Starmer to warn of ‘backroom stitch-up’ in Welsh elections
Sir Keir Starmer will warn of a “backroom stitch-up” between the Tories, Reform UK and Plaid Cymru ahead of key elections in Wales next year.
In a speech to the Welsh Labour conference, the Prime Minister is set to say that a coalition of those parties would be a “return to the chaos and division of the last decade” and risk rolling back the progress his party is starting to make.
“Whether that’s with Reform, or with Plaid’s determination to cut Wales off from the rest of the country – with no plan to put Wales back together,” he is expected to say.
Reform UK is eyeing an opportunity to end Labour’s 26 years of domination in the Welsh Parliament at the Senedd elections in May next year.
Labour performed poorly in this year’s local elections in England, which saw Nigel Farage’s party win a swathe of council seats.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has not ruled out making deals with Plaid Cymru or Reform at the next Senedd election.
The conference in Llandudno comes on the heels of Sir Keir’s U-turn on welfare policy to avert a major backbench rebellion that will leave Chancellor Rachel Reeves facing a scramble to fill a potential hole in her budget this autumn.
Ahead of marking a year in office next week, Sir Keir will point to moves his Government has made since the election that he says bring direct benefits to Wales, including international trade deals that give a boost to brands such as Penderyn whisky and legislation to bolster workers’ rights.
And he will tout the advantages of having parallel Labour governments in Westminster and Wales, with First Minister Baroness Eluned Morgan leading the latter as a “fierce champion”.
“This is the party that has got wages rising faster in the first 10 months than the Tories managed in 10 years. This is the government that is cutting bills and creating jobs. This is the movement that will rebuild Britain and renew Wales,” Sir Keir is expected to say.
Labour is the party with the “interests of working people at their heart” and “it always will be”, he will say.
“Or, there’s the other option. The risk of rolling back all the progress we’re beginning to make. A return to the chaos and division of the last decade.
“A backroom stitch-up between the Tories, Reform and Plaid. And once again, it will be working families left to pick up the bill.
“Whether that’s with Reform, or with Plaid’s determination to cut Wales off from the rest of the country – with no plan to put Wales back together.”
Published: by Radio NewsHub