Fear and loathing in Llandudno as Drakeford's gamble rattles Labour nerves

Anger at Mark Drakeford, anger at Eluned Morgan, selection chaos – it's just one big happy family in Labour. Ruth Mosalski reflects on the Welsh Labour Conference in Llandudno

- Ruth Mosalski

THERE are a few facts that are inescapably true about the Labour Party in Wales.

It has been in power for a very long time and still commands a lot of support, yet being under the red umbrella of "Welsh Labour" doesn't mean it is one homogeneous group.

In Wales, it has a leader who wasn't its first choice and didn't win a member ballot, while in the UK the party has a leader whose popularity is tanking.

In Wales, the party faces a fight on at least two fronts - the new, populist appeal of Reform on one side and the familiar thorn of Plaid Cymru on the other.

Despite its history, resources, supporters and traditions, Labour is approaching the Senedd elections in May next year fearing two historic disasters - its first defeat in a Welsh election in more than 100 years and the formation of the first Welsh Government since devolution began in 1999 in which it is not the dominant party.

There are many causes for concern nagging at and dividing party members, politicians and leaders.

Among the most divisive are the recriminations over how and why the party was instrumental in bringing in a new electoral system that some believe will cost it the built-in advantage which it has enjoyed through first-past-the post elections for generations.

Mark Drakeford personally comes in for a lot of the criticism.

He is the one who pushed through, alongside Plaid Cymru, the new electoral system for choosing the 96 members of the expanded Senedd.

At first, the new system was seen by political pundits as having been a stitch-up by the two parties, one which would shut out smaller parties and independents through a complex list system whereby Wales would be divided up into 16 super-constituencies, from each of which six Senedd Members would be chosen through a system of proportional representation.

Yet the rise of Reform has left that political calculation looking far less certain.