‘The punishment election’: Is Labour facing a bloodbath in Wales?

About this episode

The episode discusses the declining support for Labour in Wales ahead of the Welsh Senedd elections.

South Wales has been a Labour heartland since the party formed over a century ago, but speak to people there today and you'll find support leaving in droves. So can Labour avoid an electoral car crash? Could the other main parties capitalise? Ahead of the Welsh Senedd elections next week, we travelled to Swansea to take the political temperature. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory Guests:  Professor Matthew Wall, professor of politics, philosophy and international relations at Swansea University and principal investigator of the 2026 Welsh election study. Grant Berni, head of the Osprey’s supporters club. Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Harry Stott. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com Read more: A walk round Pembroke Dock shows why Labour will lose Welsh election Further listening: Get ready for a pub brawl, it's local election time Photo: Getty Images. This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe  here . Hosted on Acast. See…

People in this episode

Host: Manveen Rana

Guests: Professor Matthew Wall, Grant Berni

Topics covered

• Labour Party
• Welsh elections
• political analysis
• voter sentiment
• party support

Keywords

• Labour
• Wales
• elections
• politics
• Swansea
• voter sentiment
• Professor Matthew Wall
• Grant Berni

Sponsors

The Times, The Sunday Times

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Labour, Osprey’s supporters club

Places: Wales, South Wales

More episodes of The Story

• Ghost Mountain: part two - Strong medicine · June 13, 2026 · 37 min
• Ghost Mountain: part one - Beware, crocodiles · June 12, 2026 · 35 min
• LATEST: Defence secretary resigns · June 11, 2026 · 19 min
• Belfast on fire · June 11, 2026 · 32 min
• The ticking time bomb Netanyahu faces at home · June 10, 2026 · 27 min
• West Ham owner accused of sexually exploitative and predatory behaviour · June 9, 2026 · 39 min