Calls for Sir Keir Starmer to Step Down
A senior Welsh Labour MP has stated that Sir Keir Starmer should not lead the Labour Party into the next general election.
Ruth Jones, who chairs the Welsh Affairs Select Committee, acknowledged the prime minister's achievements but also highlighted significant errors.
Labour experienced a challenging series of elections across Britain on Thursday, suffering a heavy defeat in last week's Senedd election at the hands of Plaid Cymru, which ended a century-long streak of Labour victories in Wales.
Sir Keir Starmer is currently under pressure from within the party to resign; however, he committed to disproving his critics during a press conference on Monday.
Meanwhile, a Labour MP speaking anonymously to BBC Wales called for the resignation of Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens, arguing that responsibility should not rest solely with Eluned Morgan.
"I don't think it's right that Eluned takes full responsibility. I think the Welsh Secretary should also take some responsibility, be held accountable and resign."
Stevens has been approached for comment.
Deputy Welsh Labour leader Carolyn Harris defended Stevens, telling BBC Wales:
"Whoever this is is off their rocker. Jo has done so much for Wales – nuclear, growth funds, floating offshore wind, rail. She's not stopped fighting for Wales and she will continue to do so."
"Anyone who thinks now is a good time to change PM are naïve and deluded."
Jo Stevens Critiques Welsh Government Performance
In an article for WalesOnline, Jo Stevens criticised the Welsh government for focusing on issues she described as distant from the core concerns of the public. She attributed Plaid Cymru's victory to dissatisfaction with Labour's performance.
"People are rightly cross about the rollout of 20mph speed restrictions and public money being spent on tree planting in Uganda when we weren't getting the basics right," she said.
Ruth Jones Calls for Timetable on Starmer's Departure
Ruth Jones, MP for Newport West and Islwyn, spoke on Radio Wales Breakfast about the need for Sir Keir Starmer to outline when he plans to step down.
"I think we need him to set out the timetable for when he is going to stand down – not yet, not in a rush, not in a hasty way. He's done a brilliant job, he's been there six years, he's got us in, after one term in the wilderness, he's got us a massive majority."
However, she also noted:
"He has made a lot of mistakes and he has U-turned obviously. He has listened to us which is great but some of these things like the welfare reforms that they were trying to bring in which we tried to block, the winter fuel payments, which we've now returned to, and the appointment of Peter Mandelson, I've been door knocking over the last several months and that was coming up on the door such a lot. He's brilliant on the international stage but he's not cutting through on the doorstep as a leader with charisma."
Stephen Kinnock Defends Starmer Amid Criticism
Aberavon Labour MP Stephen Kinnock expressed a differing view from his colleague, warning against focusing on individual personalities.
"We have seen under the Conservatives the carousel of chaos with all sorts of different prime ministers and reshuffles, the change and instability. The public got truly sick and tired of that and I think what we need to do is perhaps focus less on single personalities and more on the politics of this and the policies."
Despite his defence, Kinnock acknowledged serious mistakes made by Starmer, including the early cut to the winter fuel allowance.
"There was too much focus on repair and not enough focus on renewal and giving people a sense of hope," he said.
Kinnock stated that Labour intends to hold Plaid Cymru accountable in government while maintaining productive engagement with them at Westminster.
Plaid Cymru Leader Criticises Starmer
Liz Saville Roberts, Plaid Cymru's Westminster leader, criticised the prime minister's response to the election results.
"The prime minister is in denial. He can lecture us about what a Labour government is and should be, but the public has seen through his empty words."
