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Opinion

The Soul of Labour

08 May 2025 5 minute read
First Minister and Labour leader in Wales, Baroness Eluned Morgan, delivering her keynote speech. Photo Ben Birchall/PA Wire

It’s difficult to know when or how Wales ceased to be a contributing partner to the UK Labour movement.

Neil Kinnock’s serial failure to win a general election was often ascribed to an English distaste for Welsh sensibilities. Certainly, the press of the time had no qualms in tossing out ‘Welsh windbag’ jibes with increased frequency as elections approached.

Such assumptions don’t apply to Scottish politicians. Indeed, a Scottish veneer seems to signify caution and prudence even if worn by break-the-bank gamblers like Gordon Brown.

Scotland has had a far more volatile political scene than Wales in recent decades. Its independence movement has come close to winning a referendum, whilst the SNP has surged and receded with the Tories, Greens, and Labour all having their moments in the sun in the past few years.

Meanwhile, Wales has stolidly returned Labour MPs and MSs with nothing, until now, suggesting that any real drama was likely to erupt and disturb the status quo.

Prime position

You would think, then, that Welsh Labour politicians would be in the prime position to influence and lead the national party. With the possible exception of Nick Thomas-Symonds, however, our representatives enjoy very little national recognition or consideration for the highest offices.

At last year’s election, of course, two of our highest profile city constituencies were contested by Labour candidates who, one suspects, might have struggled to point them out on a map a few months previously.

Both Torsten Bell and Alex Barros-Curtis are tipped for rapid promotion in Keir Starmer’s government, leaving the impression that the reliability of the Welsh electorate is a resource that can be tapped by ambitious national figures, rather than a springboard for Welsh politicians who aspire to national careers.

The deficit in power between the Scottish Parliament and the Senedd is one reason why Scottish politicians enjoy a relatively higher UK profile.

Nicola Sturgeon and the late Alex Salmond had A-list status, to the extent that any politician can.

Whilst Mark Drakeford garnered some coverage during the pandemic, Sturgeon was well-known enough to be impersonated on prime-time TV by Tracey Ullman.

With Labour back in Downing Street, you would think that Welsh politics would be experiencing a purple patch.

Spiritual home

Having been prominent at the birth of the party, and instrumental in the creation of the NHS – its defining achievement, Wales could be described as Labour’s spiritual home.

That historical status, though, partly explains the peripheral position that Wales holds in Labour politics now.

When Neil Kinnock began ‘modernising’ Labour, a Welsh accent had benefits within the party, even if we believe its supposed detrimental effect on the wider electorate.

As party members were softened up for what eventually became Blairism, Kinnock’s cultural identification with industrial Wales lent credibility to the claim that ‘new’ Labour was merely an update; a besuited, modern expression of deeply held, and immovable values.

After Blair tore up Clause 4, and Kinnock had floated to Brussels on a sea of English gratitude, cultural affinity with the heartlands of the UK was left almost entirely to the cartoonish efforts of John Prescott.

It was a throwback, a cheerfully tolerated relic of what once was.

But whilst Labour in England gentrified its appeal and sharpened its vowels, the party’s most loyal voting bases in Wales and the north of England watched their towns fall into ruin.

If these voters showed signs of straying from the pack, then they were explained away as bigots.

Now, though, Labour is not contending with lost sheep but a fugitive flock.

Traditional values

Baroness Morgan’s assertion that she won’t be afraid to criticise the UK party if they are at variance with the traditional values of Labour in Wales came off like an AI approximation of Rhodri Morgan but without the genuine intent.

If this criticism is eventually forthcoming, the Baroness might find herself without a hearing.

Last year, at the height of Vaughan Gething’s troubles I spoke to someone now at cabinet level in Westminster to see what the leadership thought.

They thought nothing because they had no idea anything was going on.

This week’s news of trade deals with India and the USA has seen UK Labour triumphant in mood.

If, however, these seemingly welcome developments do not result in the funding of policies that the Welsh electorate see as being in their interests and aligned with the values of our communities, then they will not translate into Senedd representatives next year.

Wales did more than anywhere to define the soul of the Labour Party, if the party loses here, it has lost more than it may yet realise.


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Chris Hale
Chris Hale
2 days ago

Very perceptive piece.

