Mark Drakeford warns Labour can't be complacent as he admits biggest regret

25 January 2024 , 13:01

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Mark Drakeford will stand down as Labour leader in March (Image: Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)

Welsh Labour must not "rest back on the oars" of being in Government, Mark Drakeford has warned his successor.

The outgoing First Minister said the biggest challenge for the party was not to be complacent after 25 years in power, and said whoever takes over the leadership must be "bold" in their ideas. Speaking to the Institute for Government think-tank in Westminster, he admitted his greatest regret was not being "bold enough" during his five years in post.

He said: "If I had any advice for my successor, which I try not to really, then it's to be bold. The biggest challenge for Welsh Labour, when you have been in power as we have been for 25 years, is renewal and a determination not to just to rest back on the oars or being in Government. Because you could do - you're familiar with government, you've been there a while - if you're not careful.

"I think the challenge for Labour is always to be looking for those radical changes that are necessary. And I was once asked what did I regret? Maybe I sometimes think what I've regretted is that we weren't bold enough when you had the chance to be so."

Mr Drakeford confirmed last month that he would stand down as Welsh Labour leader in March when a successor has been appointed. Economy Minister Vaughan Gething and Education Minister Jeremy Mile are locked in a race to replace him.

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Mr Drakeford's popularity with the Welsh public hit an 18-month low shortly before he announced his decision to quit, as more than half of respondents (56%) said he was doing a bad job of being First Minister. The poll by ITV Wales/YouGov BarnCymru found just 31% of voters thought he was doing well. However he did better than Rishi Sunak as 69% of voters said the PM was doing a bad job.

The data shows the slump in Mr Drakeford's approval ratings, which rocketed during the Covid pandemic. In September 2022, 54% thought he was doing a good job leading the Welsh Government.

The winner of the Welsh Labour leadership race will be declared on March 16.

Lizzy Buchan