Welsh Labour leader Ken Skates acknowledged the party must rediscover its purpose and rebuild relationships with the public following its collapse to nine seats. Ahead of the party's first conference in opposition, an independent post-mortem review by Professor Anand Menon of King's College London will be published on Saturday. Skates emphasized that rebuilding will require accepting these findings and responding to voter demands for more local control outside Cardiff Bay. Meanwhile, the new Plaid Cymru government has committed to issuing a green paper on council powers, though any legislation is slated for after the 2030 election.
Key points
Party leader Ken Skates argued that Welsh Labour must rediscover its purpose and shift de…: Party leader Ken Skates argued that Welsh Labour must rediscover its purpose and shift decision-making authority away from Cardiff Bay into local communities.
External proposals to devolve powers into Welsh regions faced pushback from former transp…: External proposals to devolve powers into Welsh regions faced pushback from former transport minister Lee Waters, who described the concept as unworkable.
The incoming Plaid Cymru government plans to address local governance through a green pap…: The incoming Plaid Cymru government plans to address local governance through a green paper, though related legislation would wait until after 2030.
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Labour lost its connection with previously loyal voters at May's Senedd election, the party's leader has said.
Officials will publish on Saturday a review of Labour's historic election defeat in the May Senedd election.
Speaking to BBC Wales, Ken Skates said it was "absolutely obvious" that the party needed to rediscover its purpose and reconnect with people the "length and breadth of Wales".
Labour was thrown out of power at the election when it was reduced from 30 seats in the Welsh Parliament to nine.
It is holding its first party conference since Labour went into opposition, and Plaid Cymru took over the Welsh government.
After years of trailing Labour, Plaid won the largest number of seats, allowing party leader Rhun ap Iorwerth to become first minister.
Labour had led the Welsh government since devolution began 27 years ago.
Skates, who took over as leader following the election, said: "According to the review, it's absolutely obvious that we needed to rediscover our purpose".
He said the party needed to "strengthen" its "soul" and "reestablish that powerful contract between…
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