David Deans
@deansofcardiff.bsky.social
BBC Wales online political reporter, based in Cardiff. Email: david.deans@bbc.co.uk
Didn't you just switch it off
Microsoft's new Copilot AI character - Mico - is being reported as an evolution of the infamous Clippy
Despite Clippy's reputation for being maligned, Brits who encountered the digital paperclip tend to remember it fondly
Favourable: 38%
Unfavourable: 16%
Neither: 25%
yougov.co.uk/topics/polit...
Despite Clippy's reputation for being maligned, Brits who encountered the digital paperclip tend to remember it fondly
Favourable: 38%
Unfavourable: 16%
Neither: 25%
yougov.co.uk/topics/polit...
October 24, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Didn't you just switch it off
Lindsay Whittle MS, being sworn in by the Clerk of the Senedd and chief executive, Manon Antoniazzi (📸: Senedd Cymru)
October 24, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Lindsay Whittle MS, being sworn in by the Clerk of the Senedd and chief executive, Manon Antoniazzi (📸: Senedd Cymru)
Plaid's Caerphilly by-election campaign always felt a question of whether it could pull off the victory you could see available in the numbers. PC had a block of about 8,000 voters, and local knowledge from its council base - could they get Labour voters to switch over?
October 24, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Plaid's Caerphilly by-election campaign always felt a question of whether it could pull off the victory you could see available in the numbers. PC had a block of about 8,000 voters, and local knowledge from its council base - could they get Labour voters to switch over?
Bernard Gentry is out as Welsh Tory chair after a year. Asked if he was forced out by senior party figures, he told me: "Some people might say that. You won't hear me saying that."
October 15, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Bernard Gentry is out as Welsh Tory chair after a year. Asked if he was forced out by senior party figures, he told me: "Some people might say that. You won't hear me saying that."
The Welsh government started talking about the budget on Monday in apocalyptic terms, raising the spectre of mass redundancies because of statutory cuts if it cannot get a deal.
It has ended Tuesday with both big Senedd opposition parties ready to talk
It has ended Tuesday with both big Senedd opposition parties ready to talk
October 14, 2025 at 8:13 PM
The Welsh government started talking about the budget on Monday in apocalyptic terms, raising the spectre of mass redundancies because of statutory cuts if it cannot get a deal.
It has ended Tuesday with both big Senedd opposition parties ready to talk
It has ended Tuesday with both big Senedd opposition parties ready to talk
Nathan Gill was at the forefront of the Brexit push in Wales in the mid 2010s. He's now admitted that he spent part of the tail end of his career taking bribes from a pro Russian politician in Ukraine to say things for him in the European parliament, and elsewhere
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reform UK's ex-Wales leader Nathan Gill admits pro-Russia bribery
Nathan Gill admits eight charges of bribery while being a Member of the European Parliament.
www.bbc.com
September 26, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Nathan Gill was at the forefront of the Brexit push in Wales in the mid 2010s. He's now admitted that he spent part of the tail end of his career taking bribes from a pro Russian politician in Ukraine to say things for him in the European parliament, and elsewhere
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
There's a major Welsh by-election happening in Caerphilly next month. The prime minister is unsure if he will campaign in it
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Keir Starmer unsure if he'll campaign in Caerphilly by-election
Labour is facing a fight to retain the seat in a Senedd by-election next month.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 25, 2025 at 6:17 PM
There's a major Welsh by-election happening in Caerphilly next month. The prime minister is unsure if he will campaign in it
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The campaign has begun
Labour's Eluned Morgan says her party would find it 'tricky' to pass a budget if it lost the Caerphilly election, warning of cuts as a result
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Labour's Eluned Morgan says her party would find it 'tricky' to pass a budget if it lost the Caerphilly election, warning of cuts as a result
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Labour warns of cuts if it loses Caerphilly Senedd by-election
The first minister says her party will find it harder to pass a budget if she loses the by-election.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 8, 2025 at 3:20 PM
The campaign has begun
Labour's Eluned Morgan says her party would find it 'tricky' to pass a budget if it lost the Caerphilly election, warning of cuts as a result
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Labour's Eluned Morgan says her party would find it 'tricky' to pass a budget if it lost the Caerphilly election, warning of cuts as a result
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
A pallbearer for Hefin David's funeral was among those in Caerphilly constituency who received a mail out from Reform on the day of the service
September 4, 2025 at 7:26 AM
A pallbearer for Hefin David's funeral was among those in Caerphilly constituency who received a mail out from Reform on the day of the service
Senedd by-election on October 23 in Caerphilly, Senedd presiding officer announces
September 3, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Senedd by-election on October 23 in Caerphilly, Senedd presiding officer announces
A big part of the ambitious 2016 Senedd intake, Hefin David was keen to make an impact. The Caerphilly MS was an independent voice in the Labour group who banged the drum for the causes he most cared about, autism among them.
