Welsh Labour set apart from UK party, says Morgan
First Minister Eluned Morgan says Welsh Labour is "set apart" from UK Labour
- Published
Welsh Labour is setting itself apart from its UK counterpart, First Minister Eluned Morgan has said.
In an interview marking the start of the new Senedd term, she told Politics Wales she was "determined to make sure that people recognise" that in Wales, "we hold on to the values that have always set us apart".
Her comments come after a turbulent week in which Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer faced intense scrutiny over the appointment of US ambassador Peter Mandelson.
Her remarks signal a further separation from the UK party following her landmark speech in May in which she pledged to "call out" Sir Keir if she disagreed with him, coining the phrase the "red Welsh way".
There have long been tensions within the party over whether Welsh Labour should follow the UK party or pursue a more pro-devolution path, which Rhodri Morgan called the "clear red water".
After Sir Keir's 2024 general election win, Welsh Labour campaigned on the idea that the first minister would work closely with him in a "partnership in power".
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But some Welsh priorities, such as rail funding and justice devolution, were ignored.
Asked if she would now "double down" on the "red Welsh way" in light of the unpopularity of Sir Keir's government, Morgan said she would "double down on the things that are my responsibility".
She did not show support for the prime minister, but rather implied she wanted the public to understand she has no control over the decisions made by No. 10 and the UK government.
Morgan added: "It's important that I'm held to account for the things that are within my power and responsibilities.
"That's why the red Welsh Way is important, it's in keeping with the values of the people of Wales".
With the Senedd election approaching, Morgan also explained how it was an "opportunity for us to go out and make sure we're aligned exactly with what people want us to do".
Owain Williams, a former Labour Senedd candidate who was overlooked for selection for the 2026 election, said there was a "philosophical divide" in the party between those who are pro-devolution and those who are sceptical.
And he said that divide "goes back 50 years or more" but that it's "holding the party back".
"I think if you want to win the devolved election in Wales as a progressive party, you're not going to do that on a platform that contains any sense of scepticism about the government that you are applying to run," he told BBC Radio Wales' Sunday Supplement.
"People are entitled to different philosophical views on the questions of devolution but, again, if you want to win a devolved election, I think it's very clear: you need to be very strongly on the side of devolution and making it work."
And he went on to tell BBC Radio Cymru's Gwleidydda Podcast that he was worried there was "an issue" among Labour party members with Welshness and the Welsh language.
In response, Welsh Labour said it and UK Labour were "proud of our role in delivering devolution, and while our governments may sometimes take different approaches, we are always united in our commitment to deliver for Wales".