Former first minister Mark Drakeford says Andy Burnham should be PM

The former first minister Mark Drakeford says Sir Keir Starmer should set a timetable for his exit from Downing Street.

Drakeford, who was the last Welsh Labour leader to have won a Senedd election, said he is backing Andy Burnham to be the next Labour leader and prime minister.

Speaking to Channel 4 News, he said Sir Keir was a "decent man" but "a combination of circumstances and capacity" mean his leadership had not worked out.

He said Burnham could speak "authentically for the wider United Kingdom".

The Greater Manchester mayor is standing in the Makerfield by-election, in a high-stakes attempt to re-enter the House of Commons.

Asked if Sir Keir should go, he said: "Yes, I think he should, but I think he should do it in a planned way, in a dignified way in a way that allows for a smooth transition.

"I think it is irrecoverable both his own personal standing and his ability to lead an effective government on the doorstep.

"I think, quite unfairly, there was a level of hostility towards the prime minister, which I don't think can be recovered."

He added: "We need somebody who speaks authentically for the wider United Kingdom, the regions of England, the nations of the United Kingdom.

"I think Andy is uniquely best to do that, and that's why he will have my strong support."

If Burnham did not win, Drakeford said there would "be another candidate that represents the sorts of views that Andy represents".

Appearing to support Angela Rayner in that scenario, he added: "If Angie were to be the standard bearer of that strand, in the party's opinion, I would be very keen to support her too."

Drakeford said the strategy pursued by Labour in Wales at the last election "was the wrong one".

"We set out to placate people who were never going to be placatable, and in the process we stopped talking to the people who in the past have helped us to construct a majority.

"We spent our time trying to find ways in which we would stop votes leaving to Reform, but votes didn't leave us to reform. Votes left us to other progressive parties."

Welsh Labour MP for Pontypridd, Alex Davies-Jones, said she the last fortnight had been "really painful" and the Senedd election results were "catastrophic" for Labour, which was left with nine seats.

Davies-Jones quit Sir Keir's administration last week.

"Sadly the response here from Westminster and from the prime minister was lacking, and that's why I felt I had to do what I did by resigning from government," she told BBC Wales.

She said that instead of delivering for people the UK government was "stifled" "stagnating", and "in statis".

A quick leadership contest was required, she said, adding she was currently backing the former health secretary Wes Streeting.

"I think Wes has shown he has delivered in government, he has shown that he is a leader and he can win, and that's what we need to drive change forward in the country," said Davies-Jones.

She said the government's handling of the release of files relating to Lord Mandelson's appointment as the UK's ambassador was "shambolic".

"It was one of the things I'm most ashamed of in government is that that process wasn't followed," she said.

Reform have selected Robert Kenyon to stand in the by-election for the upcoming Greater Manchester contest.

Alan "Howlin" Laud Hope is standing for the Official Monster Raving Loony Party,l while Rebecca Shepherd will represent Restore Britain.