Message to party members from Eluned Morgan reveals panic within Welsh Labour at the prospect of losing power in Wales
Martin Shipton
A pre-Christmas message sent by Eluned Morgan to Labour members across Wales suggests the party is in a panic about the possibility of losing power after the 2026 Senedd election.
Labour has been the biggest party in Wales for more than 100 years and has been in government continuously since what was originally the National Assembly came into being in 1999.
But recent polls have shown Plaid Cymru and Reform UK in close contention with Labour for leading party status after the next Senedd election.
‘Historic victory’
In the message, sent to party members at the weekend and leaked to Nation.Cymru, the First Minister states: “In July, we achieved a historic victory in the general election, securing 27 of 32 Westminster seats in Wales.
“We won because of you. Every member who delivered a leaflet, called a voter, or knocked on a door played an essential role in our success and in shaping the Welsh Labour Party we are today.
“Your effort means that people up and down Wales are now seeing the benefits of two Labour governments who share the same values, working in partnership to deliver for Wales.
“That was made clear last week, when our Welsh Labour government announced its Draft Budget for the upcoming year. The best uplift in funding we have had since the Senedd was established 25 years ago.
“Together we are demonstrating the difference only Labour can make:
* Every department will be getting more money;
* There will be more than £3bn to help build new schools, homes and NHS services. Under the Tories last year we had only £1m extra to pay for everything additional. The difference is staggering.
* We will also put Wales back on the path to growth – our public services have been starved of the cash they need for over 14 years with the Tories.
“Our two Labour governments are changing lives every day, and for families up and down Wales, this Christmas will look a little brighter than before.
“But last week was also a reminder of what’s at stake. Reform, Plaid Cymru and even the Tories are breathing down our necks.
“In 2026, we will fight the most challenging Senedd election campaign in history, with new seats and under a new and challenging electoral system.
“But I want to see us secure as many votes as possible and ensure that we are the largest party – continuing that 102 year winning streak in Wales. Because we have only ever made change happen by being in power.
“I want to be straight with you. In 2026, everything we have achieved will be risked if we lose power. The things people take for granted – like free prescriptions, free bus passes for the over 60s, free school meals for primary school children.
“There’s a battle on all fronts – and we must be ready to take the fight to them. We are facing a tough 18 months, but this is a moment of opportunity to show exactly what we can do and to remind people what we have already achieved.
“That’s why I’m asking for your help. We need you to help get the messages out. To remind people of the difference we have made and what is at risk. We need you to help amplify your success and demonstrate how we have delivered through re-posting on social media, talking to your friends and neighbours, participating in campaigning and if you can afford it – contributing to our Senedd election campaign.
“I am up for the fight, I am ready to lead the campaign – but I can’t do it without you.”
Desperation
Welsh Conservative Senedd leader Darren Millar said: “This letter reeks of desperation. It essentially threatens people to vote for Labour in Wales, or risk funding cuts from Labour in Westminster. However, the people of Wales will not be fooled. We’ve just seen a ‘smoke-and-mirrors’ Budget, where money was given to Wales with one hand, only to be taken away through National Insurance hikes with the other.
“Labour cannot be trusted. Since the general election they have broken promise after promise. Pensioners have lost Winter Fuel Allowances, WASPI women have been abandoned, National Insurance has been hiked and family farms put at risk.
“There is one point in the letter that’s accurate: the Welsh Conservative Party, now with a new team, presents a real challenge to Labour’s chances of winning in Wales in 2026.”
Asked whether the Welsh Conservatives would retain free bus passes for the over-60s and the disabled, free prescriptions for all and free school meals for primary school children, Mr Millar said: “A detailed manifesto will be published before the election and unlike Labour when we make promises we will keep them. We are in the process of reviewing and developing our policies in advance of the Senedd election.”
‘Lack of ambition’
A Plaid Cymru source said: “Labour have been taking the people of Wales for granted after 25 years in government, and they’re starting to wake up to this fact.
“Their claim that an additional £3bn is a positive result of their ‘partnership in power’, when Wales is owed £4bn just from HS2 shows their lack of ambition for Wales.
“It’s the same with using free school meals as a Labour win – it’s Plaid Cymru that pushed for this after Labour voted against it repeatedly.
“This shows that it’s time for a new party in government, because we need a government that will fight for fairness and that actually has ambition for Wales – only Plaid Cymru can do that.”
Reform UK was also invited to comment, but did not do so.
