It has just been announced that Ken Skates, Member of the Senedd for Fflint Wrecsam, is the interim leader of Labour.

Rhun ap Iorwerth, the leader of Plaid Cymru, gave a speech outside the Senedd this afternoon.

"We will do everything we can to repay the faith people have put in us," he says in the speech as Plaid Cymru becomes the largest party in the Senedd.

Adrian Browne
Wales political reporter

Rhun ap Iorwerth confirms he's seeking a minority government, after the party won 43 seats, as opposed to the 49 it would have needed for a majority government.

It's actually not that different to what we've seen before in Cardiff Bay, as Labour never won more than half of the seats at elections.

Forming a minority government means Plaid need to get other parties on side to win votes to get laws passed in the Senedd, and most importantly, their spending plans.

Sometimes these talks may involve implementing something that was in an opposition party's manifesto in return for them backing the government on something else.

Image source, Getty Images

Iolo Cheung
BBC Wales reporter outside Transport House

Welsh Labour's executive committee are currently meeting in Cardiff, at Transport House in Pontcanna, to discuss their next steps, following their disappointing Senedd election results.

The party were left with only nine Senedd members as a number of sitting MSs lost their seats, including First Minister Eluned Morgan.

Arriving at the meeting this morning, Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens remained tight lipped and refused to answer any of my questions.

David Deans
Wales political reporter at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay

In a short Q&A with the media, Rhun ap Iorwerth confirms he is seeking a minority government.

That means Plaid will try to govern alone, without a coalition.

The Plaid leader says he has spoken to other party leaders, but did not say who.

Tomos Morgan
Wales correspondent at the Senedd

Image source, Getty Images

The sun comes out shining for Plaid’s big day at the Senedd.

Some of the crowd have been waiting their whole lives to see Plaid Cymru on the big stage.

They’ve promised big in past elections but not delivered. Now this time they have.

As leader Rhun ap Iorwerth finished talking, the crowd burst into an impromptu rendition of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau.

Ap Iorweth ends his speech saying: "So, in inviting everyone to join us in an alliance, to pursue this mission on behalf of Wales.

"We say we will always act with a determination, the ambition, and the humility needed to make Wales the best it possibly can be, we will do this every day for Wales."

Image source, Getty Images

Ap Iorwerth promises the crowd that the party will work constructively to "seek what is right for Wales".

"We will build this nation every single day, bringing the competence that is needed, the compassion that is needed, the hope that is needed, the belief in what we can be and the belief that our current situation is not as good as things can be for Wales," he says.

He adds the party will represent everyone whether or not they supported Plaid Cymru in this election.

He continues after the applause, saying: "It is a new beginning and I have no doubt that when we speak with a national voice that is as determined as we have seen in this election.

"No UK government, no UK minister, now or in the future, can cast Wales aside or turn a blind eye to our needs and our aspirations as a nation."

Ap Iorwerth says, he and his MSs, will be standing up for Wales "every single day".

"Throughout our nation people have put their faith in Plaid Cymru in numbers never seen before.

"And we will do everything we can to repay the faith that people have put in us because we have a clear determination to make a difference on the things that matter to people's lives and that resonated to people on all corners of our country," he says

Ap Iorwerth continues: "Plaid Cymru is ready to form the next government of Wales, and we are here as representatives of all of Wales without question.

"Every community from Mon to Monmouth, from Flint to Tenby, from rural Powys to our bustling cities and our vibrant capital city Cardiff, we are here for all of Wales."

Ap Iorwerth continues saying it is an "immense honour" to be with the 43 Plaid Cymru Senedd members.

"But we do this for them and all of Wales.

"It is an immense honour, though we need a wider angle lense than before, to be here as one of 43 Plaid Cyrmu Senedd members.

"And as the Plaid Cymru nominee that will go forward next week to be the next first minister of Wales," he adds

The Plaid leader says: "Some of those giants on whose shoulders we stand are able to be here today and we salute you.

"But we remember all those who did those hard yards for Wales and who aren't here to see this moment."

Rhun ap Iorwerth addresses the crowd as they cheer.

"In all parts of Wales, I know that many people are celebrating this momentous piece of Welsh history," he says.

"This is history made by the people of Wales. It has been an honour to work on this campaign.

"But this campaign can only built on the work that has been done over a century of believing in our nation's future."

David Deans
Wales political reporter at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay

We've not really had a reception for a political party on the steps of the Senedd like this before.

Each of the party's 43 MSs has arrived with their leader, Rhun ap Iorwerth, to huge applause from the crowd here.

It's more like something you'd expect for a returning sportsman.

David Deans
Wales political reporter at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay

We are on the steps of the Senedd where Plaid Cymru is waiting to hold what is basically a victory party.

There are several hundred supporters holding Plaid Cymru banners and red dragon and Owain Glyndwr flags.

We are expecting ap Iorwerth to address them and the media anytime now.

You can get breaking news, live coverage and expert analysis from our journalists in the UK and around the world — all in one place.

Download the BBC News app:

• iPhone and iPad click here, external
• Android click here, external
• Outside the UK click here

Top features:

• Live and breaking news
• News and weather local to you
• Alerts for major stories

Francesca O’Brien was one of 34 Reform Members of the Senedd elected yesterday and is one of two representing Gŵyr Abertawe.

“Going from 1% in 2021, to now, I think is just absolutely fantastic, and you know, it’s all very much to play for,” she tells BBC Radio Wales.

“We’ve got the vote next week [to elect the first minister], so let’s not pre-empt anything just yet. We have to see what Plaid are going to do, and what Labour are going to do.

“I think we’re in a very strong place with 34 seats, so we’ll have to see what next week plays out."

She describes the election result as a “political earthquake” and states her party stands by its manifesto and will not water anything down.

David Deans
Wales political reporter at Ty Hywel in Cardiff Bay

There's a sense here that Plaid Cymru are in a hurry to get on and govern.

The first opportunity to confirm ap Iorwerth as first minister will be on Tuesday - presiding officer Elin Jones needs to give politicians 24 hours notice of any meeting.

They would first need to decide who replaces Elin Jones, who is standing down. There are suggestions Paul Davies from the Tories is in the frame, although we've not heard from him yet.

You would then need to vote for who the new first minister is. Ap Iorwerth has 43 votes, that is more than the Tories and Reform combined.

That should be enough.

The other parties say they would not work with Reform - and we don't know if the Tories would either. Assuming the left wing parties abstained, the path for ap Iorwerth is clear.

In theory, Labour could frustrate the process by nominating their own leader - whoever that is - but it seems unlikely that would go anywhere.

Speaking to Radio Wales Breakfast, BBC Wales political correspondent, Cemlyn Davies talks about the next steps for the Welsh government.

• Newly elected members take the oath, some have taken it already, some will take it over the weekend

• Plaid Cymru and ap Iorwerth will discuss how to govern without an overall majority and how to negotiate the vote to elect a first minister, this will happen soon after the new Senedd reconvenes

• Ap Iorwerth would need backing from some of the other parties to get over the line, we do not expect this to be a problem, given what we’ve heard from left-leaning parties throughout the campaign
• A new presiding officer will have to appointed or elected, this is the very first thing the new Senedd has to do. Current presiding officer Elin Jones will decide when this happens
• She will talk to the parties over the coming days in order to establish how things are looking, who might want to be the next presiding officer and who's likely to secure the necessary numbers to do this