Latest news with #BaronessMorgan
Daily Mail
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Labour panic over 'serious threat' from Reform in Wales as poll shows insurgents ahead on 28% and on track to run Senedd - with Keir Starmer's party in THIRD behind Plaid
Labour today admitted Reform is a 'serious threat' in Wales after a poll found Nigel Farage 's party on track to win elections next year. More In Common research for Sky News put support for the insurgents on 28 per cent, ahead of Plaid Cymru on 26 per cent. Labour was in third on 23 per cent, while the Tories and Lib Dems were trailing on 10 per cent and 7 per cent respectively. The results suggest that Reform could be the biggest party in the Senedd next year - although potentially well short of the 49 seats needed for an outright majority. Labour's leader in Wales, Baroness Eluned Morgan, warned that voters could see perks such as free prescriptions and free school meals for primary school children 'snatched away'. She said: 'We're taking it very seriously, and we think the threat from Reform is a very serious threat.' Mr Farage is targeting the Senedd after extraordinary advances in local elections in England in May. Former Welsh Secretary David Jones - who stepped down from the Commons at the general election - was unveiled as a defector from the Tories yesterday. If the poll results were replicated next year, it could mean the end of Labour's 26 years of domination in Wales, where it has held power since devolution. Reform would be estimated to get 33 seats, with Labour dropping from 30 to 25 and Plaid going from 13 to 30. Baroness Morgan acknowledged there was 'a possibility' that Reform could become the largest party in the Senedd, saying it was 'really concerning', but added it would be 'difficult for them to rule by themselves'. But she ruled out entering a coalition with the party, saying: 'I wouldn't touch Reform with a bargepole.' The First Minister also insisted that Labour would be able to win voters back by being 'authentic' and 'clear with people about what we stand for', rather than trying to 'out-Reform Reform'. She said: 'I think we've got to lead with our values. We're about bringing communities together, not dividing them, and I do think that what Reform is interested in is dividing people and people do need to make choices on things like that. 'So, what I won't be doing in Wales is chasing Reform down a path where we can try and out-Reform Reform. I'm not interested in that, because those aren't my values.'
Telegraph
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Welsh Labour admit Reform UK poses ‘serious threat'
Welsh Labour is taking the threat of Reform UK 'very seriously', the First Minister has admitted. Baroness Eluned Morgan acknowledged there was 'a possibility' that Nigel Farage 's party could become the largest in the Senedd. Her remarks come after polling suggested that Reform could come first in the parliamentary elections next year. A poll by More In Common on behalf of Sky News found 28 per cent of people in Wales would back Reform in 2026, putting the party in first place. Mr Farage's party is targeting the Senedd as it looks to build on its success at the English local elections earlier this year, and unveiled former Wales secretary David Jones as another ex-Tory defector on Monday as part of its push. The poll, published on Tuesday, showed Plaid Cymru in second place on 26 per cent and Labour in third place on 23 per cent, before a long drop to the Conservatives on 10 per cent and the Liberal Democrats on seven per cent. If the results were replicated next year, it could mean the end of Labour's 26 years of domination in Wales, where it has held power since devolution. 'We're taking it very seriously, and we think the threat from Reform is a very serious threat,' Baroness Morgan said. However, she ruled out entering a coalition with the party, saying: 'I wouldn't touch Reform with a bargepole.' The First Minister also insisted that Labour would be able to win voters back by being 'authentic' and 'clear with people about what we stand for', rather than trying to 'out-Reform Reform'. She said: 'I think we've got to lead with our values. We're about bringing communities together, not dividing them, and I do think that what Reform is interested in is dividing people and people do need to make choices on things like that. 'So, what I won't be doing in Wales is chasing Reform down a path where we can try and out-Reform Reform. I'm not interested in that, because those aren't my values.'
The Independent
08-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Labour taking Reform threat in Wales ‘seriously', says Morgan
Welsh Labour is taking the threat of Reform UK 'very seriously', the First Minister has said as polling suggests Nigel Farage's party could come first in Senedd elections next year. Baroness Eluned Morgan told Sky News voters in Wales needed to understand Reform as a 'threat', warning that 'things that they're used to' such as free prescriptions and free school meals for primary school children 'could be snatched away'. She said: 'We're taking it very seriously, and we think the threat from Reform is a very serious threat.' Her interview comes as polling by More In Common on behalf of Sky News found 28% of people in Wales would back Reform at the Senedd elections in 2026, putting the party in first place. Mr Farage's party is targeting the Senedd as it looks to build on its success at the English local elections earlier this year, and unveiled former Wales secretary David Jones as another ex-Tory defector on Monday as part of its push. The poll, published on Tuesday, showed Plaid Cymru in second place on 26% and Labour in third place on 23%, before a long drop to the Conservatives on 10% and the Liberal Democrats on 7%. If the results were replicated next year, it could mean the end of Labour's 26 years of domination in Wales, where it has held power since devolution. Baroness Morgan acknowledged there was 'a possibility' that Reform could become the largest party in the Senedd, saying it was 'really concerning', but added it would be 'difficult for them to rule by themselves'. But she ruled out entering a coalition with the party, saying: 'I wouldn't touch Reform with a bargepole.' The First Minister also insisted that Labour would be able to win voters back by being 'authentic' and 'clear with people about what we stand for', rather than trying to 'out-Reform Reform'. She said: 'I think we've got to lead with our values. We're about bringing communities together, not dividing them, and I do think that what Reform is interested in is dividing people and people do need to make choices on things like that. 'So, what I won't be doing in Wales is chasing Reform down a path where we can try and out-Reform Reform. I'm not interested in that, because those aren't my values.'
