Ken Skates named new leader of Welsh Labour

NewsPoliticsPoliticsNo-one stood against Mr Skates in the contest09:42, 15 Jul 2026Ken Skates has been confirmed as the new leader of Welsh Labour.‌He has held the role on an interim basis since May 9 – the day after results from the Senedd election were known.‌At the election the party went from being the biggest party to the third and from half of the then-60 seat Senedd to 11 of the new 96-seat parliament.‌No-one stood against Mr Skates for the role.It was voted by members of the Senedd group and all nine members backed him. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter hereMr Skates, 50, said: "I am deeply honoured to have the unanimous backing of my colleagues in the Senedd in seeking the leadership of Welsh Labour.‌"I joi