Chris Weaver Becomes Cardiff Council Leader Amid Labour’s 2026 Losses – Cardiff 2026

Key Points

• Cllr Chris Weaver has been unanimously elected as the new leader of Cardiff Council, replacing Huw Thomas who became Senedd Member for Caerdydd Penarth
• Weaver serves as Cabinet Member for Finance, Modernisation and Performance and has held this role for nine years
• Welsh Labour lost control of the Senedd for the first time since devolution in 1999, returning only nine seats out of 96
• Labour lost control of 38 councils in England during the May 2026 local elections
• In Cardiff’s two Senedd constituencies, Labour won only two out of 12 possible seats, a significant loss in a traditional stronghold
• Huw Thomas, former Cardiff Council leader since 2017, was one of the successful Labour candidates in the Senedd election
• The next Welsh local government elections are scheduled for May 6, 2027, giving Weaver less than a year to improve Labour’s fortunes
• Weaver described the election results as “really, really devastating to Welsh Labour”
• Plaid Cymru emerged as the largest party with 43 seats, while Reform UK came second with 34 seats
• First Minister Eluned Morgan lost her seat, becoming the first head of government in UK history to lose their seat while in post

Cardiff (Cardiff Daily) June 4, 2026 — Cardiff Council has appointed a new leader following the departure of former council chief Huw Thomas to the Senedd. Councillor Chris Weaver was formally elected as Leader of Cardiff Council at the authority’s Annual General Meeting on May 21, 2026.

As reported by Nation.Cymru staff, Weaver succeeded Huw Thomas, who stepped down as council leader and resigned as a councillor after being elected to the Senedd earlier this month. The former leader’s confirmation as a Senedd Member for Caerdydd Penarth triggered a vote for the next leader of the Labour group at Cardiff Council — and by extension, the next leader of the council — which was won by Cllr Weaver.

Following a unanimous decision by the Labour group within the council, Weaver is set to assume leadership. A spokesperson for the group remarked,

“We are delighted to announce that Chris Weaver has been chosen as our new leader and our candidate for the role of Leader of Cardiff Council”.

Why Is This Leadership Change Significant for Welsh Labour?

Chris Weaver, a seasoned member of Cardiff’s cabinet, is poised to take the helm of the council at a critical time. Cardiff’s new council leader has less than a year to turn Labour’s fortunes in the city around, as the 2027 local elections approach.

The party, which has historically dominated Welsh politics, lost control of the Senedd for the first time in its existence, only returning nine members. As reported by The Independent,

“Labour has lost control of the Senedd for the first time in a humiliating defeat for the party, with the first minister also losing her seat in Welsh parliament”.

Outside of Wales, Labour lost control of 38 councils in local government elections which took place in England at the same time. As reported by Hungarian Conservative, across the UK’s 2026 elections, “the incumbent left-wing Labour Party has suffered heavy losses in England’s local councils and a historic” defeat in Wales.

What Was Labour’s Performance in Cardiff’s Senedd Constituencies?

In the two Senedd constituencies that cover Cardiff, Labour only managed to return two out of 12 possible members — a massive loss in a traditional party stronghold. As reported by Wales Online,

“In Cardiff’s two Senedd constituencies, Labour’s performance was particularly poor, with only two out of a possible twelve members elected — a substantial decline in what has been a traditional stronghold for the party”.

One of those Labour candidates who won a seat in the Senedd was the former leader of Cardiff Council, Huw Thomas. Huw Thomas (born 1985) is a Welsh politician who has served as a Member of the Senedd (MS) for Caerdydd Penarth since May 2026. Thomas previously served as leader of Cardiff Council between 2017 and 2026, and as a councillor for Splott from 2012 to 2026.

How Did the 2026 Senedd Election Results Unfold Across Wales?

The Senedd has been expanded to 96 seats through the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act of 2024, up from 60 seats in the last cycle. The Labour Party held 30 seats out of those 60 — now, they appear to have been relegated to just nine out of 96.

As reported by The Independent,

“Labour has only retained nine seats in the Senedd, with Plaid Cymru leading with 43 seats while Reform UK trails them in second place with 34 seats”.

The Welsh Conservatives hold seven seats, Greens two and one Liberal Democrat.

No party has achieved the 49 seats needed to form a majority government, which means Plaid Cymru will have to form an alliance with another party. The Welsh local government elections are set for May 6, 2027, leaving Cllr Weaver with just under a year to advocate for Labour’s continued leadership in Cardiff.

What Statement Did Chris Weaver Make About the Election Results?

Acknowledging the party’s recent electoral performance, Cllr Weaver remarked,

“The results were really, really devastating to Welsh Labour, there’s lot of in the how we that point why we that point”.

