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.
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.
Turns out the head of comms for Reform called me a c**t.
It's not often I agree with them but fair play they were bang on money with this one.
Full story: nation.cymru/news/reform-...
It's not often I agree with them but fair play they were bang on money with this one.
Full story: nation.cymru/news/reform-...
November 27, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Turns out the head of comms for Reform called me a c**t.
It's not often I agree with them but fair play they were bang on money with this one.
Full story: nation.cymru/news/reform-...
It's not often I agree with them but fair play they were bang on money with this one.
Full story: nation.cymru/news/reform-...
Can you imagine how Reform UK would react if a Welsh leader of any other party had been sentenced for 10 years for taking bribes?
Nathan Gill once said he "would never apologise for being patriotic".
Tbf he never said to which country...
Nathan Gill once said he "would never apologise for being patriotic".
Tbf he never said to which country...
November 21, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Can you imagine how Reform UK would react if a Welsh leader of any other party had been sentenced for 10 years for taking bribes?
Nathan Gill once said he "would never apologise for being patriotic".
Tbf he never said to which country...
Nathan Gill once said he "would never apologise for being patriotic".
Tbf he never said to which country...
Nathan Gill's social media bio...
They claim to love the country they would sell down the river for a stuffed brown envelope.
He was the head of Reform in Wales.
How do you think Reform would react if any other party leader had been found to have committed such crimes?
They claim to love the country they would sell down the river for a stuffed brown envelope.
He was the head of Reform in Wales.
How do you think Reform would react if any other party leader had been found to have committed such crimes?
November 21, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Nathan Gill's social media bio...
They claim to love the country they would sell down the river for a stuffed brown envelope.
He was the head of Reform in Wales.
How do you think Reform would react if any other party leader had been found to have committed such crimes?
They claim to love the country they would sell down the river for a stuffed brown envelope.
He was the head of Reform in Wales.
How do you think Reform would react if any other party leader had been found to have committed such crimes?
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.
1/2
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.
1/2
November 8, 2025 at 10:42 PM
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.
1/2
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.
1/2
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...
Full analysis in my newsletter:
willhaywardwales.substack.com/p/wales-watc...
October 29, 2025 at 3:09 PM
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...
Full analysis in my newsletter:
willhaywardwales.substack.com/p/wales-watc...
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...)
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
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...)
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...)
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.
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
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.
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.
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”.
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
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”.
Stop talking about messaging or attack lines on other parties and make “One party at either side of the M4 mean something”.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
The Labour vote has totally collapsed.
It seems that in Caerphilly more people feared those who oppose immigration than the immigrants themselves.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Welsh Labour have just posted this on their official social media.
October 23, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Welsh Labour have just posted this on their official social media.
A reminder.
Only 6.9% of people in Wales were born overseas.
Just 2.9% of people in Caerphilly were born overseas.
Whereas 38% of medical consultants in Wales were born overseas.
Immigrants are not holding our NHS back, they are propping it up.
Only 6.9% of people in Wales were born overseas.
Just 2.9% of people in Caerphilly were born overseas.
Whereas 38% of medical consultants in Wales were born overseas.
Immigrants are not holding our NHS back, they are propping it up.
October 22, 2025 at 5:18 PM
A reminder.
Only 6.9% of people in Wales were born overseas.
Just 2.9% of people in Caerphilly were born overseas.
Whereas 38% of medical consultants in Wales were born overseas.
Immigrants are not holding our NHS back, they are propping it up.
Only 6.9% of people in Wales were born overseas.
Just 2.9% of people in Caerphilly were born overseas.
Whereas 38% of medical consultants in Wales were born overseas.
Immigrants are not holding our NHS back, they are propping it up.
Did a bit of TV this morning on BBC Wales looking at how the UK Goverment is actively making decisions that hurt Wales.
TV is well out of my comfort zone. Massive respect to the reporters who do this day in day out.
TV is well out of my comfort zone. Massive respect to the reporters who do this day in day out.
October 19, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Did a bit of TV this morning on BBC Wales looking at how the UK Goverment is actively making decisions that hurt Wales.
TV is well out of my comfort zone. Massive respect to the reporters who do this day in day out.
TV is well out of my comfort zone. Massive respect to the reporters who do this day in day out.
Welsh Labour have genuinely posted this video of their Caerphilly candidate Richard Tunnicliffe on social media.
Turn the sound on. 🔊🔊
It had the caption: "Vote for this total diva on Thursday October 23rd."
I have no idea what to say.
Turn the sound on. 🔊🔊
It had the caption: "Vote for this total diva on Thursday October 23rd."
I have no idea what to say.
October 18, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Welsh Labour have genuinely posted this video of their Caerphilly candidate Richard Tunnicliffe on social media.
Turn the sound on. 🔊🔊
It had the caption: "Vote for this total diva on Thursday October 23rd."
I have no idea what to say.
Turn the sound on. 🔊🔊
It had the caption: "Vote for this total diva on Thursday October 23rd."
I have no idea what to say.
Reform have suggested abolishing the Welsh Parliament.
My newsletter was in Caerphilly ahead of a major by-election asking people what they thought about having their parliament taken away...
Wales has voted to have it's own Senedd twice.
Sign up to my newsletter for more Welsh specific content
My newsletter was in Caerphilly ahead of a major by-election asking people what they thought about having their parliament taken away...
Wales has voted to have it's own Senedd twice.
Sign up to my newsletter for more Welsh specific content
October 17, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Reform have suggested abolishing the Welsh Parliament.
My newsletter was in Caerphilly ahead of a major by-election asking people what they thought about having their parliament taken away...
Wales has voted to have it's own Senedd twice.
