I had the opportunity of working with edwina in the 1997 referendum campaign and i would agree that yes she is to the point and yes gets things done without any messing…but she is also a strong supporter of the devolution process………something which could certainly not be said for her only rival thus far huw lewis who despite some laudible policy speeches on tackling poverty in wales could never be described as a supporter of the devolution process!

Thus it isnt surprising that support for huw lewis among labour AMs has come from people like irene james and lyn neagle…members who could at best be described as deeply sceptical about the whole devolution process.

But yes you’re right bethan it is a matter for welsh labour party members as to who their leader is. But clearly anyone who at the very least wsihes to see the terms of the one wales ageement upheld – and hopes to see a referendum on further powers take place no later than 2011 – has a vested interest in the outcome of this election.

A win for either edwina hart or carwyn jones would im sure see moves towards greater powers for the assembly in the future….while a win for huw lewis would be a nightmare for devolutionists, as it would not be going to far to describe him as being the anti-devolution candidate!

Interesting summary so far. I think though, its unfair to say that Huw Lewis made the roads issue a “political football”. The very word “re-prioritisation” shows that some projects were being given greater prominance than before. I’m sure that if WAG moved a key project slated for your patch down the pecking order, you would lobby against that decision, would you not – even if it was in line with One Wales commitments? People who supported One Wales opposed the road re-prioritisation.