Welsh Labour review sparks debate over devolution and public-service delivery

Welsh Labour is debating its approach to devolution and public services after an election review criticised its strategy ahead of the May Senedd defeat. Addressing the party conference in Llandudno on Saturday, 14 November, Prime Minister Andy Burnham suggested Labour had lost sight of the aim of passing power down to communities.

Burnham said it was difficult to accept that Labour was no longer governing Wales after 27 years. He called for a united Labour team, closer attention to communities and powers reaching councils and local areas rather than stopping at the national level. His remarks came before publication of the review by PF Global's Professor Anand Menon.

The review said former first minister Eluned Morgan's Red Welsh Way approach became tied to constitutional positioning and the relationship with Westminster without setting out clear everyday policy goals. It said voters judged delivery mainly through the NHS, the cost of living and the economy. A source close to Morgan rejected the criticism, saying she had concentrated on health services and good jobs and blaming a weak campaign and Westminster Labour's unpopularity.

PF Global polled 1,387 adults from August to September. NHS and healthcare access concerned 79% of voters who moved from Labour to Plaid Cymru and 80% who moved to Reform. Only 8% of Labour-to-Plaid switchers identified devolution or independence as a top issue. These figures describe survey groups, not all Welsh voters.

The findings did not amount to a blanket rejection of greater Welsh powers. The review reported support for a stronger Senedd as well as a preference among 73% of adults for more power for regions, councils and local areas over further powers for the Senedd. Party leaders now face a dispute about both where power should sit and what tangible improvements it should deliver.