Alex Barros-Curtis, the Labour MP for Cardiff West, has lost his role as a Parliamentary Private Secretary in the UK Government following the replacement of the Attorney General, according to local political sources.
Change follows ministerial appointment
Barros-Curtis had been serving as a PPS to the Government’s Legal Officers while the post was overseen by then-Attorney General Lord Richard Hermer. The Attorney General role was subsequently taken on by Ellie Reeves, and Barros-Curtis was not reappointed to the PPS position under the new ministerial leadership.
The MP was appointed to the junior government post last year after being elected in the July 2024 general election, when he won the Cardiff West seat with a reduced majority. His selection for the safe seat in 2024 followed the late decision by the outgoing MP Kevin Brennan not to stand.
Contested selection and local tensions
Barros-Curtis’s initial selection was contentious locally: grassroots members were not involved in the choice and a panel set up by Labour’s National Executive Committee selected him for the candidacy. The move prompted friction within local political circles; former First Minister Mark Drakeford, who had previously represented the same constituency at the Senedd, reportedly declined to share an office with Barros-Curtis and relocated elsewhere.
Within government, Barros-Curtis—known in some quarters as “ABC”—was viewed as an early and visible supporter of Keir Starmer. He was described by party insiders as active in pro-Starmer organising during the leadership period that followed Jeremy Corbyn’s resignation.
“ABC was one of Keir Starmer’s most loyal allies, and set up a company to support him when he stood for the party leadership after Jeremy Corbyn resigned. Quite a few of the uber-Starmer loyalists have lost their jobs in government. They were seen by Burnham’s team as faction-ridden and obstructive. ABC is not the kind of guy who gives the impression of being someone burning with ambition to climb the ministerial pole, but he was certainly involved in working with Morgan McSweeney to undermine the party’s left. He was in the minority of Labour MPs who did not nominate Andy Burnham for the party leadership when Starmer quit.”
Who remains in post and local response
By contrast, another first-term Labour MP, Kevin Bonavia, was reappointed as the other PPS to the Legal Officers. Attempts to reach Barros-Curtis for comment were unsuccessful; a message sent asking whether he had been sacked or had stepped down voluntarily remained unanswered at the time of publication.
- Constituency: Cardiff West
- Initial selection: 2024, via NEC-appointed panel
- Government role: PPS to the Legal Officers (appointed last year)
- Current status: Not reappointed following change of Attorney General
| Key date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Parachuted into Cardiff West selection; elected July 2024 |
| Last year | Appointed PPS to the Government’s Legal Officers under Lord Richard Hermer |
| 2026 | Not reappointed after Ellie Reeves became Attorney General |
The development is likely to prompt renewed scrutiny among local Labour activists and constituents about selection processes, internal party alignments and how national reshuffles affect Cardiff representation. Observers will be watching whether Barros-Curtis seeks another frontbench role, returns to backbench activity in Westminster, or faces fresh questions from within his own party in Cardiff West.
Further reporting will follow as party offices and the MP respond to requests for clarification.