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Oh, and by the way, Labour has just introduced a new ‘grocery tax’ – merry Christmas! Morgan et al exist in a fantasy world of their own construction. They’ve been in charge here for over 25 years and we’re in as bad, if not worse, a state than ever. People aren’t going to deny the evidence of their own eyes. This lot will be gone come the next Senedd election and their fellow socialists in Westminster, by the end of 2029 at the latest.
There aren’t any socialists in Labour, starmer kicked us out
Yeah, right!
It is not about socialists nor tories. It is the problem that monopoly capitalism has failed by concentrating wealth and power in the city of London institutions and Westminster. This leaves Wales can no longer be partners with the British UK system which has a monopoly top-down system and Wales works best with a decentralised system. It is not a one size fits all. The constitutional convention in Wales this year already concluded. This is why no solution can ever be achieved with the UK while it remains a centralised monopoly power and wealth structure. Thus we, in Wales must… Read more »
It doesn’t help you Eluned that you lied to NationCymru about asking Starmer for the HS2 consequential cash for Wales which found, from a FoI request, that you have made no formal request in this matter. The reason why the people of Wales can’t trust your government is that you are Starmers errand assistant rather than a proper First Minister standing up for Wales.
Eluned Morgan has to make these noises for Labour publicly but I’m sure she realises privately, she has to be talking to Plaid, Jane Dodds, Greens and others who recognise the absolute imperative of politically asphyxiating the opponents of our country and its’ values, those who, if successful, will eradicate everything that has been achieved and everything we are, our very existence. Get talking about Independence. That is the only way to nullify the threat. She will have to explain why she allowed our country to be eradicated. She need not, and must not, let that happen. UK now means… Read more »
She doesn’t really care. Worst case scenario in 2026 is she loses her job and bunks off back to the Lords ! No pain.
No she does not loose her job. She will still be a AS. That is because the constituencies will have changed and she and the current cronies will be on top of the lists. So even if they are fourth place the top of the list contestant gets in. And they call it Democracy. It is said that the strength of a democracy is not in so much as we can choose our leaders, but that we can sack them. The system of mega constituencies throws that option out to the electorate. Because every constituency will have a Labour, Plaid… Read more »
That is what happens when you don’t have the Single Transferable Voting System which Plaid Cymru would have introduced.
Wales kicked the Tories out of Wales in the General Election now lets hope they can kick the Labour out in the Welsh Government elections and Plaid will be winners not Farage mob Reform and Plaid can set us on the road for freedom from England
I absolutely love your optimism but even you must see the only party that threatens Labour in Wales are that English fascist mob, that so many Welsh people appear to support?
I have lived in Wales for many decades and. do you know Original Mark? I have not once seen a fascist mob. No uniforms, violence or anti-democratic marches. The only censorship has come from Labour. BTW the only recent actual vote (not a poll) involving all Welsh parties and Reform, which is hardly Welsh, had these results: Labour down by half. McEvoy’s Propel came from nowhere to BEAT Reform. Plaid nowhere. Ok Splott might be a sideshow but how can you explain it, OM? The Splott result was plausible because it it showed us what a non woke/Labour/Plaid Wales might… Read more »
Um, how many decades are we talking? FWA, worst uniform ever. Plaid marches in the ’50s looking like some European Youth Movement, all terribly serious.
Your a decade too early.
The FWA ,Cymdeithas yr Iaith and Gwynfor winning in Carmarthen all happened in The 60s
Spot on !
I’m genuinely hoping that the reform “maybes” go out and educate themselves on the bunch of planless corrupt crooks that reform are. I know it’s easy to have a victim mindset in this climate, but voting for the ones that merely shout the loudest will end in disaster.
Take a look at all of their candidates, every one is a clueless hasbeen.
Know your enemy. Reform UK 🇬🇧 is just another English party.
They’re against Wales and Scotland getting TOO powerful, and were OPPOSED to the WASPI women being paid.
While these are welcome achievements are they really the best that Labour can point to?
Free prescriptions were introduced 17 years ago.
Bus passes 22 years ago.
Free meals were introduced this year only as a result of the agreement with Plaid.
Hardly a glowing CV is it?
No mention of a resurgent economy … maybe because they don’t have a clue what one of those looks like !
They need to go ASAP 2026 cannot come soon enough. They say they are listening but are still pushing through policies the majority of us do not want. Whoever comes in next needs to go after and punish the MSs.
Lets hope Plaid step up to the plate and rid us of Labour and Reform. Both of the latter are unfit for office
“Your effort means that people up and down Wales are now seeing the benefits of two Labour governments “
Would someone who is a Labour supporter care to tell us about these benefits because I haven’t got a clue what they are?