Who can vote in the Caerphilly by-election?
The Caerphilly by-election on 23 October will determine who briefly becomes the MS for the Caerphilly constituency. Eligible voters are those aged 16 or over who are British, Irish, or EU citizens living in the constituency and registered to vote. Polling stations will be open from 07:00 to 22:00 BST, giving residents a full day to cast their ballot in the race triggered by the death of Labour’s Hefin David.
What happened at the BBC Wales debate?
The BBC Wales debate brought six candidates to the stage to discuss the issues facing Caerphilly and the broader Welsh political agenda as voters prepare for a six-month term in the Senedd ahead of a planned expansion of the Welsh Parliament in 2026. The event featured robust exchanges on health, social care, immigration, local services, and governance, reflecting a tight, locally focused contest in a post-26-year Labour era in the Senedd.
Meet the candidates and key threads
Across the night, candidates offered a mix of local loyalty and reformist rhetoric. Reform UK’s Llŷr Powell framed his bid as a push for real-world changes and warned that long-term promises can exceed what is achievable. The Conservative candidate Gareth Potter emphasized a sense of local pride in the Valleys and pressed Labour for a perceived lack of accountability after decades in power. Plaid Cymru’s Lindsay Whittle presented continuity through local knowledge and a long record in the area, while Liberal Democrat Steve Aicheler called for pragmatic, non-partisan action to improve services. Labour’s Richard Tunnicliffe argued for stability and strong NHS and social care links, while the Green Party’s Gareth Hughes urged practical policies aimed at sustainable, incremental improvements.
NHS, health, and social care
Healthcare remained a central topic during the debate. Candidates agreed that the National Health Service must remain free at the point of use and discussed better integration with social care and discharge planning. The Lib Dems floated considering an emergency Welsh tax measure if Westminster funding does not rise to meet demand, signaling how health funding could influence a future Welsh government budget negotiation. While there was broad consensus on the need for stronger health and social care integration, details varied among the candidates about how to fund, manage, and reform the NHS in Wales.
Immigration, the Nation of Sanctuary, and local impact
Immigration featured prominently, with Reform’s Llŷr Powell arguing for tighter migration control while other candidates stressed the importance of Wales’s Nation of Sanctuary policy. The debate touched on the devolved powers and how immigration policy is handled between the UK government and the Welsh administration. The controversy around Nathan Gill and past bribery allegations in Reform UK’s leadership was also raised, with candidates weighing how trust and accountability influence voters’ decisions in Caerphilly.
Local services, libraries, and council decisions
Local services formed a battleground in Caerphilly. Debates over proposed library and leisure centre changes tested incumbents against challengers, with criticisms that some council-led measures do not reflect residents’ needs. The candidates offered competing visions for preserving and enhancing local infrastructure, with some arguing that investment should come from both Welsh and UK government coffers to protect frontline services.
Why this by-election matters for Caerphilly and Wales
The by-election is not just a local contest; it sits within a wider discussion about the future structure of Welsh governance. With a 96-member Senedd due to be re-elected next year and a broader review of the Welsh Parliament’s composition, the outcome in Caerphilly could signal public appetite for change, continuity, or a new ideological balance in Welsh politics. Voters face a choice between stability under Labour’s legacy and the reformist arguments offered by the other parties, each presenting a different path for health, housing, and immigration policy in Wales.
Closing thoughts from the debate
As candidates wrapped up, several themes recurred: the need to rebuild trust in politics, to secure better health and social care outcomes, and to respond effectively to local concerns. Whether Caerphilly opts for change or continuity, the by-election is a crucial test of how voters weigh national policy against local service delivery in a rapidly evolving Welsh political landscape.
