Polling research signals political change in Wales

Oliver Dean | 23rd February 2026 | Politics, Polling
Plaid Cymru and Reform UK are expected to make significant gains in the upcoming Senedd elections (Photo by Joe Daniel Price / Getty Images)
Plaid Cymru and Reform UK are expected to make significant gains in the upcoming Senedd elections (Photo by Joe Daniel Price / Getty Images)

Cavendish latest polling signals the end of Labour's dominance in Wales and a shift away from two party politics

As the Senedd elections draw nearer, exclusive research by Cavendish has shown that Labour are set to lose their hold in the Welsh Parliament, with Reform and Plaid Cymru set to make gains that will change the political make-up of Wales.

Labour have long enjoyed control of the Welsh Parliament, with the current seat distribution giving them 29 seats, with the Conservatives and Plaid Cymru in second place with 13 seats each.

Polling by Cavendish has revealed that the voting intention in Wales has shifted dramatically. When asked for who they would vote for in the Senedd elections, 37% said Plaid Cymru, 23% said Reform, and 13% said Green. Both the Conservatives and Labour sat on just 10% of the vote each.

With respect to what this means for seats, Plaid Cymru would, in this scenario, sweep to power with 44 seats, whilst Reform would trail with 23. The Greens would sit at 11, with Labour on 10 and the Conservatives on 7.

The shift is decisive for a variety of reasons. Firstly, and perhaps most importantly, it reflects a Labour government that is getting weaker. Polling already suggests that Labour are set to lose the Gorton and Denton by election, as well as hemorrhage seats in the local election. To not only lose control of the Senedd, but do so in a way that puts Labour in fourth place with respect to the total number of seats held signals a party that is on the decline.

Subscribe to The Mace

Join the member community shaping British politics and stay ahead of what's really happening in the world of politics and public affairs, with expert analysis, breaking news, and insider insights from Westminster and Brussels. The Mace is the leading news source and resource for the government affairs industry, offering required reading and lobby intelligence for professionals.

To see what you are missing out on by not subscribing to The Mace, click here to download our full membership info-pack. This includes having no paywall on op-ed content or profiles/interviews, allowing professional profiles to be read with maximum impact and visibility by government, special advisers, MPs, peers, civil servants, and policy and political decision-makers.



The End of ‘Domocracy’ at No 10

Peter Cardwell | November 15, 2020

Dominic Cummings's departure from Downing Street gives Boris Johnson the chance to reshuffle his team on more democratic lines, says former SpAd Peter Cardwell

Dominic Cummings Special

The Cummings Legacy Is Not What The Pundits Think

William Cash | November 14, 2020

As Dominic Cummings leaves Downing Street for the last time, William Cash notes that his legacy will extend far beyond his own disruption of Whitehall

Dominic Cummings Special

The 2017 Campaign Exposed the Real Theresa May

Benjamin Goodwin | October 8, 2020

May at 10, by Sir Anthony Seldon, reviewed by Benjamin Goodwin

Has Covid killed the party conference?

Marie Le Conte | October 6, 2020

Marie Le Conte

The Cummings Revolution – help or hindrance?

Ed Amory | October 6, 2020

Ed Amory

Recline and sprawl

Adam Solomons | January 16, 2020

Jacob Rees-Mogg’s languid pose on the Treasury bench launched a thousand memes on social media. Five observers interpret his body language for us.

Inside the Cummings Revolution

Adam Solomons | January 16, 2020

How much can Whitehall’s antiquated government offices learn from the Palo Alto tech giants?

Dominic Cummings Special

The Jackdaw: Staffers Had It Hardest

Marie Le Conte | January 16, 2020

Over the last year we’ve seen dozens of MPs switch parties or go independent. But how does such an unexpected move affect their hard-working staff?

Diary: Harry Potter Politics with Damian Collins

Damian Collins MP | January 15, 2020

Damian Collins remembers his election victory and rejoices at the new Commons term