PRESSURE is mounting on First Minister Mark Drakeford to call for a ceasefire in Gaza, with left allies in Wales urging him to speak out.

Socialist group Welsh Labour Grassroots supported Mr Drakeford for the party leadership and issued a statement on Twitter yesterday demanding he add his voice to support an immediate ceasefire.

The group said: “Many people in Wales will be disappointed that our First Minister has not publicly called for a ceasefire as the First Minister of Scotland has, as well as the leader of Scottish Labour and many other elected representatives.

“On this issue we feel he needs to go further than saying a pause could lead to a ceasefire and actually join those who’ve already called for one outright.”

The group also echoed Mr Drakeford’s famous phrase used to position Welsh Labour to the left of then prime minister Tony Blair’s Labour Party.

“This is the moment to stand by the concept of clear red water and ensure that Welsh voices are heard,” the statement said. “The role of leader of Welsh Labour has a moral responsibility to show desperately needed leadership. 

“We can rarely find it in Westminster, but we have always expected to find it in Wales.”

As 12 of his backbenchers called for a ceasefire, Mr Drakeford told BBC Wales at the weekend that he wanted a humanitarian pause in Gaza to get aid into the region, echoing Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.

On Sunday, Flintshire Labour county councillor Sam Swash urged fellow councillors to sign a letter agreed with the Muslim Council of Wales demanding a ceasefire.

Mr Swash is also a member of Welsh Labour Grassroots, which helped co-ordinate the letter, and he told the Morning Star that 134 councillors had now signed it.

Palestine Solidarity Campaign Cymru honorary president Betty Hunter said: “We are now looking to the Welsh government and First Minister to add their voice to the call for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the siege of Gaza.”

In a letter to the Muslim Council for Wales, Drakeford called for “an immediate pause in hostilities” to ensure humanitarian supplies are distributed widely and to “help create the conditions for a full ceasefire.”

Rhondda Cynon Taf Palestine Solidarity Campaign is holding a vigil for Gaza at 5.30pm today at Aberdare Library, by the peace pole.