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Eluned Morgan has recently twice refrained from giving unequivocal support to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer within just one week. During this period, the Welsh First Minister made a significant speech in London advocating for the devolution of policing powers. However, when questioned in two separate interviews about Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s dismissal of those demands, Morgan chose not to engage directly.
A Labour insider described Morgan’s Radio 4 interview on Wednesday morning as a “car crash,” suggesting that she did not appear to be speaking openly or candidly. The same source regarded her stance on Sir Keir Starmer as “extraordinary,” believing she could have simultaneously supported him while pushing for greater powers and increased funding.
The relationship between Sir Keir and Morgan, as well as the broader dynamic between UK Labour and Welsh Labour, is expected to come under scrutiny when Starmer visits Wales next. This is an uncomfortably timed issue, given the upcoming Welsh Parliament election, raising the question of whether such internal divisions serve as a distraction for the party. Morgan finds herself navigating a difficult balance—she requires UK Labour to follow through on more powers, financial support, and projects, such as the Wylfa nuclear power station and rail funding, yet also needs to advocate forcefully for additional responsibilities including policing, the justice system, and control over the Crown Estate.
The dilemma extends to timing: while Morgan has been outspoken in the past, including at the Institute for Government and in her “Red Welsh Way” speech last year, she appeared less assertive following Mahmood’s comments last week. Anecdotally, some Labour campaigners report that voters were unimpressed with Sir Keir during the recent Caerphilly by-election. The opposition has capitalized on these perceived divisions, with Plaid Cymru accusing Morgan of lacking influence and the Conservatives warning that her demands could be a step toward Welsh independence—a position denied by both Labour and the Tories.
Support from within Welsh Labour does exist. For example, backbencher Mick Antoniw criticized the Home Secretary’s position on policing, encouraging Morgan to take charge and inject “common sense” into the UK government’s consultation process. Antoniw also acknowledged the complexity of timing in party messaging, stating that Welsh Labour are “not looking for arguments” but must “consistently put our case at every opportunity.” Internal disagreements over devolution within the Labour Party are longstanding, often likened to family quarrels that the party asserts it can withstand. Nonetheless, with the Senedd election approaching and Labour’s position in Wales precarious, the absence of a unified front may pose challenges in convincing voters
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