trojan for every single man, woman and child in this constituency and a huge honour it is for me. I am genuinely humbled.”

Pointing to Penyrheol, he added: “I’m a council house boy from the council estate there and I’m proud to call this home.”

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth was also in attendance and said: “It’s a historic result for Plaid Cymru, one of the big victories in the history of our party.

“But it’s massively historic in terms of the journey that Wales is on as a nation and says so much about the opportunity that faces us as a nation as we head into the Welsh general election in just six months’ time.”

“A by-election in the toughest of circumstances”

Immediately after the by-election was declared in the early hours of Friday, First Minister Eluned Morgan congratulated Mr Whittle on his party’s by-election victory – fought against the backdrop of the death of Labour’s Caerphilly MS Hefin David.

She said: “This was a by-election in the toughest of circumstances, and in the midst of difficult headwinds nationally. I want to thank our candidate, Richard Tunnicliffe – a good man who stood because of his desire to serve his community. 

“I congratulate Lindsay Whittle on his victory tonight. He returns to the Senedd, continuing his many decades of elected service to people in Caerphilly.

“Welsh Labour has heard the frustration on doorsteps in Caerphilly that the need to feel change in people’s lives has not been quick enough. We take our share of the responsibility for this result. We are listening, we are learning the lessons, and we will come back stronger.”