Welsh Labour MP quits UK government pressing Starmer for departure timetable

A Welsh Labour MP has quit Sir Keir Starmer's government, urging him to set out a timetable for his departure "in the country's interest".

Pontypridd MP Alex Davies-Jones resigned from the Home Office, the third junior minister to go, describing last week's election results as "catastrophic" for Labour, and calling for "radical action".

Two other Welsh Labour MPs are also amongst 80 now saying Starmer must resign now or draw up a departure schedule, but he insists he is not resigning.

Earlier, Deputy Welsh Labour leader Carolyn Harris said the party's MPs should support the prime minister after Starmer's allies publicly backed him as they left a high-stakes cabinet meeting.

In her resignation letter, Davies-Jones, Minister for Victims and Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls, said: "It is with a very, heavy heart that I feel I have no choice but to resign.

"The scale of the electoral defeats at the Senedd Cymru and across the United Kingdom have been catastrophic.

"The country has spoken and we must listen. We waited fourteen years to get into power and change the lives of those we represent.

"The time now is for bold, radical action. I know you to be a good and honest man.

"I implore you to act in the country's interest and set out a timetable for your departure."

Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens left the cabinet meeting without comment, but made it known beforehand that she was "absolutely loyal" to the prime minister.

At the meeting, in Downing Street, Starmer vowed to "get on with governing" and told his top team a leadership contest had not been triggered.

In chaotic scenes afterwards, several cabinet ministers spoke to reporters.

But Health Secretary Wes Streeting, seen as a likely leadership rival, ignored questions shouted by journalists.

In a social media post after the meeting, Harris, the MP for Neath and Swansea East, said: "Less than two years ago, Keir Starmer won a strong mandate from the British people to deliver change.

"Like many in the Labour Party, I recognise that people want to see that change happen more quickly and feel the difference in their everyday lives.

"But this government has already delivered real progress: NHS waiting lists have fallen for eight months in a row, workers' rights have been strengthened, renters have been given greater security, new measures are helping tackle violence against women and girls, and our railways are being brought back into public ownership."

She added: "A leadership contest would be a distraction at a time when the country is facing serious challenges at home and abroad.

"Keir Starmer should be given the opportunity to deliver the change we promised and get on with the job."

Gower Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast that she thought Starmer's time was up.

"Those election results last week speak for themselves, and that's why, the best thing to do is to do it quickly, to put somebody in as a caretaker prime minister and move forward."

She said she would back Starmer's chief secretary, Darren Jones, for the role, described him as "an absolutely brilliant man".

Newport West and Islwyn Labour MP Ruth Jones has also said the prime minister should set out a timetable for his resignation.

Last week, Labour suffered a bruising set of elections across Britain.

The party emerged from a catastrophic Senedd election with just nine seats in an expanded 96-member chamber.

Plaid Cymru is expected to lead the first non-Labour Welsh government, ending a century of winning elections in Wales.

The election also saw Labour first minister Eluned Morgan losing her seat, leading to her resignation as the leader of Welsh Labour.

Labour also lost almost 1,500 councillors in local elections across England and slumped to its worst ever result in the Scottish Parliament.