Labour spent £25k on Airbnbs in failed Caerphilly campaign

Welsh Labour’s hefty spending during the Caerphilly by-election has been revealed, with the party splashing out £25,000 on Airbnb accommodation alone – yet still managing to come third 💷📉

Documents disclosed to BBC Wales show Labour booked six properties across south Wales for 22 guests, with stays in Trefforest, Blaenau Gwent, Cardiff, Hirwaun and two locations in Newport between September and October last year.

The party’s total campaign spend reached £98,447.19 as they desperately tried to hold onto a seat they’d controlled for more than a century. That works out at £26.51 for every vote received by candidate Richard Tunnicliffe, who secured just 3,713 votes.

Meanwhile, Plaid Cymru’s Lindsay Whittle romped to victory after spending less than half that amount – £46,933. Reform UK came second with expenditure of £96,125.

A curious discrepancy has emerged in Labour’s official return, which declared just £3,321 for “staff accommodation” from Airbnb – despite receipts showing the actual cost was £25,315. When questioned, Labour said it’s standard practice to split invoices between regulated and non-regulated expenditure, though they didn’t specify which parts weren’t regulated.

Former Labour minister and MS Mick Antoniw didn’t mince words about the defeat, saying his party had “clearly failed to engage” with a “Welsh message” at the ballot box. He added: “Campaigns must be local and Welsh and we failed.”

The former counsel general also reflected that “the message is more important than the quantity” when discussing the spending figures.

Labour defended its financial reporting, stating: “All necessary declarations have been made transparently and in full accordance with the rules.”

The party’s spending breakdown included £40,470 on advertising, £45,840 on leaflets and unsolicited material, and £31,295 on Meta and Google ads.

Reform UK’s return showed £55,239 for leaflets and letters, £16,500 for staffing and accommodation, and £16,003 for advertising. One single letter cost them £17,084.

Plaid Cymru’s campaign included £21,649 on unsolicited material, £12,794 on advertising, and £6,710 on staff costs. A party spokesperson said they were “proud of the positive, people-powered campaign we ran, with volunteers knocking doors and delivering leaflets in every corner of Caerphilly”.

The by-election on 23 October was triggered by the death of Labour MS Hefin David, ending Labour’s unbroken domestic parliamentary winning streak in Caerphilly since the early 20th century.