Pressure is mounting on the administration of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer after another senior government official, Alex Davies-Jones, stepped down from her ministerial role while openly urging the prime minister to prepare for his exit.
Davies-Jones resigned from her position as Minister for Victims and Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls, saying the Labour government must now embrace “bold, radical action” following what she described as severe electoral losses suffered by the party across the United Kingdom.
In a resignation letter addressed to Starmer and shared on her X account, the Pontypridd lawmaker reflected on her time in office, describing it as deeply meaningful.
“It has been the honour of my life to serve His Majesty’s Government as the Minister for Victims and Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls,” she wrote.
The former minister said she was proud of the policies and reforms introduced during her tenure.
“I have been proud to deliver some monumental changes which will help save lives and shift the dial on the conversation,” she stated.
Despite those achievements, Davies-Jones said she believed the government had fallen short in key areas, leaving her with no option but to resign.
“However, we have needed to do more, and therefore it is with a very heavy heart that I feel I have no choice but to resign,” she said.
She blamed her decision partly on the scale of Labour’s recent election defeats in Wales and other parts of the UK, calling the outcome devastating for the party.
“The scale of the electoral defeats at the Senedd Cymru and across the United Kingdom has been catastrophic. The country has spoken, and we must listen,” the letter read.
Davies-Jones argued that the party could no longer delay urgent reforms after spending years in opposition.
“We waited fourteen years to get into power and change the lives of those we represent. The time now is for bold, radical action,” she added.
In one of the strongest parts of her letter, the lawmaker directly appealed to Starmer to announce plans for his departure.
“I implore you to act in the country’s interest and set out a timetable for your departure,” she wrote.
Even with her criticism of the government’s direction, Davies-Jones still described Starmer as “a good and honest man.”
She ended the letter with the Welsh word “Ymlaen,” meaning “Forward,” a move widely seen as signalling support for a new direction within the party.
Her resignation is expected to deepen tensions within the Labour government, which is already battling growing criticism from both within and outside the party after a series of disappointing election performances. Senior figures are increasingly beginning to distance themselves from a leadership many now see as struggling to maintain confidence and political momentum.