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There’s no hiding from how difficult the last few days have been for the Labour Party, both here in Wales and across the rest of the United Kingdom.

As the Member of Parliament for Newport West and Islwyn, I must consider what is best for my constituents. Although I was glad to see the Prime Minister accept responsibility for failings across the country during his speech this morning, he failed to mention Wales – a country which has been supported by Labour and has in turn delivered Labour representation at all levels of government. 

Having spent the last few months knocking doors in the run up to the Senedd election, the issues coming up were not tweaks to our relationship with the European Union, or future promises of more wholesale changes, but the cost of filling up a car, and putting food on the table. These are the realities those caught up in the ‘Westminster Bubble’ fail to understand, even now.

The voters at the ballot box here in Wales shared those frustrations. I’d like to take a moment to thank the hard work of the former First Minister, Eluned Morgan, as well as the brilliant Welsh Labour candidates across Wales who struggled to cut through the noise coming from London. 

With this in mind, I am calling on the Prime Minister to set out a timetable for an orderly transition to a new leadership. As we rapidly approach council elections in 2027, the Labour Party needs to be clear on its messaging and demonstrate a plan as to how it can bring about positive change during these testing times. 

The Prime Minister has done brilliant work in landing us a huge majority at the last election after years in opposition, and his reassuring presence on the international stage has been most welcomed during a time of instability across the globe.

It is with deep regret that we have reached this point, however we must listen to the people of Wales, and across the UK, who have categorically rejected our current plan and trajectory. In the coming contest I look forward to seeing a return to our core values as we seek to deliver meaningful change.