Labour must counter ‘growing sense of despair’, Streeting warns after Welsh defeat

‘The worst thing you can do after a result like this is pretend the voters were sending a different message,’ Wes Streeting said. Photograph: Jordan Pettitt/PA

Senior Labour figures including Wes Streeting have said the government must show optimism and that it is bringing about change after losing a Welsh Senedd byelection amid rising concern about midterm fatigue and a loss of momentum.

The health secretary warned that the party must counter a “growing sense of despair” and show voters tangible proof of change after its defeat last week in Caerphilly, a town that had been Labour for more than 100 years.