Former economy and transport minister takes charge after party’s historic Senedd election defeat

KEN SKATES has been confirmed as the permanent leader of Welsh Labour after receiving the unanimous backing of the party’s nine remaining Senedd members.

The former Welsh Government minister had served as interim leader since May, following Eluned Morgan’s resignation after Labour’s historic defeat in the Senedd election.

Welsh Labour opened nominations for a permanent successor last week, beginning with nominations from the Labour group in the Senedd. All nine members nominated Mr Skates, meaning he was confirmed as leader without the need for a wider contest.

He now faces the considerable task of rebuilding a party which governed Wales for more than a quarter of a century but was reduced to third place at the election, behind Plaid Cymru and Reform UK.

Accepting the leadership, Mr Skates said he was “deeply honoured” to have received the unanimous support of his Senedd colleagues.

He said: “I joined the party as a 14-year-old, and my belief still stands that no child’s future should be determined by their background.

“That no young person should be judged on anything other than the efforts they make and the decency they show to others.

“The Labour movement for me is a movement for fairness, justice, security and liberty. It is a movement that seeks to empower people and communities, to fight against injustice, intolerance, nepotism and cruelty.”

Mr Skates was first elected to the Senedd in 2011 and has held a series of senior Welsh Government positions, including responsibility for transport, the economy and infrastructure.

He was returned to the Senedd in May as a member for the new Fflint Wrecsam constituency.

His appointment comes as Welsh Labour attempts to understand the reasons behind its dramatic electoral decline and establish a new role in opposition.

Deputy Welsh Labour leader Carolyn Harris MP said Mr Skates had her full support as he began the process of rebuilding the party.

She said: “I offer my warm congratulations to Ken. He has my full backing as he undertakes the big task ahead of him, listening, learning, rebuilding and doing that crucial job of holding Plaid Cymru and Reform UK to account in the Senedd.

“I have no doubt he has the energy, thoughtfulness and optimism to take us forward and I look forward to working alongside him.”

Mr Skates must now seek to restore public confidence in Welsh Labour while distinguishing the party from the new Plaid Cymru-led Welsh Government and the Labour administration at Westminster.

Incoming Prime Minister pledges to move power out of Westminster and deliver growth in every postcode, but questions remain over funding, devolution and what his new government will mean for Pembrokeshire

ANDY BURNHAM is preparing to enter Downing Street on Monday as Britain’s new Prime Minister, beginning another chapter of political change at Westminster.

The former Mayor of Greater Manchester was formally elected leader of the Labour Party on Friday, receiving the support of 379 Labour MPs and 23 affiliated organisations.

Sir Keir Starmer is expected to tender his resignation to the King on Monday, before Mr Burnham is invited to Buckingham Palace and asked to form a government.

He will then travel to Downing Street, deliver his first address as Prime Minister and begin appointing his Cabinet.

Mr Burnham is expected to place the cost of living, regional inequality and the transfer of power away from Westminster at the heart of his administration.

His arrival will be watched closely in Wales, where political leaders, businesses and communities will want to know whether his promise to bring “good growth to every postcode” will extend to rural and coastal areas far from Britain’s largest cities.

For Pembrokeshire, the central question will be whether a change of Prime Minister produces tangible investment in energy, transport, public services and employment, or simply another change of leadership in London.

A promise to spread power

Mr Burnham has built much of his political identity around the argument that Britain is too centralised and that decisions affecting communities should not always be made in Westminster and Whitehall.

He has promised to transfer power to nations, regions and local communities, describing Westminster as a system which has failed too many parts of the country.

However, his proposals for Wales have already created questions about where any additional powers would go.

During a major speech in June, Mr Burnham said he would offer new opportunities to extend devolution in Wales. He suggested that this could mean moving decision-making closer to councils and communities, rather than simply transferring additional responsibilities from Westminster to the Senedd.

That distinction could become one of the first significant points of debate between the new Prime Minister and the Welsh Government.

First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth has said Wales needs fairer funding and parity of powers with Scotland, while Welsh Labour figures have welcomed the principle of bringing decision-making closer to local communities.

Opposition parties have also called for clarity over whether Mr Burnham intends to devolve control over areas including rail infrastructure, the Crown Estate, taxation and borrowing.

What will change for Pembrokeshire?

In west Wales, the new government is likely to be judged less by its political slogans and more by whether people see improvements in their everyday lives.

Pembrokeshire’s energy industry will be among the most important issues.

The Milford Haven Waterway remains central to Britain’s energy infrastructure, while the transition towards renewable energy and floating offshore wind could determine the future of thousands of jobs across the region.

Local businesses and workers will want clear commitments on port infrastructure, grid capacity, skills, investment and the protection of well-paid industrial employment.

Transport will present another test.

Long rail journeys, limited services and poor connections continue to make it harder for residents and businesses in west Wales to access opportunities elsewhere in the country.

If Mr Burnham intends to build his premiership around reducing regional inequality, campaigners will argue that investment cannot stop in Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff or Swansea.

The particular pressures facing rural communities will also require attention.

