Starmer's Labour party suffers landmark defeat in Wales

 Britain's PM Keir Starmer speaking during the weekly session of Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) in the House of Commons in London. [AFP]

Britain's ruling Labour party lost a regional parliament seat in its traditional stronghold of Wales Friday, an ominous sign for embattled Prime Minister Keir Starmer ahead of wider local elections next year.

Labour, which has been the largest party in the Welsh Parliament since its creation in 1999, came a dismal third in the by-election in Caerphilly, south Wales, where it had never lost before.