“Mark’s compassionate leadership could not have been more distant from the callous disregard for life and the shambolic cronyism so often exposed in Westminster.”
Welsh Labour Grassroots published the following statement paying tribute to Welsh Labour Leader Mark Drakeford after his resignation announcement on December 13th, 2023.
Welsh Labour Grassroots pays tribute to Mark Drakeford for his principled leadership of Welsh Labour and for the job he has carried out as the First Minister of Wales. As early supporters of Mark’s campaign to become leader of Welsh Labour, Welsh Labour Grassroots (WLG) honours not just the progressive elements of Mark’s agenda in government, but also the manner in which he chose to lead.
During the pandemic, Mark’s compassionate leadership could not have been more distant from the callous disregard for life and the shambolic cronyism so often exposed in Westminster. We could always rely on Mark to stand with workers, to defend devolution, and hard-won rights. Throughout his leadership, Mark has continued to put his head above the parapet to oppose attacks on trade unions, refugees and the trans community, when others in similar positions have remained silent.
This is Mark’s legacy: that example in UK politics that our political class does not have to be a morally vacuous exposition of divide and rule, but instead can be about moral clarity, compassion, and kindness.
With Mark’s departure, the future of ‘clear red water’ is hanging in the balance. Whilst the Westminster political class continue to offer varying shades of status quo neoliberalism, Welsh Labour has the opportunity to continue on a different, brighter path.
WLG is clear about the demands of not just the job, but of the times in which we live. We need bold and radical policies from rent controls and municipally-owned public transport, through to the extension of universal free school meals and a Universal Basic Income.
WLG stands ready to lead the campaign for 21st century socialist policies in Wales.
- You can view Welsh Labour Grassroots’ statement on Twitter.
- WLG is the organisation of the Labour Left in Wales, affiliated to Momentum. You can follow WLG on Facebook and Twitter.
