Starmer should go before next election, says Welsh Labour MP Ruth Jones

Welsh Labour MP Ruth Jones, chair of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee, urged Sir Keir Starmer to outline a timetable for resigning as party leader before the next general election. Jones acknowledged Starmer’s international achievements but criticized his domestic record, including U-turns on welfare reforms and winter fuel payments, which affected public perception. She noted that while Starmer had restored Labour’s majority after years in opposition, his leadership lacked charisma and failed to resonate with voters during doorstep campaigns. Labour faced a significant setback in Wales’ Senedd election, where Plaid Cymru ended over a century of Labour dominance. The defeat intensified pressure on Starmer, who vowed to prove his critics wrong during a press conference. Jones emphasized the need for a structured exit plan, stating Starmer’s six-year tenure had delivered results but required a measured transition. Stephen Kinnock, Labour MP for Aberavon, disagreed with Jones’ call, arguing that public fatigue with Conservative instability justified focus on policies over personalities. He acknowledged Starmer’s early mistake of cutting winter fuel allowances but stressed the need for renewal and hope in Labour’s messaging. Plaid Cymru’s Westminster leader, Liz Saville Roberts, accused Starmer of being ‘in denial,’ claiming his leadership had failed to deliver tangible benefits to the public. Despite internal divisions, Jones insisted Labour would engage productively with Plaid Cymru in government while holding them accountable. The debate reflects broader tensions within Labour over Starmer’s future amid declining public trust and electoral setbacks.