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Labour taking Reform threat in Wales ‘seriously', says Morgan
Welsh Labour is taking the threat of Reform UK 'very seriously', the First Minister has said as polling suggests Nigel Farage's party could come first in Senedd elections next year. Baroness Eluned Morgan told Sky News voters in Wales needed to understand Reform as a 'threat', warning that 'things that they're used to' such as free prescriptions and free school meals for primary school children 'could be snatched away'. She said: 'We're taking it very seriously, and we think the threat from Reform is a very serious threat.' Her interview comes as polling by More In Common on behalf of Sky News found 28% of people in Wales would back Reform at the Senedd elections in 2026, putting the party in first place. Mr Farage's party is targeting the Senedd as it looks to build on its success at the English local elections earlier this year, and unveiled former Wales secretary David Jones as another ex-Tory defector on Monday as part of its push. The poll, published on Tuesday, showed Plaid Cymru in second place on 26% and Labour in third place on 23%, before a long drop to the Conservatives on 10% and the Liberal Democrats on 7%. If the results were replicated next year, it could mean the end of Labour's 26 years of domination in Wales, where it has held power since devolution. Baroness Morgan acknowledged there was 'a possibility' that Reform could become the largest party in the Senedd, saying it was 'really concerning', but added it would be 'difficult for them to rule by themselves'. But she ruled out entering a coalition with the party, saying: 'I wouldn't touch Reform with a bargepole.' The First Minister also insisted that Labour would be able to win voters back by being 'authentic' and 'clear with people about what we stand for', rather than trying to 'out-Reform Reform'. She said: 'I think we've got to lead with our values. We're about bringing communities together, not dividing them, and I do think that what Reform is interested in is dividing people and people do need to make choices on things like that. 'So, what I won't be doing in Wales is chasing Reform down a path where we can try and out-Reform Reform. I'm not interested in that, because those aren't my values.'
Daily Mail
28-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Keir Starmer says fixing welfare is 'a moral imperative' but claims he will not 'take away the safety net' from the vulnerable
Fixing the welfare system is a 'moral imperative', Sir Keir Starmer has said - as he warned that a generation of young people have been written off for good. The Prime Minister said, however, in a speech today that his party will take action in a ' Labour way' and not remove the 'safety net' that vulnerable people rely on. Sir Keir's comments at the Welsh Labour conference come after he was forced into a humiliating climbdown on welfare reforms in the face of a backbench rebellion. He was said to have have handed them 'massive concessions' in a bid to avoid defeat in a crunch vote on benefit cuts next week. The concessions are understood to include the watering down of reforms to personal independence payments (PIP), which would have particularly hit vulnerable people. The Prime Minister said today: 'We cannot take away the safety net that vulnerable people rely on, and we won't, but we also can't let it become a snare for those who can and want to work. 'Everyone agrees that our welfare system is broken: failing people every day, a generation of young people written off for good and the cost spiralling out of control. 'Fixing it is a moral imperative, but we need to do it in a Labour way.' He called Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan a 'fierce champion' and 'the best person to lead Wales into the future' to applause and cheers from the audience. Baroness Morgan had publicly criticised the welfare plans and called for Sir Keir to change tack on restrictions on winter fuel payments, which he also eventually reversed. Sir Keir Starmer told the BBC she was 'right to raise concerns' and promised to 'deliver on those as far as we can'. In her speech to the conference, Baroness Morgan said she was pleased the Government listened to her concerns and reversed planned welfare cuts. 'I'm glad the UK Government is a listening government and they heard our concerns and changed their approach to welfare cuts,' she said. 'We were really concerned about the impact these changes could have on some of our poorest and most vulnerable communities, and we made that clear to our colleagues in Westminster. 'And I am really glad they listened because that decision brings huge and welcome relief to thousands of people in Wales who rely on this support to live with dignity.' Farmers gathered outside the conference in Llandudno to protest ahead of Sir Keir's speech, with about 20 tractors parked on the promenade in the north Wales resort town by late morning. Later, some 150 protesters joined a march for Palestine outside the conference, walking solemnly to the venue where they stood for a few minutes to the beat of a drum. A small group of pro-Israel protesters shouted 'free the hostages' and held signs saying 'free Gazans from Hamas'. Sir Keir also said any deal between the Tories, Reform UK and Plaid Cymru at next year's key elections in Wales would amount to a 'backroom stitch-up'. The elections to the Senedd will use a proportional system for the first time, meaning coalitions are likely. The Prime Minister said it would risk a 'return to the chaos and division of the last decade' and risk rolling back the progress his party is starting to make. He told the Llandudno conference it would 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,' he said. 'I know that these are the parties that talk a big game, but who is actually delivering?' Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has not ruled out making deals with Plaid Cymru or Reform at the next Senedd election. Reform UK is eyeing an opportunity to end Labour's 26 years of domination in the Welsh Parliament. Labour performed poorly in this year's local elections in England, which saw Nigel Farage's party win a swathe of council seats. Sir Keir also took aim at Nigel Farage, calling him a 'wolf in Wall Street clothing' who has 'no idea what he's talking about'. He said the Reform UK leader 'isn't interested in Wales' and has no viable plan for the blast furnaces at Port Talbot.
