Hours after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced his resignation, WalesOnline asked voters in south Wales for their views on his departure, whether it should trigger a general election, and their thoughts on the sole candidate for the top job, Andy Burnham.
Low appetite for another general election
Among the voters WalesOnline spoke to, the appetite for a general election seemed low. Less than two months have passed since May's Senedd elections, and few people are ready to rush back to the polls.
Dai Phillips said: "Well it certainly didn't happen under the revolving door of Prime Ministers by the Tories. I think people are probably fed up of elections. It's only two years into a five year parliament so I don't think it's right. Stick with the current system instead."
Toby Davies echoed this feeling, saying the results of the 2024 general election should be honoured: "I don't think there should be a general election. Two years ago the whole country went to the polls and they made their choice. Whether you agree or disagree with that, that was the choice we made. We should go with that, it's five years and I think we need to stay with that and trust that the party we elected is going to do a good job for us."
Mixed views on Starmer's performance
Opinions on Sir Keir were mixed. Most people appeared largely unfazed despite a shocking set of results in the local and devolved elections, which had put him under heavy pressure to resign in recent weeks.
Dai said: "I thought he should've stayed. I do think Starmer got a bit of a hostile press so I don't think it's going to be any different under Andy Burnham. It's a difficult job to have at the moment, I certainly wouldn't want it, but I think he did alright."
David Parry thought the PM had been missing some qualities: "I think there were some good and bad points, I just felt that he needed to be a stronger leader, a little bit more charismatic and a bit more forceful."
Mike added: "I don't think he achieved very much. I don't think he was a good Prime Minister or a bad Prime Minister - I think he was a nothing Prime Minister in the end."
Concerns about stability and Burnham's direction
Stan Griffiths said: "I think he did as well a job as he could do but I think it would be a big mistake if they change him now." He explained he was worried about the stability of the country and how yet another new PM would look on the world stage. "Anymore changes are not going to make the rest of the world very happy. I would suggest he stays and it then goes to a general election at some stage."
Another person who thought Sir Keir should stay was Jennifer Griffiths. Despite not being a Labour voter, she said ousting the PM now would be a "big mistake".
On Monday, as the new MP for Makerfield was sworn into Parliament ending a 10 year absence from the Commons, some people in Wales thought his arrival could signal a positive change for Labour, while others were wary about the direction he might push the party in.
David Atkinson said he thought Mr Burnham was more realistic than Sir Keir but wasn't convinced he'd shown anything yet that made him feel particularly more favourable towards the 'king of the north'. He said the hopeful PM should change the policy on the North Sea but admitted Wes Streeting, who has subsequently given Mr Burnham his backing, was more his "wing" of the Labour party.
David Parry thought Mr Burnham could have the potential to make a big difference if he proves to be as honest as he was hoping: "According to what he's said and what I've seen, and if he's honest which would be a bonus, then yes I think he would make a big difference."
However, Mike was worried he would push the Labour Party away from the centre and more towards the left. He told WalesOnline: "I'm afraid he (Mr Burnham) will go further to the left which I'm afraid is what the party want so that they can use Keir Starmer to get elected and then they will get their leftist Prime Minister."
Sally Hogwood expressed fear about what would happen if an election was called: "Possibly (there should be one) but the fear is Nigel Farage would get in and that is a big fear as far as we're concerned."