Unfortunately, when Labour lose their seats, they will not recognise that it is the result of decades of complacency at home and lack of interest in London.

For Labour in Wales this may well be an existential issue.

Annibendod
Annibendod
2 days ago

There are decent people in Welsh Labour whose values are compatible with Plaid Cymru. The only significant difference in a great many cases is the constitutional position. Those folk should understand that support for the UK State is to perpetuate an imperial construct whose constitutional and economic model is detrimental to Wales. The progressive position is to replace the UK with a confederal union fit for purpose. Welsh Labour members should ask themselves if their party delivers the democracy and economy Wales needs. If not, should they not join Plaid Cymru?

Gerallt Llewelyn Rhys.
Gerallt Llewelyn Rhys.
2 days ago
Reply to  Annibendod

Labour is the Ted wall it is not left wing that is why Corbyn lost the Red wall. The Labour party carries the name but not the message. There was a time when any Labour MP could be accepted in any red wall area. No more the red wall is a divided wall.

Darren
Darren
3 minutes ago
Reply to  Annibendod

Exactly this. Welsh Labour are a puppet government to Westminster.
Let’s see some courage from the “good” Labour representatives. Join Plaid, it form your own new left wing party separate from far right Labour.

Erisian
Erisian
2 days ago

Welsh Labour’s only hope is to break away from London and hold the ‘user-friendly-focus-driven-travesty-of-a-sham’ to account, and start acting like a coalition partner rather than a doormat.
Stand not upon the order of your going… Leave now and make Welsh Labour proper Welsh.
Right now they are WINOs : Welsh In Name Only.
People want change for the better. They elected Labour and got Starmer’s Tory Light. Either Welsh Labour make a stance or it’s game over for them here.
Just what people like Nigel-Cosplay-Farago want.

Gerallt Llewelyn Rhys.
Gerallt Llewelyn Rhys.
2 days ago
Reply to  Erisian

Then it will not be Labour it will be another party.

Peter J
Peter J
2 days ago

Currently being in power is the kiss of death in the UK. If you look at all governments for the past 10 years,their popularity plummets within a few months of coming to power. In my view, the UK is slowly becoming ungovernable. The current situation in the UK is you can’t invest in public services, keep taxes low, keep migration low and grow the economy at the same time. I would take issue with the comment about torsten bell. In my view he is just the sort of person you want in parliament – and far more active as a… Read more »

Maesglas
Maesglas
1 day ago
Reply to  Peter J

I completely disagree. Who decides whether a person has talent? You, Starmer, his Spin doctors, or the local electorate? The local party representatives surely. You say Torstan Bell is talented, but already he is in trouble with his electors for not responding to a meeting they want regarding his views on disability benefits. You seem to be saying that talent, as perceived by the leadership, should transcend local party views. However, local representatives must decide otherwise; democracy might as well be abandoned and replaced with an elected dictator – as Lord Hailsham once described. That is largely why, as you… Read more »

Peter J
Peter J
1 day ago
Reply to  Maesglas

It’s a fair point, and not an easy comment to answer. Personally I would like to see more MPs possess senior management or leadership experience from within the public or private sector. A lot of the current batch of MPs and MSs lack this, and it really shows. Especially with the plaid and new labour intake. This is not surprising -if you go to a plaid conference or attend a local labour constituency meeting, the number of people engaging is low. Our local labour party is probably 1/4 the size it was 20-30 years ago. I would personally advocate greater… Read more »

Llew Gruffudd
Llew Gruffudd
1 day ago
Reply to  Peter J

Perhaps you could explain why can’t you Invest in public services, keep taxes low, keep immigration low and grow the economy at the same time. On your later comment. Almost 60% of MPs have a previous background in business, finance, law or politics. This ‘ professionalism hasn’t prevented them making a complete failure of competent government.

Peter J
Peter J
1 day ago
Reply to  Llew Gruffudd

Well, demographics alone mean inevitably rising expenditure on health, pensions, and social care, even when other areas like education, eeconomic development, and regional infrastructure projects are being cut, as is currently happening. Increased borrowing is challenging at the mometn given the current deficit is so high. There was a report on this last week: by 2070, pensions and social care alone are projected to account for approximately 25% of our GDP!

