The test that will define Keir Starmer

The News Agents

Global

Daily News, News, Government, Politics

4.2 • 4.3K Ratings

🗓️ 11 July 2025

⏱️ 45 minutes

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Summary

It would be an exaggeration to say the vultures are already circling the wagon - but there are already conversations taking place about Keir Starmer's future. Bloomberg and Sky have both reported that sources in Labour are already contemplating the prospect of a move against the PM next May after the local elections.

Absolutely crucial to those results will be Wales. Labour has never been out of power since devolution in Wales - more than a quarter of a century ago. But if polling is to be believed, that could. all be about to change. Reform and Plaid Cymru, the Welsh independents, both appear to be edging ahead of Labour. And if that happens it could be a huge problem - both an existential challenge for Welsh Labour, and possibly for the PM himself.

The stakes couldn't be much higher. And with that in mind, Lewis sat down with Eluned Morgan, the First Minister of Wales. In a wide-ranging interview, she talks frankly about her relationship with Keir Starmer, where she thinks Labour needs to move to stop the haemorrhaging of support, and gives one of the most frank assessments yet of Israel's actions in Gaza from a senior Labour figure.

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Transcript

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0:00.0	The Newsagents podcast is brought to you by HSBC UK, opening up a world of opportunity.
0:09.1	This is a global player original podcast.
0:12.8	It's sometimes said that the Conservative Party is the most successful political party in the history of Western democracy.
0:22.6	That isn't completely true. You'll be amazed to hear that sometimes the Tories can be a little bit boastful.
0:25.6	In fact, it's the Welsh Labour Party.
0:28.6	Not only have they come first in every general election in Wales for pretty much a century,
0:34.6	since the creation of the Welsh Parliament in 1999, there has only been
0:41.2	one party in charge, one party that has won every single time, occasionally with a little bit of help
0:48.4	from Clyde Cumbery. And that is Welsh Labour. They are titanic in Welsh politics. They have been an unstoppable force.
0:56.5	Even when Labour nationally in England, in Scotland has been up and down, in and out of power,
1:03.8	Wales and the Welsh have always remained true. But that run might be about to come to an end.
1:10.7	In 2026, there will be elections for the Welsh
1:14.0	Senate. And currently, Labour isn't first in the polls. It's not second in the polls. It's third in the
1:20.5	polls, behind plied and behind reform. It is the job of Elinid Morgan, the Welsh First
1:27.3	Minister only in post for about a year
1:30.1	to stop the unthinkable from happening and to keep Wales red. We've come to Cardiff, to Cardiff
1:37.6	Bay in the magnificent Welsh Senate building, welcome by the First Minister to talk to her
1:42.7	about her political journey, how she's got to where
1:45.7	she is, her vision for Wales, her fears about what might happen next, and her relationship with
1:52.5	Kyr-Stama, Westminster and the rest of the Union. Welcome to the Newsagents.
2:02.6	The Newsagents. The news agents.
2:04.1	Well, First Minister, thank you so much for welcome the news agents to the wonderful
	...

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