Bethan Jenkins AC/AM Blog

Huw Lewis and Edwina Hart both raced to announce that they would be standing for the Labour Leadership contest in Wales after a somewhat hesitant announcement by Rhodri Morgan on Thursday that he would be leaving the position in December- ‘ I still love the job, I don’t want to leave..but I won’t be pushed out’ was the crux of it..

Huw Lewis got in there first, and there is no doubt that he will be pleased to get the nominations he needs. Guerilla Welsh Fare implies there are no surprises in the names of the AMs supporting him, and yes, they are the ones who opposed the One Wales agreement.

I have heard various opinions about Huw Lewis.  He is certainly seeking to be the leftist candidate, the down to earth guy from the Valleys, yet many I have spoken to from the area believe that he does not fit in to the above category. I certainly think that if Huw Lewis wants to win, he will need to show that he can unite Labour, and that he has a vision for the whole of Wales. However, the way in which he made road links a political football by accusing the Welsh Government of re-prioritising road development to  North- South from East to West (despite clear policy initiatives in One Wales) does not really reflect said vision. But as I’ve said before on this blog, at least Huw Lewis is keen, has floated ideas in various meetings and conferences, and has an eagerness to succeed.

Next to declare was Edwina Hart AM. Edwina Hart is no fan of the media, but I was still a little surprised that she chose youtube as her place to announce that she would be standing. A video address to the nation beside her Welsh dresser was her preferred option, and all on her own agenda.  She needs to continue to use this medium to communicate her message, now that she has initiated debate. There’s nothing more annoying than a politician trying to use new media who a) doesn’t understand it and b) is a flash in the pan, and gives up without pursuing it properly.

Edwina is an interesting character. She is to the point, and gets things done without any messing. She is strong in the Unions I am told, and this may prove difficult for Huw Lewis to compete against as the candidate on the left. Is the challenge for her to garner support from the MPs?  I hear that some are supporting Carwyn Jones who has not yet declared that he is standing.

Of course, at this stage the leadership contenders will be administering their own version of Gordon Brown’s ‘fightback’ talk to members in Wales, will be looking for internal support, and at internal politics of how to reinvent Labour. Nonetheless, they must be conscious of the fact that whoever wins will be the next First Minister of Wales. Too much navel gazing will not serve them well, and may alienate the Welsh public from the whole affair. (Although this may not be a bad thing for Plaid, who will be getting on with the job of delivering in Government without any distractions whatsoever!)

And to finish, I must mention the One Wales agreement. It is true to say that the One Wales coalition is between two parties and that it will take the parties alone to continue with the deal or to end it, but the view of a party leader is inevitably important, as that person will be negotiating future coalition deals. I think that its vital for Labour members to question the prospective candidates on their visions for the future based on the presumption that they will have to adapt their individual visions to enable them to work with other parties-  colours of which will vary, I am sure.

But by the way, I don’t intend to give a running commentary of events. The labour party can do that for themselves. I am merely stating an opinion given that one of them will be the new First Minister of Wales.

I hope the Labour candidates will take it in good faith, and pursue their campaigns with gusto…. Over to you….