Question Time audience groans as Fiona Bruce makes Labour MP squirm in brutal grilling

The BBC’s Question Time audience groaned when a Labour frontbencher said Wales’ record is a “blueprint” for a Sir Keir Starmer-led Government.

Shabana Mahmood, the shadow justice secretary, refused to say four times if Welsh Labour was a “blueprint” before saying it was.

When pressed by host Fiona Bruce, she said: “We’re very proud of our record in Wales. It is a blueprint for us.”

As the audience groaned, transport secretary Mark Harper said: “Why? Why are you? It’s terrible.”

In 2022, Labour leader Sir Keir said the Welsh Labour government was the "blueprint for what Labour could do in government across the UK".

Labour has been in control of Wales since 1999 and has been criticised in recent years over NHS waiting lists, poor school performance and tax hikes for second home owners.

A blanket 20mph speed limit in areas which were previously 30mph has also caused fury.

The BBC programme took place in Chester, which is near the England-Wales border.

Ms Mahmood also used her time on the panel to say she has “full confidence” in Vaughan Gething despite the Welsh First Minister losing a no confidence vote in the Senedd on Wednesday.

She said: “I have full confidence in Vaughan Gething. He has not broken any rules. He has said that the surplus that was donated to him will be donated to progressive causes.

“What we saw happen the other night in the Senedd was a political gimmick led by the Tory party, aided and abetted by their friends in Plaid [Cymru], and actually we have full confidence in Vaughan.

“He needs to be able to get on with his job. He’s a democratically elected leader in Wales and he has the full confidence of the Labour Party.”

Vaughan Gething vowed to carry on leading the Welsh Government after losing the vote in the Senedd 29-27.

He was in Normandy today attending the national commemoration at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer.