Senedd Sources

Big political shifts are happening in Wales — and beyond. In this episode of Senedd Sources, we break down Reform UK’s major announcement, Labour’s mounting crisis at Westminster, and the behind-the-scenes battle that could shape the next Senedd.

Nigel Farage has unveiled Dan Thomas as the new Reform UK leader in Wales, alongside confirmation that former Conservative MS James Evans has joined Reform. With a Senedd manifesto coming soon, is Reform building real momentum ahead of the 2026 Welsh election?

Meanwhile, the UK Labour government is engulfed in controversy over Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US Ambassador and his past links to Jeffrey Epstein — triggering anger among Labour MPs and raising questions about Keir Starmer’s leadership. How will this crisis affect Welsh Labour and First Minister Eluned Morgan?

Plus:

Will Reform UK Wales break beyond ex-Tory support?

Is Labour writing off Wales electorally?

Why Eluned Morgan’s “go to the pub” message took off

Who could become the next Presiding Officer of the Senedd

What the new 96-member Senedd means for power, procedure and party balance

If you follow Welsh politics, Reform UK, Labour Party turmoil, or the Senedd election, this episode is essential listening.

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Is Keir Starmer a good Prime Minister? It should be an easy question for Labour politicians — but in Wales, it’s turning into a political headache.

In this episode of Senedd Sources, Ollie Cole, former Welsh Government adviser Jo Kiernan and political communications expert Craig Lawton unpack:

• Why Welsh Labour figures are struggling to publicly back Keir Starmer
• Growing tension between Welsh Labour and UK Labour over devolution, policing, and funding
• What this means ahead of the 2026 Senedd election
• The Welsh Liberal Democrats’ path to relevance — can they become kingmakers?
• How Lib Dem candidate Sam Bennett says they’ll win despite tough polling
• Voter frustration on the doorstep — care, childcare, and collapsing trust in politics
• The rise of the Greens and competition on the pro-independence side
• Conservative and Reform UK drama — defections, uncertainty, and party identity in Wales

This is insider analysis on how party divisions, leadership doubts, and shifting voter loyalties could reshape the Welsh Parliament (Senedd).

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🔴 Welcome to Senedd Sources, your inside look at Welsh politics. In this episode, Ollie Cole, Craig Lawton and Jo Kiernan to unpack the latest political drama:

• Welsh Conservatives’ James Evans kicked out amid talks with Reform UK
• The influence of Nigel Farage and the Reform UK narrative in Wales
• Eluned Morgan’s strategy and positioning ahead of the 2026 Senedd elections
• Voter engagement, manifesto scrutiny, and the disconnect between politicians and the public

We break down how party messaging, grassroots support, and polling trends are shaping Wales’ political landscape. From “Britain is broken” debates to the Labour Party’s electoral strategy, get the inside story you won’t find anywhere else.

💬 Send your questions or comments via WhatsApp: 0333 404 6507 (start your message with “Senedd”) or email: [email protected]. We may feature them in the next episode!

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In this episode of the Senedd Sources Podcast, we sit down with First Minister of Wales and Welsh Labour leader, Eluned Morgan for an extended, in-depth interview at a pivotal moment in Welsh politics.

The First Minister speaks candidly about:

• The latest Senedd election opinion poll and whether she could lose her own seat
• how Labour plans to win back Plaid voters
• why she refuses to chase Reform UK rhetoric
• differences between her leadership style and that of Mark Drakeford
• Her thoughts on British and Welsh identity

🎧 Subscribe for weekly analysis ahead of May's Senedd election,

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The Sources Podcast hosts come together for a special New Year 2026 UK politics preview, analysing what could be the most volatile year in British politics for a generation.

With local elections in England, Scottish Parliament elections, Senedd elections in Wales, and mounting pressure on the Northern Ireland Executive, this episode explores how the rise of Reform UK, growing voter fragmentation, and Labour’s governing challenges could reshape the UK’s political map.

🎙️ Featuring voices from:

Whitehall Sources

Holyrood Sources

Stormont Sources

Senedd Sources

🔍 In this episode:

Is Reform UK becoming a permanent force in British politics?

Can Keir Starmer’s Labour government survive a brutal May election?

Why the Greens and Gaza independents are threatening Labour in cities

Will SNP dominance in Scotland finally crack — and if so, who replaces them?

Could Plaid Cymru lead Wales for the first time?

How stable is Stormont, and could it collapse again before 2027?

What a fragmented UK means for the future of the Union

This is essential listening for anyone trying to understand UK elections 2026, Nigel Farage’s influence, Labour’s political future, and the growing instability across Britain’s devolved governments.

📌 Subscribe for weekly insider analysis from Westminster, Holyrood, Stormont and the Senedd.

