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

Health secretary urges party to take Caerphilly result to heart as Lucy Powell gets to work as deputy leader

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.