Caerphilly by-election candidates confirmed

Voters in Caerphilly will head to the polls on 23 October

The candidates contesting the Caerphilly by-election have been confirmed.

The ballot on 23 October is being held following the death of the Labour Senedd Member, Hefin David.

Welsh Labour has selected local children's publisher Richard Tunnicliffe to defend the seat but Plaid Cymru's Lindsay Whittle and Reform's Llŷr Powell believe they are the main contenders.

There are eight candidates in total, with Gareth Potter for the Conservatives, Steve Aicheler for the Liberal Democrats, Gareth Hughes for the Green Party, Anthony Cook for Gwlad and Roger Quilliam for UKIP.

Full list of candidates:

• Conservatives - Gareth Potter

• Green Party - Gareth Hughes

• Gwlad - Anthony Cook

• Labour - Richard Tunnicliffe

• Plaid Cymru - Lindsay Whittle

• Reform UK - Llŷr Powell

• UKIP - Roger Quilliam

• Welsh Liberal Democrats - Steve Aicheler

The by-election was called after the death of Hefin David who represented the constituency since 2016

It will be the first Senedd by-election since 2018 and the new MS will only be in place for about seven months, with the 2026 Senedd election scheduled for May.

The Caerphilly seat has been held by Labour since the then National Assembly was created in 1999.

Previous members include former Welsh Secretary Ron Davies and Jeff Cuthbert, who stood down in 2016 to serve as the Gwent Police and Crime Commissioner.

BBC Wales is holding a live debate for the candidates of the Caerphilly by-election on 15 October. Click below to apply to be in the audience.