Labour turmoil, new Plaid government, Reform, the fall of the Welsh Conservatives, 1926 general strike
From Sunday Supplement by BBC Radio Wales
May 17, 2026 · 55 min
About this episode
The episode discusses Labour's internal challenges, the formation of Plaid Cymru's government, and the implications of recent elections in Wales.
With Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting gunning for Sir Keir Starmer's job, Labour's Lord Peter Hain explains how his party got into such a bind. Plaid Cymru's first ever Welsh government has been formed. New culture and sport minister Heledd Fychan joins us in the studio. Reform gained 34 Senedd members in last week's election. Their leader Dan Thomas tells us his plans for the seventh Senedd. Where Reform succeeded, the Conservatives failed. Why? Former Conservative secretary of state for Wales Robert Buckland has ideas what went wrong, and how to put it right. And 100 years after the 1926 general strike came to an end, reader Stephanie Ward of Cardiff University reminds us how it all unfolded, and its significance. Two new Senedd members join us to tell us all about themselves: married couple Gwyn Williams and Safa Elhassan, two of Plaid Cymru's three members for Gwyr Abertawe.
People in this episode
Guests: Lord Peter Hain, Heledd Fychan, Dan Thomas, Gwyn Williams, Safa Elhassan
Topics covered
- Labour Party
- Welsh Government
- Plaid Cymru
- Reform Party
- Conservative Party
- 1926 General Strike
- Senedd Elections
Keywords
- Labour turmoil
- Plaid Cymru
- Reform
- Welsh Conservatives
- 1926 general strike
- Senedd
- politics
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Plaid Cymru, Reform, Cardiff University
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