Welsh Labour's Devolution Strategy Under Scrutiny

The report by Prof Anand Menon, of PF Global, said Morgan's calls for constitutional change like the devolution of policing and the Crown Estate did not get through to voters (source ID: 1). A source close to the former first minister said it was "ludicrous" to suggest that Morgan was focused on constitutional issues. Meanwhile, Welsh Labour leader Ken Skates has criticised his party for focusing too much on powers for the Senedd. [1]

Menon's criticism of the Red Welsh Way was one of several findings in his review of what went wrong at the May election (source ID: 1). It included that the party suffered a long-term decline in support to other left-wing parties, laid bare as Labour took flak for dissatisfaction with public services at both UK and Welsh levels. The review said Labour should set itself against Plaid Cymru's "constitutional project", by seeking more powers based on what they would deliver rather than "debating powers in the abstract", prioritising the NHS, the economy and the cost of living. [1]

Prime Minister Andy Burnham addressed the Welsh Labour conference, acknowledging that the party may have lost sight of the principles of devolution that initially drove its policies (source ID: 1). Burnham emphasized the need for a unified Labour team in Wales and expressed a commitment to devolving more powers to local councils. He stated that the party had not done enough to pass powers down to communities and that it was 'hard' to accept the loss of power after 27 years of running the Welsh government. [1]

The report by Prof Anand Menon of PF Global indicated that former First Minister Eluned Morgan's political strategy, which focused on constitutional changes such as the devolution of policing and the Crown Estate, did not resonate with voters (source ID: 1). The review found that the strategy 'struggled to land on everyday policy, instead tied up in constitutional positioning and the relationship with Westminster.' It noted that Morgan's approach was similar to Rhodri Morgan's 'clear red water' strategy but did not achieve the same level of success. [1]

Menon's criticism of the Red Welsh Way was one of several findings in his review of what went wrong at the May election (source ID: 1). The report highlighted weaknesses in political communication and the lack of clear answers when voters wanted them. It also noted that Welsh Labour voters who switched to Plaid Cymru scored more strongly on Welsh identity than those who remained with Labour, though the report suggested that the result was not necessarily about Welsh identity, as it had been flat for a decade. [1]

Prime Minister Andy Burnham addressed the Welsh Labour conference, acknowledging that the party may have lost sight of the principles of devolution that initially drove its policies (source ID: 1). He emphasized the need to focus on delivering power to communities, suggesting that the previous Labour government did not do enough to pass powers down to local areas. Burnham noted it was "hard" to accept the party's defeat after 27 years of running the Welsh government. He also mentioned the publication of a review into what went wrong at the May election, which pointed to former First Minister Eluned Morgan's political strategy as a factor in the party's loss of power. [1]

The report by Prof Anand Menon of PF Global said Morgan's calls for constitutional change like the devolution of policing and the Crown Estate did not get through to voters (source ID: 1). Menon's criticism of the Red Welsh Way was one of several findings in his review of what went wrong at the May election (source ID: 1). The report highlighted that Welsh Labour voters who switched to Plaid Cymru scored more strongly on Welsh identity than those who remained with Labour. It also noted that voters tended to judge whether a party stands up for Wales mainly on delivery: The NHS, the cost of living, and the economy. [1]

Menon's report indicated that the Labour campaign shifted from the Red Welsh Way to "power in partnership" but still did not provide clear policy objectives (source ID: 1). The review said that Welsh Labour voters who switched to Plaid Cymru tended to prioritize issues like the NHS, the cost of living, and the economy over constitutional changes. It also noted that only 8% of Labour to Plaid switchers named devolution or independence as a top issue, while 49% wanted a stronger Senedd and 26% wanted independence. [1]

Sources

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Prepared with AI assistance from the cited sources.