However, with the next round of elections fast approaching, there is little time for introspection.

Cllr Chris Weaver, representing Welsh Labour, has shared his initial strategies to regain voter support following significant setbacks in the May 2026 elections across Wales and the UK.

Who Is Chris Weaver and What Experience Does He Bring?

Chris Weaver is a long time member of the city’s cabinet and replaces newly-elected Senedd Member Huw Thomas. Chris brings extensive experience, having been the Cabinet Member for Finance for the last nine years.

Chris Weaver has represented the Cathays Ward of the council since 2012 as a member of the Labour Party. He was previously the cabinet member for finance, modernisation and performance.

Cllr Weaver previously served as Cabinet Member for Finance, Modernisation and Performance and takes over leadership of Wales’ largest local authority at a time of continuing financial pressure on public services.

As reported by Nation.Cymru,

“Chris brings a wealth of experience, having served as Cabinet Member for Finance for the past nine years”.

What Happened to First Minister Eluned Morgan?

First Minister Eluned Morgan has lost her seat in the 2026 Senedd Election, making her the first head of government in UK history to lose her seat whilst in post. Following her defeat, Ms Morgan announced she is standing down as the leader of Welsh Labour.

She said:

“Welsh Labour has today suffered a catastrophic result”.

Her defeat is a major blow for Labour in Wales, whilst the party has also lost its majority in the Senedd for the first time since devolution — finishing third overall.

What Does the Election Result Mean for Welsh Politics?

Labour’s decline in the Senedd was particularly alarming, marking the party’s first loss of power since the Welsh parliament was established in 1999. The share of votes for Labour plummeted by over 50%, relegating it to third place, as Plaid Cymru ascended to become the largest party, with Reform claiming the second position.

As reported by The Guardian,

“By 7:30 am on Saturday, there were 40 councils in England where Labour recorded a historic decline in seat share, in some instances reaching its lowest representation since the 1970s”.

In the last cycle, the Senedd had 60 seats, which has since been expanded to 96 through the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act of 2024.

Meanwhile, Labour has lost 1,446 seats across local elections. The environmentalist–progressive Greens, meanwhile, have made gains, picking up 269 seats, bringing them up to 384.

Background on the Development

The leadership change at Cardiff Council comes in the aftermath of the May 2026 elections, which marked a historic turning point for Welsh Labour. Huw Thomas had served as leader of Cardiff Council since 2017, making him one of the longest-serving council leaders in Wales.

His election to the Senedd for Caerdydd Penarth on May 8, 2026, created a vacancy that required the Labour group to select a new leader.

The 2026 Senedd election saw the Senedd expanded from 60 to 96 seats under the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act 2024, fundamentally changing the electoral landscape. Despite the expansion, Labour’s performance was its worst since devolution, dropping from 30 seats out of 60 to just 9 out of 96.

Cardiff Council is Wales’ largest local authority and has been under Labour control for decades. The council faces continuing financial pressure on public services, with previous reports indicating a £38m shortfall that required budget cuts. Weaver’s nine-year tenure as Cabinet Member for Finance placed him at the centre of these financial challenges.

What Impact Will This Development Have on Cardiff Residents and Labour Supporters?

The election of Chris Weaver as Cardiff Council leader with less than a year until the May 6, 2027 local elections creates significant pressure on Labour to rebuild voter confidence in the city. For Cardiff residents, this means witnessing a leadership transition during a period of political uncertainty for their historically dominant party.

For Labour supporters in Cardiff, the development presents both challenges and opportunities. The party’s poor performance in the Senedd election — winning only two out of 12 possible seats in Cardiff’s constituencies — suggests deep dissatisfaction among voters that Weaver must address. As reported by Wales Online, “Cardiff’s new council leader has less than a year to turn Labour’s fortunes in the city around”.

Cardiff residents will likely see Weaver’s strategies to regain voter support unfold over the coming months. As the Cabinet Member for Finance for nine years, Weaver has experience managing the council’s £38m shortfall and implementing budget cuts. His ability to balance fiscal responsibility while maintaining public services will be scrutinised as the 2027 elections approach.

For Welsh Labour as a whole, Weaver’s success or failure in Cardiff could serve as a barometer for the party’s recovery prospects. Cardiff has been a traditional Labour stronghold, and losing ground there signals broader challenges for the party across Wales. The fact that First Minister Eluned Morgan lost her seat while in post — a first in UK history — underscores the severity of Labour’s setbacks.

The upcoming local elections will determine whether Labour can maintain its control of Cardiff Council despite the party’s poor performance at the Senedd level. With Plaid Cymru now the largest party in the Senedd and Reform UK gaining significant ground, the political landscape in Wales has fundamentally shifted.