PM vows to work ‘in lockstep’ to revive Welsh Labour as party ‘must take stock’

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Labour had dominated Welsh politics for a century but went from being in power in Cardiff Bay to a distant third place in May’s polls.

Andy Burnham has vowed to work “in lockstep” with Welsh Labour to reverse its electoral fortunes as he urged the party to “take stock” after its humiliation at the Senedd elections.

The Prime Minister said he would avoid “creating problems” or “going against” what Welsh leader Ken Skates wanted to achieve but warned the party must “listen” after its defeat by Plaid Cymru.

Labour dominated Welsh politics for a century but went from being in power in Cardiff Bay to a distant third place behind Reform UK in May’s polls.

Speaking at the party’s Welsh conference on Saturday, the Prime Minister said: “So, the next mission, of course, is to get the Everton-supporting leader of Welsh Labour as first minister of this great nation, and Ken, you and I are absolutely in lockstep on that mission.”

Mr Burnham, who was still mayor of Greater Manchester when the elections took place, said: “You can’t look away. You have to listen, take stock and commit to doing things differently. I’m always one for saying let’s do politics differently.

“It doesn’t connect with people as much as it should and I’m taking the way I approached being mayor of Greater Manchester into my work as Prime Minister.

“Let’s be place first before we’re party first, because at the end of the day, that is what people expect.”

In keeping with his wider devolution agenda, the Prime Minister said the party must work towards a “reindustrialised nation” of Wales with “revitalised high streets and empowered communities, good jobs, evenly spread all over”.

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