Ken Skates appointed interim leader of Welsh Labour after election hammering
Ken Skates has been appointed interim leader of Welsh Labour following the party’s defeat at Thursday’s Senedd election.
The Fflint Wrecsam MS, who took the only Labour seat in the new six-member constituency, received unanimous backing from the Welsh Labour group on Friday.
His appointment follows the resignation of First Minister Eluned Morgan, who lost her seat in Ceredigion Penfro and stood down as Welsh Labour leader on the same day.
Mr Skates was first elected to the Senedd in 2011 and has held several Welsh Government roles, including Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales.
In a statement following his appointment, Mr Skates said: “Today is just the beginning of a process that will help us to understand what we got wrong.”
He added: “Because we did get it wrong.”
“There is no reading of this result that endorses every action we have taken as a Party, and our task now is to take the time needed and to work out what has happened.”
“It is a task that will require every single one of us to take part in – every member, every councillor, every MS, MP, Lord and all roles in between.”
“But it is not a task that is beyond us.”
Mr Skates set out his view of the party’s role in the same statement.
He said: “I believe today, as I always have, that Welsh Labour is at its best when we are the champions of the people of Wales, our role is to serve, to fight for the issues that matter most.”
“We are the Party that first sent Keir Hardie to Parliament, that created the NHS.”
“We are the Party of devolution, the Party of free prescriptions, universal free school meals, social partnership and the future generations act.”
Welsh Labour was reduced to nine Senedd seats at Thursday’s election.
Plaid Cymru emerged as the largest party with 43 seats, while Reform UK won 34, the Welsh Conservatives took seven, the Greens two and the Liberal Democrats one.
Plaid leader Rhun ap Iorwerth has said he will put his name forward to be First Minister, with the role required to be filled within 28 days of polling.
In Fflint Wrecsam, Reform UK topped the poll with 25,349 votes and took two seats, taken by Cristiana Emsley and Nigel Williams.
Plaid Cymru came second with 18,440 votes, with Carrie Harper and Marc Jones elected.
The Welsh Conservatives polled 9,017 votes and Sam Rowlands took their single seat.
Welsh Labour came fourth on 8,555 votes, with Mr Skates returning and former Cabinet Minister Jack Sargeant losing his seat after eight years representing the Alyn and Deeside area.
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