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<\/p>\nThe Senedd election is just weeks away, but how many people could name any of the people in the running to be First Minister?<\/p>\n
Joseph Gough<\/strong><\/p>\n 13:02, 14 Apr 2026Updated 13:03, 14 Apr 2026<\/p>\n Can you name Wales’ political leaders?<\/p>\n The Senedd election on May 7 look set to be historic. If the polls are right, Welsh Labour<\/a> could lose power after 27 years in charge \u2014 something that once felt almost unthinkable in Welsh politics.<\/p>\n Polling released in March for ITV<\/a> Wales, carried out by YouGov, shows just how much things have changed<\/a>. Plaid Cymru led with around 33% of the vote, with Reform UK on 27%, while Welsh Labour dropped to just 13%.<\/p>\n But while the numbers show a clear shift in support for parties, a recent Cardiff University<\/a> and YouGov survey found that only 1% of people in Wales could correctly identify who is responsible for key policy areas, between UK and Welsh governments.<\/p>\n And when it comes to leaders specifically, the gap is just as stark.<\/p>\n Polling by YouGov for the same survey of 1,544 people between February 12-19 this year showed just 62% recognised First Minister Eluned Morgan and 47% recognised Rhun ap Iorwerth.<\/p>\n Awareness of other leaders is markedly lower: Darren Millar (Welsh Conservatives) 21%, Jane Dodds (Welsh Liberal Democrats<\/a>) 18%, Anthony Slaughter (Wales Green Party) 4%.<\/p>\n Whereas Nigel Farage (Reform UK) is almost universally recognised (94%), Dan Thomas, Reform\u2019s new leader in Wales, is known by 10% although he had only been appointed just days earlier. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here<\/a><\/p>\n That low recognition seen in the Cardiff<\/a> University was reflected on the streets of Cardiff city centre.<\/p>\n We asked people on St Mary Street if they could name all six party leaders \u2014 and found none<\/strong> of those we asked could.<\/p>\n Some people did say things like “that Plaid guy”, \u201cisn\u2019t she the First Minister?\u201d, or \u201cthat Green bloke\u201d, yet no one could name all six leaders when showed photographs of them side by side.<\/p>\n The six people in the running to be First Minister<\/p>\n Eluned Morgan – Welsh Labour<\/strong><\/p>\n Current First Minister and leader of Welsh Labour, Eluned Morgan took over the role in 2024 after spells in the Welsh Government<\/a>. She is also a member of the House of Lords and former Member of the European Parliament.<\/p>\n Rhun ap Iorwerth – Plaid Cymru<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Leader of Plaid Cymru<\/a> since 2023, Rhun ap Iorwerth is the main challenger to Labour and could become Wales\u2019 first nationalist First Minister.<\/p>\n Darren Millar – Welsh Conservatives<\/strong><\/p>\n Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Darren Millar headed the Conservative group in the Senedd in the last parliament.<\/p>\n Dan Thomas – Reform UK<\/strong><\/p>\n Leader of Reform UK in Wales, Dan Thomas was unveiled as the party’s first Welsh leader by Nigel Farage in February.<\/p>\n Jane Dodds – Welsh Liberal Democrats<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n