Burnham urges Welsh Labour unity after Senedd election defeat

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Nov, 13:01 · Archive

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has addressed Welsh Labour's first conference since the party's historic election defeat in May.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham addressed Welsh Labour's first conference on Saturday, the party's first since its historic defeat in May's Senedd election. Welsh Labour achieved its worst electoral result since devolution, with its lowest vote share in Wales since universal suffrage.

Burnham told members the party had "lost sight of some of the principles that drove devolution in the first place" and urged them to work as 'one Labour team' where 'everyone' was 'signed up and on the same page'. He pledged to "do things differently" and said Welsh Labour would "come back stronger, and we will come back together with a vision for a stronger Wales within a fairer United Kingdom".

A review into the election defeat found that former First Minister Eluned Morgan's political strategy, which emphasised constitutional change such as devolution of policing and the Crown Estate, played a role in the party losing power. According to Prof Anand Menon of PF Global, these calls for constitutional change did not get through to voters. Since becoming prime minister, Burnham has been lobbying the Welsh government to devolve more powers to local councils.

How it is being reported

• Andy Burnham 'lifts mood' as he turns up to Labour Party Conference in Wales and makes passionate speechThe Prime Minister was there to urge Welsh Labour to 'take stock' after its humiliating defeat in the Senedd elections this yearWalesOnline · 14 Nov, 12:30
• Andy Burnham urges Welsh Labour to listen after historic Senedd election defeatThe prime minister will pledge to "do things differently" at the Welsh Labour conference on Saturday.BBC Wales · 14 Nov, 07:29

In this story: Andy Burnham · Eluned Morgan · Ken Skates · Welsh Labour · Wales

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