Stop Welsh space radar station because of Trump's 'contempt', first minister says

The UK government should stop working with the US on a deep space radar station because Donald Trump has shown "contempt for our country", Welsh Labour leader Eluned Morgan has said.

The first minister threatened to cause a row within Labour by asking her colleagues in Westminster to "halt" plans to put 27 radar dishes at Cawdor Barracks in Brawdy, Pembrokeshire.

The local labour MP said he was concerned that Morgan apparently did not want the jobs promised by the scheme.

The site is in the Ceredigion Penfro constituency where Morgan is Labour's lead candidate for the Senedd election on 7 May.

Plaid Cymru accused Morgan of trying a "last ditch attempt" to save her seat while Reform said she was trying to distract from her record in government.

The Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC) programme - announced by the UK, US and Australia in 2023 - will detect and track objects orbiting Earth.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) wants to refurbish an airfield at Cawdor Barracks so it can house the UK's main contribution to the scheme.

It would keep Cawdor open beyond its original closure date of 2028, but the scheme has been opposed by local campaigners.

In a Facebook reel, Morgan said the project should be "halted", adding: "The United States under Donald Trump is not the partner it once was.

"Talk of targeting civilians, undermining our allies and diminishing the sacrifice of our armed forces is not the conduct of a reliable ally."

She said there was a "clear difference" between standing with partners and "giving a free pass to a US president who has threatened war crimes and shown contempt for our country".

The UK should pause its involvement in the radar project "until we can be confident those partnerships reflect our values and our security interests", she said.

The MOD has previously said DARC "will provide employment and upskilling opportunities within the local community across all sectors".

Labour MP for Mid and South Pembrokeshire Henry Tufnell said: "I'm concerned that the first minster appears not to want the local jobs and economic growth this project offers.

"Our community here in Pembrokeshire has always played a pivotal role in the UK's defence and the DARC project represents the next chapter in our proud heritage.

"The UK government is resolute on using defence to keep our country safe and revitalise the industrial heartlands of our United Kingdom."

A spokesman for opposition leader Kemi Badenoch expressed disagreement with the Welsh first minister's stance, telling reporters that Britain "should not be doing anything that is going to have any sort of economic damage to this country, just because we don't like the occupant of the White House".

"We have got to think far more long term," he added.

A Plaid Cymru spokesperson said: "Since becoming first minister, she has chosen to stay quiet on defence and international affairs, only now speaking up after polls show her losing her seat."

Plaid said it had "consistently opposed DARC alongside local communities".

A spokesperson for Reform UK said it was clear "that Eluned Morgan is focusing on non-devolved issues to distract from her party's appalling record in government with Plaid Cymru".

The Welsh Liberal Democrats, the Welsh Greens and the Welsh Tories were also asked for comment.

All major parties are expected to contest Ceredigion Penfro - you can find a full list of candidates here.