Author: Rhys Gregory

Wales witnessed a truly historic political moment today as Rhun ap Iorwerth was officially sworn in as Wales’ new First Minister, becoming the first non-Labour leader to head the Welsh Government since devolution began in 1999. From emotional scenes inside the Senedd to celebrations among Plaid Cymru members and supporters, the day was filled with images that captured a major turning point in Welsh political history. Just days after Plaid Cymru secured a landmark victory in the 2026 Senedd election, politicians gathered at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay for the first sitting of the new parliament. The meeting culminated in…

Wales has become one of the fastest-growing aesthetic markets in the UK, but a Cardiff clinic established in 1988 says the rulebook has not kept pace. A booming industry in every Welsh town centre Wales is in the middle of a quiet aesthetics boom. Botox, fillers, polynucleotides, lasers and body sculpting are multiplying across Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, Wrexham and the Valleys, often alongside nail salons and barbers. What most Welsh consumers do not realise is how lightly regulated this industry remains. In 2026, anyone with a weekend course can still legally inject Botox or filler in Wales. Industry voices, regulators…

As NHS access falls to its lowest point in a generation, Welsh private practices are absorbing the cost of a decade of missed care. Wales is in the middle of a quiet dental health crisis. NHS dental access has reached its lowest point in a generation, with patients increasingly described as “dentally homeless”, people who no longer have a regular dentist. One of the clearest signs is the rising number of Welsh patients turning up at private practices needing dental implants. What was once a niche cosmetic option has become, for many, the only answer to years of missed care.…

Organisations from across Wales have begun responding to the appointment of Rhun ap Iorwerth as the country’s new First Minister, with calls for urgent action on skills, public services, housing and economic growth. The Plaid Cymru leader was formally elected by the Senedd on Tuesday, becoming the first non-Labour politician to hold the role since devolution began in 1999. Following the historic appointment, business groups, unions, education leaders and housing charities have all outlined their priorities for the new Welsh Government. ACCA Cymru/Wales congratulated Plaid Cymru on forming the new Welsh Government and called on ministers to focus on skills,…

An Illustration student at the University of South Wales has seen her work showcased on one of Cardiff’s busiest streets, celebrating the city’s culture, identity and future. Bethan Roberts’ design is a result of a collaboration between USW and FOR Cardiff, the capital’s business improvement district (BID) which aims to create a more vibrant, welcoming city centre for all. The public artwork has been installed on the walls of the former New Look store on Queen Street, creating a striking piece for shoppers, residents and office workers to enjoy. Students were tasked with creating large scale window graphics for the…

The project, being delivered through the Cardiff Living partnership between Cardiff Council and Wates Group, will provide 44 new low-carbon council apartments alongside a fully integrated transport hub. Located on the former recycling centre site near Waun-Gron Park railway station, the development will include a mix of one and two-bedroom homes available for social rent, as well as office and commercial space. The scheme has been designed to improve transport connections across the city, with a new access road linking the train station to a purpose-built bus interchange. The hub is expected to support up to 40 bus movements per…

Wales has entered a new political era after Rhun ap Iorwerth was formally elected as the country’s new First Minister following a vote in the Senedd this afternoon. The Plaid Cymru leader secured 44 votes during a roll call of Members of the Senedd, ahead of Reform UK’s Dan Thomas on 34 votes, while Conservative leader Darren Millar received seven votes. There were also nine abstentions. The result marks a historic moment for Welsh politics, with Rhun ap Iorwerth becoming the first non-Labour politician to hold the role of First Minister since devolution began in 1999. The nomination process saw…

Cardiff’s rental market continues to show resilience, with new figures revealing steady rent growth across the city despite wider economic pressures and signs of a more measured market emerging. The latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows average private rents in Cardiff increased by 4.8% over the past year, with strong demand for quality rental homes continuing across many parts of the city. However, estate agents are also reporting early signs of the market becoming less intense compared with the peak activity seen during 2022. Thomas H Wood, the independent Cardiff estate agent with offices in Whitchurch…

Motorists across Cardiff and surrounding areas faced a slow and frustrating start to the day on Tuesday morning (12 May), with congestion building on several key commuter routes into the city. Traffic delays were reported on the southbound section of the A470 between Nantgarw and Coryton, one of the main routes used by commuters travelling into Cardiff during the morning rush hour. Congestion was also affecting the northbound off-slip at Nantgarw on the A470, while queues built on the eastbound off-slip at Junction 33 of the M4 near Capel Llanilltern. Further delays were reported on the northbound A4232 between St…

Wales is on course to appoint its first non-Labour First Minister since devolution began, after Plaid Cymru emerged as the largest party in the historic 2026 Senedd election. The election, held on 7 May under Wales’ new fully proportional D’Hondt voting system, delivered the biggest political shift since the Senedd was established in 1999. For the first time ever, turnout passed the 50% mark in a Senedd election, reaching 51.65%, as voters headed to the polls across 16 new six-member super constituencies to elect 96 Members of the Senedd. No party secured the 49 seats needed for an outright majority,…