Welsh Labour leader admits Keir Starmer is ‘an issue on the doorstep’ as party braces for heavy election defeat

The Welsh Labour leader has admitted Sir Keir Starmer is "an issue on the doorstep" as the party braces to potentially lose control of the Senedd after 27 years in power.

Baroness Morgan of Ely, who leads Welsh Labour, warned the Prime Minister could bear responsibility for what is expected to be a disastrous result in Thursday’s elections.

Current polling puts Labour in third place behind both Plaid Cymru and Reform UK in the race for the 96-seat Welsh parliament.

Asked whether protest votes against the Prime Minister could hand power to rival parties, Lady Morgan told The Telegraph: "There is a danger that could happen."

The First Minister - who is herself predicted to lose her seat - also delivered her strongest criticism yet of Sir Keir’s leadership.

She declined to back him remaining party leader beyond "this point in time", though insisted removing him immediately would not be "helpful" for Labour.

Pressed on whether Sir Keir would still lead the party into the next General Election, Lady Morgan refused to commit.

The Welsh Labour leader also admitted the Prime Minister regularly comes up as an issue among voters during campaigning.

"Of course there are times when he comes up as an issue on the doorstep," she said.

Despite her warning, she urged Welsh voters not to use the election simply to punish the Prime Minister.

"It isn't a time, I think, to pick a fight with Starmer. There's a general election, that's the time to do that," she added.

Her intervention comes as Labour MPs are said to be drawing up plans to pressure Sir Keir into setting a date for his resignation amid fears of a local election wipeout on Thursday.

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A group of disaffected backbenchers is reportedly attempting to rally support for a leadership challenge once the vote is over

Labour is braced for losses of around 1,900 council seats in England, while also facing the prospect of trailing both the SNP and Reform UK in Scotland.

Housing Secretary Steve Reed has warned against Labour cycling through leaders too quickly, cautioning the party not to repeat the instability seen under the Conservatives.

Ministers are also said to believe any serious move to remove Sir Keir from Downing Street would "have to come from the backbenchers".

Under Labour rules, a challenger would require support from 20 per cent of Labour MPs - equivalent to 81 parliamentarians.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting and former Deputy PM Angela Rayner are both believed to have enough support to mount a challenge, though both are reportedly reluctant to make the first move.

Ms Rayner is said to have held private talks with Armed Forces minister Al Carns - who has also emerged as a possible contender - as she looks to strengthen her credentials on defence ahead of any potential leadership bid.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham - another figure regularly linked with the top job - is said to be exploring a return to Westminster, as he cannot stand without first regaining a Commons seat.

GB News has approached Downing Street for comment.

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