SIR KEIR STARMER’S Westminster troubles followed him to Wales today as the First Minister offered her “lukewarm” support to the beleaguered Prime Minister.

Eluned Morgan finally issued a statement of support for Sir Keir just before the Welsh Labour Senedd group meeting at 11am today.

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth said he had written to the FM last week asking for an investigation into whether Peter Mandelson’s actions had undermined the Welsh national interest.

Mr ap Iorwerth also wanted to know if the FM fully supported the Prime Minister.

“Keir Starmer was elected with a clear mandate to be the prime minister of the United Kingdom, and I support him in the job that he was elected to do,” Ms Morgan said.

The Plaid leader was scornful at the delay before the FM finally offered her support this morning.

He said: “The First Minister of Wales decided to perch on the fence for a while before falling on her party leader’s side. Did she not feel tempted to stand up for the interests of Wales on this occasion?”

The FM came back swinging and told the former broadcast journalist that he no longer worked of the BBC and it was not her job to provide a running commentary on matters at Westminster.

Welsh Conservative leader Darren Millar landed some blows when he said the First Minister had recently said the PM wasn’t welcome in Wales to campaign, unless he brought some goodies with him.

He said: “Isn’t the truth of the matter this: you didn’t have the guts to call for the resignation of the Prime Minister yesterday? Instead, you bottled it.

“At least the Labour leader in Scotland had the courage to speak out, but you sat there in silence, in your bunker, waiting to see what would happen.”

The First Minister said she had contacted Sir Keir after her Cabinet meeting, but before he met Labour backbenchers at Westminster to let him know he had her support.

But Ms Morgan did not say if she had managed to extract concessions like fair funding or the devolution of the Crown Estates to Wales to help her in the May Senedd election.