Wales’ anti-Labour revolution should terrify Starmer and Reeves | Politics | News
The people of Wales have brought down the Labor administration in a democratic revolution and the party’s shaken supporters will blame Sir Keir Starmer for this monumental defeat. There has been no first minister from outside the Labor Party since the start of self-government in 1999. But Plaid Cymru’s Rhun ap Iorwerth will now lead a country that has the chance to deliver a historic blow to the Labor machine.
The collapse of support for Labor is as brave as it is brutal. In July 2024, Labor won 27 of the 32 constituencies in Westminster. Since then Sir Keir and Rachel Reeves have managed to anger and alienate voters across Wales who rushed to vote for Plaid or Reform UK. Labor Baroness Morgan, the first woman to lead the Senedd, has lost her seat. He has every reason to be disappointed by Sir Keir and Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
Not only have the Downing Street duo unleashed ugly and unpopular policies such as cutting pensioners’ fuel subsidy entitlements, but the Government they lead has also slammed the door on Welsh questions on issues such as transport, estates and the police. This made it difficult for Baroness Morgan to argue that it was in Wales’ interests to have a Labor Government at both ends of the M4.
This is not to deny that the Labor Government has made no mistakes. After more than a quarter of a century of Labor rule, there are major concerns about the state of health and education; The 20mph default speed limits were highly controversial and Baroness Morgan’s predecessor was forced to leave office amid backlash over the donations.
But the final weeks of the campaign were revealed by the Mandelson scandal created by Sir Keir. And in Plaid’s Mr. Iorwerth, he faced off against a former television presenter nicknamed “Kennedy Cymru” for his charisma; this was in sharp contrast to the Prime Minister’s indifferent performances.
Welsh voters have thrown their weight behind parties offering very different visions for the future. Tartan exemplifies soft Left green progressivism and celebrates the old language and the dream of an independent Wales; Reform promises a strong agenda of pragmatism and a nation still scarred by the collapse of heavy industry and beset by underperforming public services.
This is more than a political defeat for Labour. The reason the party has come first in every general election for over a century is because the bonds of loyalty to Labor have been dissolved.
It is surprising that Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni elected three Plaid and three Reform members. The old heart of the Labor Party has turned its back on Aneurin Bevan’s party.
If the people who voted for Plaid and Reform this week do the same at the next Westminster election, UK Labor will have an even harder time gaining a majority.
However long Sir Keir survives in office, the loss of Wales will be a devastating aspect of his legacy. Scottish Labor has never returned to power since the SNP gained the upper hand in 2007 and there is no guarantee that Welsh voters will give the red team another chance.