Bert
Bert
1 day ago
Reply to  Peter J

Too many old people and a Ponzi pension system.

Johnson understood this, and its fatal consequences for his Brexit dream, which is why he tried to let Covid rip in the name of freedom.

One solution might be overseas all-inclusive retirement villages, modelled on the Marigold Hotel.

Jones
Jones
1 day ago
Reply to  Bert

I do no think so. That demographic is the lynchpin of Tory support

Bert
Bert
14 hours ago
Reply to  Jones

Which presumably someone pointed out on day 10 of operation dither and delay.

Peter J
Peter J
1 day ago
Reply to  Llew Gruffudd

As for the MPs, I stand by my point that there is a real lack of senior leadership experience among Welsh MPs and MSs. When I surfed through the Wikipedia pages of Welsh MPs a few months ago, I found very few individuals with such experience. Most seemed to be former councillors or mid-level trade union officials. Some come from interesting background – teachers etc, who do also add to the mix in parliament. It’ll be interesting to do a review of backgrounds and how this has changed with time. The traits I expect from an MP include the ability… Read more »

Llew Gruffudd
Llew Gruffudd
1 day ago
Reply to  Peter J

Your comment was regarding the government of the UK and my response was given accordingly. You now seem to have switched to the Senedd, which has an entirely different set of problems and economic restrictions.Perhaps you could indicate which you want a response to.

Felicity
Felicity
2 days ago

Welsh Labour badly needs an injection of new talent. Perhaps the enlargement of the Senedd will bring some more energetic voices to the fore.

Undecided
Undecided
1 day ago
Reply to  Felicity

I agree (and with Peter J); but it’s not just Welsh Labour. The quality of Senedd members is generally very poor with a few exceptions perhaps. In difficult times, it’s become very obvious. Most of them do little more than regurgitate standard party lines.

Felicity
Felicity
19 hours ago
Reply to  Undecided

Improving the quality of future intakes may depend on the level of education provided in schools regarding politics and citizenship, rather than being hidden away under ‘Humanities’. It could also help voters come to informed decision making.

John Ellis
John Ellis
2 days ago

‘Whilst Mark Drakeford garnered some coverage during the pandemic …’ In fairness to him, I think he garnered a fair amount: more than his predecessors, it seemed to me, and largely favourable. I recall him being interviewed, in pretty much the same week, on the BBC’s ‘Good Morning, Britain’ and by James O’Brien on LBC – both UK-wide news and current affairs programmes. And being lauded by both interviewers for being that rare phenomenon, a politician who actually answered the questions posed by the interviewer rather than veering into re-parroting whatever the government’s ‘key message of the week’ happened to… Read more »

Paul
Paul
1 day ago
Reply to  John Ellis

Don’t forget the other First Minister that ‘garnered some coverage’. Not sure if he helped to endear the Welsh Government to Westminster

John Ellis
John Ellis
1 day ago
Reply to  Paul

True enough. I don’t think he did much to endear the Welsh government to voters either; or in the end even to his party!

Maesglas
Maesglas
2 days ago

UK Labour have completely failed Wales and treats it as little more than a dumping ground for English careerist MPs seeking safe seats. Just look at how they have disregarded local opinion and installed Tristan Bell in a Swansea seat, as well as others who have no connection whatsoever with Wales and show no inclination to embrace Welsh culture. We have Stephen Kinnock, who speaks five languages but is not interested in even trying to learn Welsh. The only time that this man seems to mention Wales is when he condemns those who support independence. With few exceptions, most Welsh… Read more »

Dyfrug Caradog-Rhydderch
Dyfrug Caradog-Rhydderch
1 day ago
Reply to  Maesglas

Steve is a brilliant MP who can do OK in Cymraeg.

Y Cymro
Y Cymro
1 day ago

Labour lost its soul many moons ago. Quisling Neil Kinnock started the rot when he became Labour leader in 1983. Who can forget his act of treachery when in 1979 he persuaded Wales reject devolution promising investment and a land of milk and honey only to facilitate 18 years of Thatcherism that devastated the mining communities and later was rewarded with a peerage by the English establishment. And less we forget. The very same Neil Kinnock that accepted a peerage in the 1970s perched on his soap box calling for the House of Lords to be abolished. Hypocrisy personified. I’m… Read more »

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