August 13, 2025 at 10:59 PM
A big part of the ambitious 2016 Senedd intake, Hefin David was keen to make an impact. The Caerphilly MS was an independent voice in the Labour group who banged the drum for the causes he most cared about, autism among them.
Reposted by David Deans
The speculation was:
UAE, Saudi, Qatar, Turkey, Switzerland, or the Vatican
The reality is:
USA
Wasn't expecting that.
Trump-Putin summit in Alaska next Friday.
UAE, Saudi, Qatar, Turkey, Switzerland, or the Vatican
The reality is:
USA
Wasn't expecting that.
Trump-Putin summit in Alaska next Friday.
August 9, 2025 at 6:40 AM
The speculation was:
UAE, Saudi, Qatar, Turkey, Switzerland, or the Vatican
The reality is:
USA
Wasn't expecting that.
Trump-Putin summit in Alaska next Friday.
UAE, Saudi, Qatar, Turkey, Switzerland, or the Vatican
The reality is:
USA
Wasn't expecting that.
Trump-Putin summit in Alaska next Friday.
A source gets in touch with the Pen-y-bont Bro Morgannwg Labour shortlist
Bearing in mind Sarah Murphy is the incumbent
Others:
Helen Mary Payne
Camilla Beaven
Huw John David OBE
Jonathan Simon Cox OBE
Neelo Farr
William Rhys Goode
Carys Stallard
Bearing in mind Sarah Murphy is the incumbent
Others:
Helen Mary Payne
Camilla Beaven
Huw John David OBE
Jonathan Simon Cox OBE
Neelo Farr
William Rhys Goode
Carys Stallard
August 8, 2025 at 1:41 PM
A source gets in touch with the Pen-y-bont Bro Morgannwg Labour shortlist
Bearing in mind Sarah Murphy is the incumbent
Others:
Helen Mary Payne
Camilla Beaven
Huw John David OBE
Jonathan Simon Cox OBE
Neelo Farr
William Rhys Goode
Carys Stallard
Bearing in mind Sarah Murphy is the incumbent
Others:
Helen Mary Payne
Camilla Beaven
Huw John David OBE
Jonathan Simon Cox OBE
Neelo Farr
William Rhys Goode
Carys Stallard
The Caerdydd Penarth Labour shortlist in no particular order
Helen Gunter
Huw Thomas
Laura Rochefort
Kanaya Singh
Ruba Sivagnanam
Mutale Merrill
Stephen Brooks
Peter Bradbury
Helen Gunter
Huw Thomas
Laura Rochefort
Kanaya Singh
Ruba Sivagnanam
Mutale Merrill
Stephen Brooks
Peter Bradbury
August 7, 2025 at 7:32 AM
The Caerdydd Penarth Labour shortlist in no particular order
Helen Gunter
Huw Thomas
Laura Rochefort
Kanaya Singh
Ruba Sivagnanam
Mutale Merrill
Stephen Brooks
Peter Bradbury
Helen Gunter
Huw Thomas
Laura Rochefort
Kanaya Singh
Ruba Sivagnanam
Mutale Merrill
Stephen Brooks
Peter Bradbury
Reposted by David Deans
My piece for BBC Wales Today on efforts to raise £40,000 to carry out more work and secure the future of Garth Pier in Bangor.
August 6, 2025 at 8:58 PM
My piece for BBC Wales Today on efforts to raise £40,000 to carry out more work and secure the future of Garth Pier in Bangor.
Before the row came into the open over the Labour Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf selection I heard of rumours that ministers were involved in a row over whether a candidate was ruled out of order
Sources have since told me that the first minister had stepped in on that candidate's behalf
Sources have since told me that the first minister had stepped in on that candidate's behalf
August 6, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Before the row came into the open over the Labour Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf selection I heard of rumours that ministers were involved in a row over whether a candidate was ruled out of order
Sources have since told me that the first minister had stepped in on that candidate's behalf
Sources have since told me that the first minister had stepped in on that candidate's behalf
Eluned Morgan has publicly backed Owain Williams, a Labour member at the centre of a selection row in Cardiff www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
FM 'big fan' of selection row Labour member Owain Williams
Eluned Morgan backs a high-profile Welsh Labour member who failed to win Senedd election selection.
www.bbc.co.uk
August 4, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Eluned Morgan has publicly backed Owain Williams, a Labour member at the centre of a selection row in Cardiff www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The FM has put her name to the statement on Gaza issued by a spox earlier
I strongly welcome today’s statements by the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary.
