Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation as prime minister has prompted an immediate demand from Wales’s first minister for a “new relationship” with Westminster – while Downing Street refuses to rule out the prospect of a resignation honours list from the departing leader.
Rhun ap Iorwerth, whose Plaid Cymru toppled Welsh Labour in May’s historic Senedd election, said he was “disappointed” that the Welsh government’s ability to engage with the prime minister had been “hampered by the turmoil in Westminster”. A promised June meeting between the two leaders never took place. In a statement, ap Iorwerth said: “I wish Sir Keir Starmer well as he prepares to leave office. I would like to see his successor recognising that Wales needs a new relationship with Westminster, with a focus on greater powers, fair funding and respect for the democratic mandate delivered by the people of Wales.”
“Welsh first minister demands new relationship with Westminster as No10 refuses to rule out Starmer resignation honours.”
The first minister’s intervention came after Starmer announced on Monday that he would remain in post until a new Labour leader is selected in September. Welsh Labour MPs Tonia Antoniazzi and Ruth Jones told BBC Wales they thought Sir Keir had “done the right thing”. Interim Welsh Labour leader Ken Skates praised the prime minister for bringing the party “back from oblivion”. But Reform’s Welsh leader, Dan Thomas, called for a general election, saying: “The public must decide who governs the country, not Labour members.”
As Starmer prepares to leave Downing Street, the question of a resignation honours list has resurfaced – and his previous pledge not to hand one out appears in doubt. In 2023, asked by BBC Radio 4’s Today programme whether he would issue such a list, he said: “No. There are other opportunities. Tony Blair didn’t have a resignation list. It’s very hard to justify… I think it’s easier to be clean about this and simply say, no, I wouldn’t do it.” He went on to criticise Rishi Sunak for “waving through” Boris Johnson’s honours.
Yet on Wednesday, the prime minister’s official spokesman declined to rule out a list of his own, saying only: “We’re getting ahead of ourselves.” The spokesman also confirmed Starmer would remain as an MP after stepping down. A resignation list could open the door to figures such as Morgan McSweeney, his former chief of staff, who quit No 10 in February after taking responsibility for championing Lord Mandelson for the role of UK ambassador to the US – despite Mandelson’s known friendship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Traditionally, prime ministers can nominate people for honours after leaving office, subject to approval by their successor and the House of Lords Appointments Commission. Liz Truss published a list despite only serving seven weeks; Boris Johnson’s list included two people who attended a lockdown party. In 2016, Lord Cameron was criticised for rewarding “cronies”. Now, Starmer’s own about-turn on honours leaves the question hanging: will he follow his predecessors, or keep his word?