Sign up to my newsletter for more Welsh specific content
My newsletter was in Caerphilly ahead of a major by-election asking people what they thought about having their parliament taken away...
Wales has voted to have it's own Senedd twice.
Sign up to my newsletter for more Welsh specific content
Massive Caerphilly by-election poll!
Survation/Camlas poll makes it a two horse race:
Reform 41.61%
PC 38.29%
Lab 12.37%
Con 3.65%
LD 1.35%
Green 2.72%
Labour previously had an 18 point majority here and 46% of the vote.
The Tory vote has collapsed. 70% of their voters now going to Reform.
Survation/Camlas poll makes it a two horse race:
Reform 41.61%
PC 38.29%
Lab 12.37%
Con 3.65%
LD 1.35%
Green 2.72%
Labour previously had an 18 point majority here and 46% of the vote.
The Tory vote has collapsed. 70% of their voters now going to Reform.
October 16, 2025 at 8:29 AM
Massive Caerphilly by-election poll!
Survation/Camlas poll makes it a two horse race:
Reform 41.61%
PC 38.29%
Lab 12.37%
Con 3.65%
LD 1.35%
Green 2.72%
Labour previously had an 18 point majority here and 46% of the vote.
The Tory vote has collapsed. 70% of their voters now going to Reform.
Survation/Camlas poll makes it a two horse race:
Reform 41.61%
PC 38.29%
Lab 12.37%
Con 3.65%
LD 1.35%
Green 2.72%
Labour previously had an 18 point majority here and 46% of the vote.
The Tory vote has collapsed. 70% of their voters now going to Reform.
Richard Tunnicliffe is the Labour candidate in the Caerphilly.
So a Labour candidate, wants you to vote Labour, to get him elected to a Labour run Senedd, to tell a Labour run council to spend UK Labour provided money to not close libraries that a Labour council are trying to close. Simple.
So a Labour candidate, wants you to vote Labour, to get him elected to a Labour run Senedd, to tell a Labour run council to spend UK Labour provided money to not close libraries that a Labour council are trying to close. Simple.
October 14, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Richard Tunnicliffe is the Labour candidate in the Caerphilly.
So a Labour candidate, wants you to vote Labour, to get him elected to a Labour run Senedd, to tell a Labour run council to spend UK Labour provided money to not close libraries that a Labour council are trying to close. Simple.
So a Labour candidate, wants you to vote Labour, to get him elected to a Labour run Senedd, to tell a Labour run council to spend UK Labour provided money to not close libraries that a Labour council are trying to close. Simple.
Rhun ap Iorwerth tells the Plaid Cymru conference:
"Let’s be clear. We’re not here to act as Labour’s conscience. We are not here to repair Labour. We are here to replace them."
Full analysis in my newsletter this weekend.
"Let’s be clear. We’re not here to act as Labour’s conscience. We are not here to repair Labour. We are here to replace them."
Full analysis in my newsletter this weekend.
October 10, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Rhun ap Iorwerth tells the Plaid Cymru conference:
"Let’s be clear. We’re not here to act as Labour’s conscience. We are not here to repair Labour. We are here to replace them."
Full analysis in my newsletter this weekend.
"Let’s be clear. We’re not here to act as Labour’s conscience. We are not here to repair Labour. We are here to replace them."
Full analysis in my newsletter this weekend.
Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth has announced that if Plaid win the election next May the will introduce a universal new childcare offer for children from the age of 9 months to 4 years.
This will be 20 hours a week for all children aged 9-months to 4-years-old for 48 weeks a year.
This will be 20 hours a week for all children aged 9-months to 4-years-old for 48 weeks a year.
October 10, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth has announced that if Plaid win the election next May the will introduce a universal new childcare offer for children from the age of 9 months to 4 years.
This will be 20 hours a week for all children aged 9-months to 4-years-old for 48 weeks a year.
This will be 20 hours a week for all children aged 9-months to 4-years-old for 48 weeks a year.
This is on display in Caerphilly as part of the by-election.
Worth bearing in mind that the council proposing the closure of the libraries in controlled by Labour...
Worth bearing in mind that the council proposing the closure of the libraries in controlled by Labour...
October 9, 2025 at 3:57 PM
This is on display in Caerphilly as part of the by-election.
Worth bearing in mind that the council proposing the closure of the libraries in controlled by Labour...
Worth bearing in mind that the council proposing the closure of the libraries in controlled by Labour...
There were over 100,000 views on my newsletter last month.
Thank you so much to everyone who supports my journalism. I am so grateful.
Thank you so much to everyone who supports my journalism. I am so grateful.
October 8, 2025 at 2:48 PM
There were over 100,000 views on my newsletter last month.
Thank you so much to everyone who supports my journalism. I am so grateful.
Thank you so much to everyone who supports my journalism. I am so grateful.
This is Reform's only Senedd Member Laura Anne Jones.
She is very angry about the Wales' Nation of Sanctuary that mainly supports Ukrainian refugees.
However she didn't always feel this way. Here are two speeches she has given where she says opposite things.
She is very angry about the Wales' Nation of Sanctuary that mainly supports Ukrainian refugees.
However she didn't always feel this way. Here are two speeches she has given where she says opposite things.
October 7, 2025 at 2:34 PM
This is Reform's only Senedd Member Laura Anne Jones.
She is very angry about the Wales' Nation of Sanctuary that mainly supports Ukrainian refugees.
However she didn't always feel this way. Here are two speeches she has given where she says opposite things.
She is very angry about the Wales' Nation of Sanctuary that mainly supports Ukrainian refugees.
However she didn't always feel this way. Here are two speeches she has given where she says opposite things.