Are we fast losing faith in traditional political parties?

HERE has been much debate about the Caerphilly by-election result last Thursday.

- David Taylor-Gooby

Plaid Cymru candidate Lindsay Whittle speaks after winning the Welsh Senedd by-election in Caerphilly last week. Labour's Richard Tunnicliffe, left, was a poor third

It certainly wasn’t good for Labour. The blow can be softened a bit by the fact that there was undoubtedly tactical voting for Plaid Cymru to keep Reform out, but it is still dire in a seat which Labour won in 2024 with 38% of the vote to then go to 11% and third place in the by-election.

But that is not all of it. The Labour Party is in trouble in other ways too.

Membership is dropping, and various local parties from Kent to Durham are finding it difficult to attract people to do the organising jobs such as secretary and agent. This does not bode well for the local elections next year if there is no one to organise the campaigns or knock on doors.