Rural Welsh votes 'there to be won' says poll

RURAL

- By CHRISTOPHER MCKEON

Welsh voters are “there to be won", a campaign group has said after a poll showed a fractured electorate ahead of May’s Senedd election.A survey of 1,000 people in Wales's most rural seats showed no party was supported by more than a quarter of voters, with Plaid Cymru leading on 22.3%.

Reform UK, which expects to do well in the Senedd elections, was in second place among rural voters on 16.7% while the Greens had surged to 14.5% after standing few candidates in 2021.

Labour had slipped to fourth place on 13.5%, although it has not traditionally done well in rural Wales, while the Conservatives trailed in fifth despite performing strongly last time.

The poll, commissioned by the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), also found less than half of voters thought Labour, Reform or the Greens understood or respected rural areas, while Plaid was trusted by 63%.