LEADING nationalist Senedd member Luke Fletcher confirmed today he was standing for re-election in 2026 in the new combined constituency.

But Plaid Cymru’s economic spokesman is facing a selection battle after Vale of Glamorgan councillor Mark Hooper said he was seeking to head the party’s list for the new Bridgend and Vale of Glamorgan constituency.

The Senedd election in 2026 will be wholly by party lists and candidates will be elected depending on their list position.

Plaid’s rules state that if a male candidate tops the constituency list then the next candidate must be a woman to ensure equality.

That means if Mr Hooper is selected to top the list, it is unlikely Mr Fletcher will be elected as well as Plaid are unlikely to take the top three places in the new constituency.

Mr Fletcher said: “The last few years have been marked by the cost-of-living crisis. 

“During this time, I have stood on picket lines and campaigned with posties, nurses, teachers, firefighters, and many others in their fight for fair pay and decent working conditions.

“I have stood side by side with steelworkers at Tata Steel in Port Talbot, calling for the site to be brought into public ownership to safeguard jobs and the future of the industry in Wales.”

His opponent has the backing of fellow councillors on the Vale council and is critical of the current Plaid leadership.

Mr Hooper said: “Wales needs a different road map — we’ve slavishly followed the same plan as everyone else, and consistently failed to address the major issues that are relevant to us, here in Wales. 

“There are few radical alternatives being discussed, let alone put into action.”

At a recent Morning Star conference in Wales to discuss policies for the 2026 Senedd election, Mr Fletcher spoke of the need for progressive policies.

He told the conference that where public money was injected into companies the state had to take a stake and said Tata Steel should have been nationalised to save the blast furnaces from closing.

Mr Fletcher is presently writing the party’s economic strategy, expected to be launched at Plaid’s spring conference next month.