First Minister Eluned Morgan plans to urge Prime Minister Keir Starmer to “start coughing up” to address the funding shortfalls Wales has experienced when they meet on Friday. The Welsh Labour leader is in London for the Council of the Nations and Regions meeting hosted by Sir Keir.
This will be her first formal meeting with the fellow Labour leader since she outlined her concerns in her “Red Welsh Way” speech earlier this month. In that address, she expressed her intention to “call out” what she views as errors by the Labour UK Government, stating, “When Westminster makes decisions that we believe will harm Welsh communities, we will not remain silent.”
She also urged her UK counterparts to reconsider cuts to winter fuel payments for pensioners. On Wednesday, the Prime Minister announced a reversal that will allow more pensioners to qualify for the payment.
The first minister's speech coincided with the release of the latest Barn Cymru poll for ITV Cymru Wales, which indicated that Labour might drop to third place in next year’s Senedd election. The poll revealed that Labour is projected to receive 18% of the vote, while Plaid Cymru leads with 30% and Reform UK follows in second with 25%.
This context will be significant when Eluned Morgan and Keir Starmer meet on Friday, May 23. In an interview prior to their meeting, she told ITV, “I’ll certainly take this opportunity to advocate for the issues I highlighted in my Red Welsh Way speech, ensuring we secure a fairer deal on matters such as railways, coal tips, and other critical concerns where we feel we have been treated unfairly in the past and expect redress.”
When asked if this would make the meeting challenging, she replied, “Let’s see how it unfolds. However, the spending review is approaching. That’s the chance for them to make a real impact. I’ll be advocating for that. I know many others are also making the case, but my responsibility is to represent Wales, and that’s exactly what I’m doing.”
She reiterated her belief that Wales has been shortchanged during the 14 years of Conservative-led UK governance but emphasized that it is now her party's responsibility to initiate change. “They’ve had some time to settle in, so we expect action. They’ve had about a year now; it’s time for them to start delivering for us.”
Eluned Morgan dined with Welsh Labour MPs in Soho on Wednesday, where some tension was evident. Reports indicate that certain MPs were upset by her Red Welsh Way speech and wanted to reassure her of their commitment. The dinner was described as "a bit fraught," though one source claimed that despite airing differences, the evening concluded with hugs and warm exchanges.
Morgan maintained that the gathering was positive, stating, “I spoke to many last night, and they understand. They reassured me that they are also making the case.” However, with a challenging election year ahead, one has to wonder if this is the right time to stir things up. “We were fine last night," she remarked. "I spoke to many MPs, and they recognize the pressure we’re under. They understand the necessity for the UK Labour government to deliver for Wales as well.”