The situation and suffering in Gaza is intolerable. The international community must act now to find a lasting peace, which involves a two-state solution and recognition of the state of Palestine.
The situation and suffering in Gaza is intolerable. The international community must act now to find a lasting peace, which involves a two-state solution and recognition of the state of Palestine.
July 29, 2025 at 5:11 PM
The FM has put her name to the statement on Gaza issued by a spox earlier
Gaza, Plaid's line from Liz Saville Roberts: “Recognition of a Palestinian state should not be conditional on the actions of the Israeli government. The right to self-determination belongs to the Palestinian people, not to an occupying power.
July 29, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Gaza, Plaid's line from Liz Saville Roberts: “Recognition of a Palestinian state should not be conditional on the actions of the Israeli government. The right to self-determination belongs to the Palestinian people, not to an occupying power.
Gaza line from Welsh gov: “We strongly welcome today’s statements by the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary. The situation and suffering in Gaza is intolerable.
July 29, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Gaza line from Welsh gov: “We strongly welcome today’s statements by the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary. The situation and suffering in Gaza is intolerable.
We've been leading the Wales index today with the latest in the Gilestone saga
After ospreys were found there, the site bought by taxpayers for millions to help the Green Man business out lost £500,000 in value www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
After ospreys were found there, the site bought by taxpayers for millions to help the Green Man business out lost £500,000 in value www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Green Man festival project site Gilestone Farm loses £500,000 in value
A farm bought by Welsh government for a festival project which collapsed has lost £500,000 in value.
www.bbc.co.uk
July 28, 2025 at 3:59 PM
We've been leading the Wales index today with the latest in the Gilestone saga
After ospreys were found there, the site bought by taxpayers for millions to help the Green Man business out lost £500,000 in value www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
After ospreys were found there, the site bought by taxpayers for millions to help the Green Man business out lost £500,000 in value www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Former PCS chief Mark Serwotka was on Radio Wales Breakfast on Friday talking about the new party being set up with Corbyn
Asked Re: whether they would stand Senedd members, he essentially told the radio station it had not been decided, although he indicated he would like to
Asked Re: whether they would stand Senedd members, he essentially told the radio station it had not been decided, although he indicated he would like to
July 28, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Former PCS chief Mark Serwotka was on Radio Wales Breakfast on Friday talking about the new party being set up with Corbyn
Asked Re: whether they would stand Senedd members, he essentially told the radio station it had not been decided, although he indicated he would like to
Asked Re: whether they would stand Senedd members, he essentially told the radio station it had not been decided, although he indicated he would like to
A Senedd committee calls for the names of the relatives of MSs who work for other MSs to be anonymised
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Anonymise politicians' relatives working in Senedd, report says
Senedd members say measure needed for safety with family members receiving abusive messages online.
www.bbc.com
July 24, 2025 at 7:25 PM
A Senedd committee calls for the names of the relatives of MSs who work for other MSs to be anonymised
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by David Deans
BBC NEWS / AFP / BBC NEWS / REUTERS JOINT STATEMENT:
“We are desperately concerned for our journalists in Gaza, who are increasingly unable to feed themselves and their families.
"They are now facing the same dire circumstances as those they are covering. "
“We are desperately concerned for our journalists in Gaza, who are increasingly unable to feed themselves and their families.
"They are now facing the same dire circumstances as those they are covering. "
July 24, 2025 at 9:04 AM
BBC NEWS / AFP / BBC NEWS / REUTERS JOINT STATEMENT:
“We are desperately concerned for our journalists in Gaza, who are increasingly unable to feed themselves and their families.
"They are now facing the same dire circumstances as those they are covering. "
“We are desperately concerned for our journalists in Gaza, who are increasingly unable to feed themselves and their families.
"They are now facing the same dire circumstances as those they are covering. "
Eluned Morgan has essentially told office workers in Welsh gov they'll lose their offices if they don't go in
July 24, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Eluned Morgan has essentially told office workers in Welsh gov they'll lose their offices if they don't go in