UK Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer arrived in Llandudno from Estonia.
He used his speech to Welsh Labour conference on Saturday to praise the work of Nato troop, including the Royal Tank Regiment and Royal Welsh Battlegroup.
He said he "was able to thank them first-hand" for their work and added: "I was able to confirm to them, and to senior politicians in Estonia, Labour’s unshakeable commitment to Nato and I was able to reassure them in the face of Russian aggression in Ukraine we stand united in the United Kingdom."
The biggest applause was for his praise of Mark Drakeford after Sir Keir lauded his Senedd election victory last May.
"Here in Wales a Welsh Labour government is the living proof of what Labour in power looks like. How things can be done differently and better. Every day you demonstrate the difference Labour makes, a blueprint for what Labour could do across the UK. So when I am asked how will we win Wales is where I start.
"This is the difference a Labour government makes. Even with one hand tied behind your back by the Tories in Westminster you’re delivering for Wales. You’ve done it without sleazy dealings by working in partnership with local government, with trade unions, with the NHS, with local communities, to get through these challenging times together.
"No illegal parties, no bluster, just honest and reliable leadership, putting the interest and the priorities of people in Wales first. My plan is to deliver a UK Labour government that can match that."
Before his speech we were given five minutes to put your questions to him. This is what he told us.
Why should Wales stay part of the UK when we're dictating dictated to by the Tories who use each new crisis to paper over the last crisis which they've dealt with appallingly?
"What I want to see is is a strong and vibrant Wales in a modern United Kingdom. What I want to see above all else is a Welsh Labour government working with a UK Labour government which will make the world of difference. I completely understand why people are frustrated and fed up with the Tory administration in Westminster. I completely understand that. That's why I'm delighted to be here at the Welsh Labour Conference to explore how we can work better together and to work towards that moment when we have a Labour government in Westminster and the Labour government here."
From exilednortherner on Twitter.
Are you ashamed at the state of the NHS in Wales under the management of Welsh Labour?
"No. The Welsh Labour government I think has led from the front on all of the issues – some of the more easy issues, some of the more challenging issues. And what I've been struck by during the pandemic was the leadership that Mark Drakeford has shown and when I contrast his leadership to that of Boris Johnson Mark's style is reassuring, respectful. He's a man who worked and lived in a room at the bottom of his garden so he could get on with his job and keep his family safe. Contrast that with Boris Johnson, with all the allegations in relation to partygate, the breaking of the rules, and the frankly absurd excuses that he provided afterwards."
Do you support a Welsh-specific Covid inquiry?
"Look, that's really a matter for Wales. In relation to that inquiry there will always be lessons to learn. We, the Labour Party, put out a plan for living with Covid just a few months ago which is about how we reflect on what's already happened and prepare for what might happen next. I do think, and I was struck by, the way in which Mark Drakeford led through Covid. And last year I was out with him campaigning and people would come up to us in the street and thank him for the reassuring, straightforward way in which he led Wales through the pandemic which would be a challenge for any leader."
From Alyn Davies (@A_davies1989) on Twitter.
When will the Forde report be released?
"I haven't got the Forde Report. The QC writing the Forde Report will determine when it's delivered to me and the Labour Party and when it is delivered to me and the Labour Party we will then make arrangements to publish it but I do not have it. I'm not sitting on it."
From @BillDevizes on Twitter.
That January deadline has slipped hasn't it?
"The only reason that deadline has slipped just because of the activities of the Information Commissioner, which have interfered with the publishing of the report."
What would a Labour UK Government do to help ease the crisis of living? How would you bring inflation in line with wages?
"I think the single most important thing that we can do at the moment is to take very effective action to bring down energy bills, which are due to go up by about £700 in April and now forecast to go up by another £1,000 in the autumn. We've said the way to deal with that is to have a windfall tax on oil and gas companies in the North Sea who've made bigger profits than they expected because of the high global price and use that to bring the prices down of energy bills by up to £600 for those that need it most.
"Contrast that with the government that says they will provide a loan for people of about £200 in the autumn, which is six months after they need it, and that loan will then be paid back over a number of years. So there's a very, very clear political divide. We say the oil and gas companies who have made profits they didn't expect to make should play their part. The government says we'll hammer working people yet again."
From @Christoff19801 on Twitter.
To get the latest email updates from WalesOnline click here.
