Two very different leaders speeches. What we learned from Welsh Labour conference

Welsh Labour leader Ken Skates and UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham(Image: Getty Images)

Two leaders took to the stage today at a Welsh Labour conference coming on the back of the party's historically bad electoral performance in the last Senedd vote. The Prime Minister and UK Labour leader Andy Burnham can distance himself from that low point - having taken the reins in the months after the May wipe-out.

Welsh Labour leader Ken Skates wasn't heading up the party when the catastrophic result was delivered - with Eluned Morgan carrying the can, although many of the failings that led to their collapse came ahead of her tenure.

It is now Skates' job to rebuild the party in Wales and win back the trust of the Welsh people, who had previously kept them in power since devolution in 1999.

This morning it was clear who the main act was when speaking to members as the 'Burnham bounce' had clearly injected a dose of optimism into members battered by their experiences on the doorstep in May.

This meant his speech was eagerly awaited in the conference hall - leaving every seat taken.

Unsurprisingly he was welcomed to the stage to rapturous applause - the crowd on their feet, and in his hands. I expected this to be one of those speeches where the audience spent half their time rising from their seats, and constant breaks for clapping.

But in all honesty it fell a little flat.

It had its moments, and Burnham was particularly powerful when he spoke about his visit to Aberfan on the 60th anniversary of the tragedy that killed 116 children and 28 adults.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham speaks during the Welsh Labour conference at Venue Cymru (Image: Getty Images)

He spoke passionately about the disaster and the way the community was utterly failed, both before and after the spoil tip collapsed. He drew parallels with the Hillsborough families and their fight for justice. You could tell these injustices meant a lot to him and Hillsborough had shaped his politics by highlighting the disregard the 'establishment' had for working class families.

But at times the speech drifted, a somewhat rambling performance that failed to build on the passion that was in the room as he took to his feet. It was simply not that memorable.

This was reflected by the fact the applauses were few and far between and he didn't get the crowd back on their feet until he brought the speech to a close.

His presence was the key reason this conference was held in a spirit of optimism but while the speech didn't bomb, it also failed to inspire.

When Ken Skates took to his feet the crowd had thinned but the conference hall was still three quarters full and there was real enthusiasm from those who were there.

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Welsh Labour leader Ken Skates speaks during the Welsh Labour conference at Venue Cymru (Image: Getty Images)

I've followed Ken Skates for some time in my role as a news reporter and business editor. I know he is held in high regard and was known for being on top of his brief, all in all a very competent minister.

The doubts I had over him as a leader would be whether he has that tough and ruthless streak required, and if he was able to deliver speeches that would inspire. It is one thing to be competent, another to lead and inspire others, particularly when you are in the trenches, as the party in Wales is right now.

Today he answered the second element of those concerns with a speech that I thought genuinely sent members away with a sense of purpose.

He did not hold back on the disastrous election although also won support by making clear that while Eluned Morgan was holding the baton when the death knell was rung she was only in this position due to the mess created by others.

His delivery was short and punchy - perhaps reflecting the journalism background he comes from. It was done with passion and was aimed at reiterating what he said was the fundamental purpose of the party of improving people's lives, particularly those who are less well off.

He admitted these people had drifted from the party, some to Plaid and others to Reform, parties he grouped as 'Plaid and Prejudice' in the only line from both speeches that got a genuine laugh.

It was one of several digs at Reform - although his simple clear messaging was something he had perhaps taken from the success of that party and the Brexit campaign a decade ago.

Skates spoke about losing his mum a year ago and what she did for her five children while their dad was forced to work away from North Wales after the closure of the steelworks in Flintshire. This was him spelling out the core values he holds dear about hard work and supporting families.

It is a long way back for a party decimated by the last election. Burnham will be a key part of getting them back on track as they head to local elections next year. But today Skates answered those critics who doubted his capacity to lead and inspire and sent members away with a fillip before that next electoral test.

I heard one senior member say he "grew 12 inches" on the stage today and you couldn't really argue with that.

Chief reporter on North Wales Live and Daily Post. Former business editor on the Daily Post and previously worked on weekly newspapers in North Wales and Manchester. Passionate about Cymru, rugby, Everton FC, and almost any flavour of nut. Full time cabbie to 3 daughters.

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