Will Hayward - Wales Journo
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Will Hayward - Wales Journo
@willhaycardiff.bsky.social
Multi-award winning journalist and author based in Cardiff.

I conduct investigative journalism and help people better understand Wales/Cymru.

You sign up to my newsletter here: willhaywardwales.substack.com

Columnist at The Guardian.
The Green Party leader Zack Polanski has just announced two defections from Labour to the Welsh Greens.

Sean Morgan, former Labour leader of Caerphilly Council has joined the Greens.

Former Labour group leader on Carmarthenshire County Council Robert James has also defected.
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November 8, 2025 at 10:42 PM
The latest podcast is out.

We fact check a Reform councillor and look at ways we could improve Wales.

youtu.be/CGvs-7dMsCQ?...
How we can make Wales better? | For Wales See Wales
YouTube video by For Wales See Wales
youtu.be
November 6, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Latest pod is out.

We talk about:
- The vandalism on Reform's Caerphilly office
- The Tories forgetting who their leader in Wales is
- Are we too harsh on politicians?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5YR...
Reform’s Caerphilly office is graffitied | For Wales See Wales
YouTube video by For Wales See Wales
www.youtube.com
October 30, 2025 at 8:57 AM
If you want evidence that Reform thought they were going to win in Caerphilly then look no further than the fact the had arranged a "countdown to victory" event in the area for the day after the result.

Full analysis in my newsletter:
willhaywardwales.substack.com/p/wales-watc...
October 29, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Senior Tory can't name his party's leader in Wales during embarrassing GB News interview...

This Conservative politician was asked 6 times who the Welsh leader of his party is and he couldn't remember.

(It's Darren Millar and he has been in the role for almost a year...)
October 26, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Reposted by Will Hayward - Wales Journo
Great episode of For Wales, See Wales on the Caerphilly by-election - well worth a listen! Feat. the excellent @willhaycardiff.bsky.social www.buzzsprout.com/2410605/epis...
Shock Caerphilly By-Election Result - For Wales, See Wales
Ring the alarm - an emergency pod has dropped!Will, Robin and Mel react to the shock Caerphilly by-election result which saw Plaid Cymru take the Senedd seat from Labour for the first time in Senedd h...
www.buzzsprout.com
October 25, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Reposted by Will Hayward - Wales Journo
I'd recommend everyone to read Will Hayward's excellent analysis - he knows Welsh politics.

substack.com/home/post/p-... @willhaycardiff.bsky.social
Plaid smash Reform to win in Caerphilly
These are the key takeaways from a massive night in Welsh politics
substack.com
October 26, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Some graffiti has appeared on the Reform UK office in Caerphilly.

Following a by election last week which Reform lost someone has written “now you can fuck off home”.
Reform had made immigration a key issue in by election.

These pictures are the copyright of Matthew Horwood.
October 25, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Reposted by Will Hayward - Wales Journo
it's awful to read here about the harrassment of a journalist - especially one who's put a lot of work into balanced coverage of politics in Wales
October 25, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Reposted by Will Hayward - Wales Journo
Farage calling Llyr Powell “Welsh Dave” is sending me. Not even bothering to learn the name of your premier candidate shows how little you actually care about the place you're hoping to run.
October 25, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Labour are never going to be better placed than they are right now to make meaningful changes to people’s live.

Stop talking about messaging or attack lines on other parties and make “One party at either side of the M4 mean something”.
October 25, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Reposted by Will Hayward - Wales Journo
"Politics in Wales is getting very nasty and there are people who are desperate to shut down opposition and legitimate scrutiny of their views. We can not let them win."

#R4Today
October 25, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Special Caerphilly by-election podcast is out.

I need to go to bed now.

youtu.be/RrEwC62ujFY?...
Shock Caerphilly By-Election Result | For Wales See Wales
YouTube video by For Wales See Wales
youtu.be
October 24, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Reposted by Will Hayward - Wales Journo
Well worth a read about what happened in Caerphilly. Also worth noting the risks that the author ran by simply reporting on Reform.
October 24, 2025 at 6:02 AM
Reposted by Will Hayward - Wales Journo
I have 2 x 30 day gift subscriptions to Will’s newsletter still up for grabs for mutuals. Pop me a DM if you want one
October 24, 2025 at 6:12 AM
My latest newsletter with all the analysis from a historic Caerphilly byelection

willhaywardwales.substack.com/p/plaid-smas...
Plaid smash Reform to win in Caerphilly
These are the key takeaways from a massive night in Welsh politics
willhaywardwales.substack.com
October 24, 2025 at 4:29 AM
Wales generally has a left of centre political identity.

This is how Caerphilly voted.

Reform may win a lot of seats in Wales, but it will be so hard for them to ever form a Government as most ppl don't agree with them.

This is why proportional systems are so much better.
October 24, 2025 at 4:26 AM
Plaid have won a massive victory in the Caerphilly by-election beating Reform comfortably.

The Labour vote has totally collapsed.

It seems that in Caerphilly more people feared those who oppose immigration than the immigrants themselves.
October 24, 2025 at 1:40 AM
Nigel Farage was everywhere in Caerphilly today.

He now appears to have vanished.
October 24, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Reform have thrown everything at this by-election in Caerphilly.

Nigel Farage has been up multiple times including today. You can see that Reform were expecting a big party this evening.

This is a huge blow to them if they have lost.
October 23, 2025 at 11:28 PM
At the Caerphilly by-election.

Plaid Cymru are looking extremely confident. They think they have got this.

Some very worried looking people from Reform.

Results in the next couple of hours.
October 23, 2025 at 11:12 PM
I am reporting from the Caerphilly by-election count tonight.

Going to be a late one.

Have spoken to some Plaid people who seem confident if could be close.

Reform are also sounding confident.

Please god don't be a recount...

Labour people are not sounding positive.
October 23, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Welsh Labour have just posted this on their official social media.
October 23, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Reposted by Will Hayward - Wales Journo
The national conversation around immigration is a total horror show at the moment, my cortisol spiking every second day.
Thankfully I listened to this episode last weekend and I learned True Stuff around immigration that I think more people should know.
(the pod is a lot of fun!)
This was one of my favourite podcasts for ages.

We talk Tory hypocrisy, Reform definitely not editing a picture, Labour forgetting they are in power and Plaid Cymru's conference.

It was so much fun. Give it a listen.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1mM...
Stop talking about Wales’ Nation of Sanctuary! | For Wales See Wales
YouTube video by For Wales See Wales
www.youtube.com
October 22, 2025 at 9:37 PM