July 09, 2026 - 135 views
Ken Skates is expected to become the new leader of Welsh Labour after the party brought forward the process to replace former First Minister Eluned Morgan.
The leadership contest had originally been due to begin in September, but Welsh Labour announced on Wednesday evening that its nine Members of the Senedd (MSs) will now have seven days from today to declare who they support.
Mr Skates, the Senedd member for Fflint Wrecsam, has been serving as interim leader since May’s Senedd election, which saw Labour reduced to just nine seats and lose control of the Welsh Government to Plaid Cymru.
No other candidate is currently expected to enter the contest, meaning Mr Skates is likely to take over the leadership without a wider ballot.
Mr Skates said his aim would be to “build a new movement from the community up”, as the party begins rebuilding following its historic election defeat.
Welsh Labour had led the Welsh Government for 27 years before losing power, with the election also seeing former leader Eluned Morgan lose her Senedd seat.
Mr Skates has previously been linked with the leadership role but has never formally stood. He was a co-chair of Vaughan Gething’s successful leadership campaign in 2023 and served as transport minister in the previous Labour administration.
He is seen as being positioned towards the centre of the party, compared with the more left-wing approach associated with former First Minister Mark Drakeford.
The leadership change comes as Welsh Labour faces the challenge of rebuilding its support ahead of the next Senedd election and responding to growing competition from Plaid Cymru and other parties.
