Ken Skates: Rebuilding Welsh Labour Will Be "A Marathon Not A Sprint" — New Leader Sets Long-Term Recovery Plan

Ken Skates, confirmed as Welsh Labour's leader in July, has warned that restoring the party after the May Senedd election will be "a marathon not a sprint." Labour — which governed Wales continuously since devolution in 1999 — was reduced to nine Members of the Senedd (MSs) in the newly expanded 96-seat Senedd, having previously held 30 of the old 60 seats.

Post-Election Reality

The election result marked the first time in more than a century that Labour did not top the poll in Wales at every UK and Senedd election, finishing behind Plaid Cymru and Reform. The result also prompted the resignation of Eluned Morgan, who lost her seat.

Leader's Response And Strategy

Skates, who served as interim leader immediately after the election, said he is focused on a long-term rebuild. Speaking to Politics Wales ahead of his first conference speech as leader, he acknowledged the scale of the task but expressed cautious optimism about the party's prospects ahead of next May's local elections.

Welsh Labour now has only nine Members of the Senedd (Sarah Murphy not pictured) [Getty Images]

"I'm a runner myself and I love marathons, so I'm ready for it and I'm keen to get on with the job of building the party for the future," he said.

Local Elections And The Clock

All 22 Welsh councils will hold elections next May, giving Welsh Labour limited time to shore up its local base. The party performed strongly in the 2022 local elections — winning 43% of available seats and securing overall control of eight councils — but Skates warned that the favourable conditions of 2022 may not be repeated.

Internal Views And Morale

Inside the party, senior figures acknowledge the scale of the rebuild. One source said the party must be rebuilt "pretty much from dust" and that recovery "could take years." Others point to signs of renewed energy: door-knocking enthusiasm, which was "at rock bottom" in May, has improved, and some insiders praise Skates for making "no mistakes so far." There is cautious belief that, while next May will be difficult, a complete collapse can be avoided.

Devolution And The Conference Agenda

In his conference speech, Skates intends to argue for further transfers of power within Wales. He will stress that devolution was not intended to replicate Westminster in Cardiff and that power should flow both from Westminster to Wales and from Cardiff into local communities.

"Our Welsh government must be strong enough to lead and redistribute and strength doesn't have to mean central control. The principle is simple: Power from Westminster to Wales, power from Cardiff into our communities, power into the hands of people themselves," Skates will say.

As Welsh Labour begins its long recovery, party activists and leaders face a tight timetable and difficult choices — balancing urgent local campaigning with a broader strategy to rebuild trust across communities in Wales.