Many households in Pembrokeshire are heavily dependent on cars, face higher transport costs and have limited access to public services. Rising food, energy and housing costs can be particularly severe in communities where wages remain below the UK average.

The future of tourism, agriculture, fishing and small businesses will also depend on decisions made by the new government on taxation, employment rules, energy prices and support for regional economies.

Cost of living to be early priority

Mr Burnham’s allies have indicated that helping households with the cost of living will be one of his immediate priorities.

He is expected to scrap the government’s planned digital identity scheme and redirect attention and resources towards household finances.

Measures to reduce energy bills and transport costs are also reportedly being considered, although the full details of his programme are unlikely to become clear until he has appointed his Cabinet and addressed Parliament.

Mr Burnham has indicated that he will broadly retain Labour’s commitment not to increase income tax, National Insurance or VAT.

However, he will inherit significant financial pressures across the NHS, social care, defence, local government and public infrastructure.

Those pressures could make it difficult to deliver major improvements without additional borrowing, spending reductions or changes elsewhere in the tax system.

No immediate general election expected

Mr Burnham will become Prime Minister without a general election, as the Labour Party continues to hold a majority in the House of Commons following its 2024 election victory.

Under Britain’s parliamentary system, a governing party can replace its leader without immediately returning to the electorate.

Opposition parties are nevertheless expected to demand an early general election, arguing that Mr Burnham should seek a personal mandate for any substantial change in government policy.

The incoming Labour leader has so far indicated that political stability is needed and that he does not intend to call an immediate election.

He will become the sixth person to serve as Prime Minister in a decade, inheriting a country facing stretched public services, economic uncertainty and growing public frustration with Westminster politics.

Wales will expect more than warm words

Mr Burnham enters office presenting himself as a champion of places which have been overlooked by successive governments.

His record in Greater Manchester means expectations will be high, particularly among communities which believe economic investment and political attention have been concentrated elsewhere.

But governing for the whole of the United Kingdom will require him to demonstrate that his regional agenda can work beyond England’s major metropolitan areas.

For Wales, that will mean resolving questions about funding, constitutional powers, rail infrastructure and the relationship between Westminster, the Senedd and local councils.

For Pembrokeshire, it will mean showing that promises of growth, investment and decentralisation can reach communities at the western edge of the country.

The names and faces inside Downing Street may be changing once again.

The test for Andy Burnham will be whether anything changes outside it.

IMAGES of a new indoor market planned in Llanelli have been released along with details of a scheme Carmarthenshire County Council hopes will become a busy destination.

The plan is for 14 retail units on the ground floor of the Vaughan Street complex, 80 stalls on the first floor, and a central glass atrium above. There’d be bike racks and escalators and all toilets would be on the first floor.

Deliveries would be via Mincing Lane at the rear along with a few parking spaces close by.

Miriam Phillips, who runs a fruit and veg stall at the current market by St Elli Shopping Centre, said of the plans: “They look all right so far. It’s still early days.” She said traders had a meeting with council representatives about them last week.

Parvez Akhtar, of Parvez Fashions, said he was “totally against” the proposals and called on the council to upgrade the current market and focus on filling empty shops in Llanelli.

He felt the new market would be “very small” and deter people from visiting. “We need space and to display our products,” he said.

Fellow trader Gabor Hetesi, of IT repair business Gabe’s IT Repair, was optimistic about the plans but wondered about timescales and what the new rental arrangements would be. “The plans are looking good, it looks promising,” he said.

The council is asking for people’s views on the proposals by August 7 ahead of a full planning application being submitted.

A design and access statement about the project said the current market building with its multi-storey car park above dated from the 1970s and contained a material called reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete which is less durable than standard concrete and can fail when exposed to moisture.

It said the council undertook significant work in 2013 to maintain the building’s structural safety along with ongoing maintenance.

Options were explored such as distributing stalls and units throughout the town and reusing the existing site once the car park was demolished.

The council’s preferred option is a new-build market between 8-14 Vaughan Street extending a long way to the rear. Six of the ground-floor retail units would face onto Vaughan Street and the market’s total area would be 3,312sq m.

“Internally each floor has a distinct identity and character,” said the design and access statement.

“The internal route is deliberately meandering, encouraging visitors to explore past retail and market stalls.

“The first floor is more informal and accommodates the majority of market stalls. It also features a large café, visible from the entrance, which naturally draws visitors through the building and up to the first floor.”

It said the current market has 3,664sq m of floorspace featuring 17 retail units and 110 stalls.

Cllr Hazel Evans, deputy council leader and cabinet member for regeneration, leisure, culture, and tourism, said: “These proposals represent an exciting opportunity to create a modern new home for Llanelli Market and further strengthen Llanelli town centre.

“Through the pre-application consultation process we want to hear the views of residents, businesses, and stakeholders to help shape the proposals before a planning application is submitted.”

She added: “It is important to emphasise that Llanelli Market will remain open and continue trading throughout this process with any future relocation carefully planned to support traders and customers.

“Our ambition is to create a vibrant destination that supports traders, attracts visitors, and builds on Llanelli Market’s proud history at the heart of the community.”