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Welsh Labour faces ‘existential’ change as party braces for May election defeat

first minister [Rhodri Morgan](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/1999/feb/15/uk.politicalnews3) overcame the new national assembly’s teething problems to lead Wales

Relish and dread as Starmer 'shambles' hangs over Scotland and Wales elections

minister has been under their party's stripe - and the first time anyone other than a Labour politician has been in charge. Be prepared for haggling after the results themselves, mind. A new proportional voting

What you need to know about the 7 May elections in England, Scotland and Wales

new system makes it highly unlikely that will change at this election. Any MS can nominate any member to be first minister. If there are two or more candidates, MSs will vote to decide

Welsh party leaders gear up for live debate ahead of tightly contested Senedd election

new voting system for the Senedd, which aims to better reflect how people vote.](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckg1y72091no) As a result, parties may have to come to some kind of agreement before a first minister

Elections 2026 live: counting under way after votes in England, Scotland and Wales

Wales](https://www.theguardian.com/uk/wales) correspondent* This week the Welsh parliament will grow from 60 to 96 members under a new, more proportional electoral system. Labour is expected to lose control of the Senedd

Reform and Plaid likely to benefit from polarisation of Welsh politics

Wales into the ground](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/apr/28/welsh-labour-may-elections-senedd-plaid-cymru-reform-uk#:~:text=But%20after%2027,47%25%20in%202023.),” he said. “They’ll probably form a coalition again to keep [Reform] out. But we’re a new party, and we’re still doing really well

Australia news live: three dead and man arrested in Sydney; Liberals claim seat of Nepean in key Victorian byelection

first official visit since taking office. She will meet with prime minister **Anthony Albanese** in Canberra tomorrow for the Australia–Japan Annual Leaders’ Meeting. I’m **Petra Stock** and I’ll be taking the blog

Labour expected to lose Senedd after century of winning elections in Wales

First Minister Eluned Morgan said consistently during the campaign that Sir Keir was "not on the ballot paper". But when asked on Wednesday if he could stay on if Labour lost in Wales, she said

Australia scrambles to secure energy as war on Iran fuels uncertainty

New South Wales announced plans this week to invest $100 million in EV chargers. A fire at the crucially important [Geelong Oil Refinery](/news/2026/4/16/fire-breaks-out-at-crucial-australian-refinery-raising-fuel-supply-fears) in Victoria this week has reminded policymakers that Australia’s domestic

NSW electric buses, trains and light rail services to run entirely on renewable energy from 2027 in $1.9bn deal

Wales will run on fully [renewable energy](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/apr/14/minns-promises-more-fast-chargers-and-electric-trucks-in-revamped-ev-policy) from next year under a new $1.9bn deal, the state government says. The Minns government on Friday announced it had signed a contract with

Starmer says ‘tide could be turning’ on shoplifting in England and Wales

minister said, adding that “the hope of technology” could make a difference. Official figures last year revealed annual shoplifting offences in England and Wales had [passed half a million for the first time](https://www.theguardian.com

Royal commission into Bondi shooting says gun reform should be prioritised

New South Wales (NSW) police procedures used for Jewish high holy days should be extended to other "high risk Jewish festivals and events, especially those with a public facing element". Other recommendations included a review

Reform challenges other parties to cost their policies in heated Welsh election debate

first minister Mark Drakeford earlier in the campaign. Plaid Cymru's Rhun ap Iorwerth said Reform stood in "diametric opposition to all the values that I stand for". Eluned Morgan said she did not think

Mapped: the elections that could deliver ‘unprecedented’ losses for Labour

first. Labour is on track for its worst-ever local election performance Vote share for Labour (%) in elections for English councils\*, Welsh Senedd elections and Scottish parliament elections. 2026 values taken from current polling Labour

Single-sex space guidance for organisations to be published after May elections

new guidance on single-sex spaces next month after elections on the 7 May, equalities minister Bridget Phillipson has said. Updated draft guidance was submitted by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) on Monday

Australia news live: banks pass on interest rate hike to customers; Sydney ‘globalise the intifada’ forum held in park

first Australian bank to announce it would [pass on the 0.25% interest rate rise](https://www.macquarie.com/au/en/about/news/2026/macquarie-banks-response-to-the-rbas-interest-rate-decision.html) to its variable home loan customers from 22 May. The country’s big four banks – Commonwealth Bank

If Plaid win in Wales, that won't mean independence - at least not yet

First Minister Eluned Morgan has warned that "separatism is now very much on the agenda in our nation". But Labour is facing a threat on all sides, with polling analysis suggesting it is losing voters

May elections live: millions cast their votes across England, Scotland and Wales

minister in our lifetime is to back Reform. > > Together, we can continue the journey of getting our great country back on track. > > Reform made history and won the local elections last year. If you really

Winners, losers and a PM on the brink - what to expect in next week's elections

ministers - try if you like, but I'll fight you to stay. Starmer's camp is overtly rejecting any notion that he might, as Theresa May was forced to do, put a sell-by date

Co-op marking commonly-stolen items with forensic spray to track reselling

new standalone offence of assaulting a retail worker and will also make it easier for action to be taken when items worth less than £200 are stolen by repealing a measure which downgraded the police