Sir Keir Starmer could cost the Labour Party control of the Senedd for the first time in its history, Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan has warned in a stinging critique of the prime minister's impact on the party's electoral prospects this week.
Damning assessment on the doorstep
Speaking to the Telegraph, Baroness Morgan of Ely said the prime minister 'comes up as an issue on the doorstep', suggesting his leadership could be to blame for what are expected to be a difficult set of results on Thursday. She also refused to endorse Sir Keir as Labour leader beyond 'this point in time'. While she insisted it would not be 'helpful' to oust him right now, she declined to say whether she believed he would lead the party into the next general election.
Scottish Labour echoes discontent
The intervention comes just one day after Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar insisted that a vote for Labour in Scotland is not an endorsement of Sir Keir, saying he too is 'angry and disappointed' about Westminster politics. Sarwar, who called for the prime minister to quit in February, emphasised that the upcoming Holyrood election is 'the first opportunity to change the government in Scotland for 20 years'. He added: 'It's not an election without consequence, about protest or some kind of free hit.'
Mounting questions over leadership
The criticism comes amid escalating discontent over Sir Keir's leadership and mounting questions about the direction of government, with just days to go until the local elections. These are expected to deliver a brutal result for Labour across the UK. The Welsh Labour leader has faced questions about whether Thursday's vote could see her party lose control of the Senedd, with Plaid Cymru or Reform UK potentially taking control.
Risk of protest voting
Asked if Wales could end up with a Reform or Plaid-led government because of voters using the Senedd elections to protest against Sir Keir, she told the Telegraph: 'I'm certainly hoping that they won't do that. But there is a danger that that could happen, and I don't want to see that happening.' She urged voters to reflect on what the election is really about, adding: 'It isn't a time, I think, to pick a fight with Starmer. There's a general election, that's the time to do that.'
Plot to oust Starmer?
The Welsh first minister's remarks come amid reports that the prime minister faces a plot from Labour MPs to oust him following the local election results. Backbenchers who won their seats in the 2024 election are reportedly planning to push for the prime minister's resignation in an open letter reminiscent of the round-robin letter sent to Sir Tony Blair 20 years ago. According to The Times, MPs are to blame Sir Keir for the outcome of the local elections and ask him to set a date for his departure. The paper reported that several cabinet ministers are aware of the plot, but none have joined the limited number of potential signatories.
Cabinet minister urges focus
Housing minister Steve Reed told Sky News on Tuesday that MPs 'want this psychodrama to stop' and warned against 'doomscrolling through leaders'. It came as Sir Keir vowed to go into polling day 'fighting for every vote' but acknowledged Labour could be in for a 'challenge', as political leaders concluded their local election campaign trails. Almost 25,000 candidates are fighting to be elected to more than 5,000 seats on 136 councils across England. In Scotland, all 129 seats are up for election in Holyrood, while voters in Wales will choose 96 members of the Senedd.