*****

Welcome inside Welsh politics. Senedd Sources hears from those who have lived it in decision-forming and policy-making for Wales to assess politics, today, in Wales and for Wales. Join journalist Ollie Cole, former Welsh Labour adviser Jo Kiernan and former Welsh Conservative candidate and adviser Craig Lawton as they share their experiences, and shape conversation about Welsh politics today.

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On today's episode, Lee Waters MS joins Senedd Sources for a candid, wide-ranging conversation on Welsh devolution, Labour Party tensions, political authenticity, and the personal toll of public life.

In this episode, Ollie, Craig and Jo ask Lee about:

• His time as a government minister under Mark Drakeford
• Why authenticity in politics can be both powerful and dangerous
• His controversial letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer
• Growing tensions between Welsh Labour and UK Labour
• The future of devolution, and Labour’s electoral challenges

Happy New Year from the podcast team, Subscribe this election year to Senedd Sources to not miss a thing!

🎧 Subscribe for weekly analysis, inside knowledge and exclusive Senedd scoops.

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📧 Email: [email protected].

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In this Senedd Sources Christmas special, Ollie Cole, Jo Kiernan and Craig Lawton look back on a remarkable year in Welsh politics — from the rise of Reform UK and the Caerphilly by-election shock, to the fallout from the Nathan Gill scandal, and the countdown to the 2026 Senedd election.

We’re also joined by Simon Hart, former Welsh Secretary, Chief Whip, and now Lord Hart of Tenby, to discuss his explosive political diary Ungovernable: The Political Diaries of a Chief Whip— an inside account of government during the Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak years.

• Why Reform UK surged in Wales
• What Caerphilly revealed about voter behaviour
• The new Senedd constituency boundaries
• The Nathan Gill case
• Simon Hart on Covid, devolution, whips, and party chaos

🎄 A perfect Christmas listen for anyone interested in Welsh politics.

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Welsh politics has been shaken by stunning new polling from YouGov and the Wales Governance Centre — and the implications are seismic.

In this episode of Senedd Sources, Ollie Cole, Jo Kiernan (former adviser to First Ministers Rhodri Morgan and Carwyn Jones) and Craig Lawton (political adviser and Welsh Conservative candidate) unpack a poll that puts Plaid Cymru on 33%, Reform UK on 30%, and Welsh Labour collapsing to just 10%.

📊 Using seat projections, the panel explores:

What a historic Labour collapse would mean after 100 years of dominance

Whether Plaid Cymru has replaced Labour as the party “standing up for Wales”

Why Reform UK is surging, and where its votes are really coming from

The battle for anti-Reform voters between Plaid and the Greens

Who could realistically form the next Welsh Government — and how

Eluned Morgan’s leadership challenge and Labour’s messaging problem

Why age, turnout, and tactical voting could decide the election

With coalition maths, minority government scenarios, and sharp political insight, this episode explains why the 2026 Senedd election could transform Welsh politics forever.

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Email: [email protected]

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In this episode of Senedd Sources, Ollie Cole, Jo Kiernan and Craig Lawton break down a dramatic week in Welsh politics — including the rapid-fire budget deal between Labour and Plaid Cymru and what this all means ahead of the 2025 Senedd election.

We’re also joined by special guest Tom Giffard MS, Welsh Conservative Member of the Senedd for South Wales West. Tom gives us his take on:

• The Plaid–Labour budget agreement
• Whether the Conservatives can hold seats in May
• How big a threat Reform UK really is
• What message Welsh Tories need to win back voters
• What the new electoral system might mean for incumbents
• The realities of campaigning under the new 6-member constituencies

🎧 Subscribe for weekly analysis, inside knowledge and exclusive Senedd scoops.

📲 WhatsApp us your thoughts or voice notes: 0333 404 6507 (start with Senedd).

📧 Email: [email protected].

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Wales just hosted its biggest investment event in decades — but will the £16bn announcements move the polls before May’s Senedd elections?

In this week’s Senedd Sources, Ollie, Jo and Craig break down a huge week in Welsh politics:

🏢 Wales’ Global Investment Summit

• Was the £16bn package real, new or repackaged?

• What role did UK Labour ministers, the Prince of Wales, and companies like Nvidia play?

• Will it help Welsh Labour before the Senedd elections?

⚠️ Welsh Labour Backbench Revolt

• 11 Labour MSs accuse Westminster of “rolling back devolution”

• Why they say a Labour UK Government is “bypassing” Wales

• How this impacts the campaign — and whether UK Labour is listening

🔄 Reform UK’s Welsh Leadership Mystery

• Why former Welsh Secretary David Jones WON’T be leading Reform

• What his decision means — and who might step in

⚖️ Assisted Dying Bill & Wales

With guest Fran Hall from Dignity in Dying, we explore:

• What the Assisted Dying Bill means for Wales

• Why the Senedd must vote on a Legislative Consent Motion

• Will Welsh patients have equal access — or have to travel?

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