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The Labour<\/a> first minister of Wales has urged voters not to treat the May elections as a referendum on Keir Starmer, calling on them to focus on the country\u2019s future instead, with the party on course for a fight for third place.<\/p>\n Eluned Morgan said it was not the time to send a protest vote to the prime minister when two pro-independence parties \u2013 Plaid Cymru and the Greens \u2013 could end up in power and so much was at stake for the economy and public services.<\/p>\n In an interview with the Guardian, she said she would not retreat from fighting for Wales\u2019s priorities \u2013 even if they were at odds with the UK government\u2019s. But Labour faces an uphill struggle, with polls suggesting<\/a> the Senedd race could end its decades of dominance in Wales.<\/p>\n With Starmer facing renewed leadership pressure from the potential return<\/a> to Westminster of Andy Burnham, she said she was confident the prime minister would \u201cget a grip\u201d on running the country after a turbulent first 18 months in power.<\/p>\n But she declined to answer whether Starmer should lead the party into the next general election, saying it was in the gift of MPs. \u201cThere is no doubt, though, that if Labour performed badly in Wales<\/a> in May, the heat will be put up on Keir,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cI do hope that people in this election will recognise that this is not a time to send a protest vote towards Keir Starmer. This is a time where people have to work out what is best for their communities and delivery of services.\u201d<\/p>\n Reform UK and Plaid are on course to win more seats than Labour, reflecting pressure for change among the public after 26 years of Labour control.<\/p>\n Morgan, however, argued that 14 of those were under Tory austerity from which Wales was only just emerging. \u201cWe\u2019re coming out of it now. We\u2019ve got decent budgets that allow us to look to the future with hope,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you\u2019ve been in power for 26 years, you gain a pretty good idea of how to govern. The UK government are still relatively new in that position, so I\u2019m confident that they will get a better grip on setting out a clearer strategic vision for the country.\u201d<\/p>\n