Welsh Labour Leadership Election

[Mr. Allan Abraham]

Following the retirement of Rhodri Morgan. Polling will be between the 2nd and 26th of November and the result will be declared on the 1st of December.

Confirmed candidates are:

Edwina Hart AM (Gower), currently the Health minister, has also been Social Justice minister and Finance minister. She's a trade unionist and a former chair of the Wales TUC. A think she's a Welsh speaker as well, though I'm not entirely sure. Quite an old fashioned politician in some ways. If my memory is right (it might not be), she was an early supporter of a coalition with Plaid.

Huw Lewis AM (Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymeny), currently a backbencher. A former deputy minister, but lost his post after opposing the coalition with Plaid. Used to be a teacher and was once Assistant General Secretary of the Welsh Labour Party. A member of the Co-op Party and not a Welsh speaker (though I think he's been learning). Based on past form, the most left-wing of the three likely candidates.

Likely to announce next week:

Carwyn Jones AM (Bridgend), currently the Counsel General for Wales, briefly Education Minister and Environment Minister for seven years before that. He's a barrister, a Welsh speaker and a member of the Fabian Society. Currently the favourite for the job.

There was some speculation that Lewis might not have enough AM's backing him to make the ballot, but it appears that he does. Hart's campaign says that she has enough AM's to get on the ballot as well and the chances of the Dauphin not having enough are... er... low.

While Jones is the favourite, almost anything could happen - the world of Welsh Labour is dominated by byzantine and ever-shifting factions and alliances. Hart is likely to get strong union backing and might, at this stage, actually be more likely to win than Jones. But all to play for.

[afleitch]

Great singer if you ask me.

[Mr. Allan Abraham]

Now, now, now... what's going on here?

Jones is normally regarded as one of the more "nationalist" of senior Welsh Labour figures... which is probably why he's said this, oddly enough. No one wants to be seen as a pawn of the junior coalition partner.

Btw, I'll be posting lists of endorsements at some point.

[ROBERTBYRD]

I want Lewis. Hart has too English a name. And I don't really like dauphins or fabians. Though being seen as one of the more nationalist MA's is of course a positive.

[Mr. Allan Abraham]

Supporting nominations from the first stage of the nominations process - that is, AM's:

Hart:

Rosemary Butler
Christine Chapman
Jeffrey Cuthbert
Andrew Davies
Janice Gregory
Edwina Hart
Jane Hutt
Val Lloyd
Sandra Mewies
Gwenda Thomas

Jones:

Leighton Andrews
Lorraine Barrett
Jane Davidson
Alun Davies
Dr Brian Gibbons
John Griffiths
Lesley Griffiths
Carwyn Jones
Carl Sargeant

Lewis:

Irene James
Ann Jones
Huw Lewis
Lynne Neagle
Karen Sinclair
Joyce Watson

Supporting nominations from the second stage of the nominations process:

Hart: Martin Caton MP, Kim Howells MP, Paul Murphy MP, John Smith MP,Don Touhig MP, ASLEF, CWU, Community,Socialist Health Association, TSSA, UNITE, Brecon and Radnorshire CLP, Gower CLP, Neath CLP, Swansea East CLP, Swansea West CLP, Vale of Glamorgan CLP.

Jones: Nick Ainger MP, Kevin Brennan MP, Chris Bryant MP, Ann Clwyd MP, Paul Flynn MP, Hywel Francis MP, David Hanson MP, Huw Irranca-Davies MP, Ian Lucas MP, Madeleine Moon MP, Albert Owen MP, Chris Ruane MP, Mark Tami MP, Betty Williams MP, Musicians Union, NUM (South Wales), UCATT, UNISON Cymru/Wales Labour link, Aberavon CLP, Alyn and Deeside CLP, Bridgend CLP, Ogmore CLP, Wrexham CLP.

Lewis: Nia Griffith MP, Dai Harvard MP, Sian James MP, Jessica Morden MP, Wales Council of the Co-operative Party,Aberconwy CLP, Clwyd West CLP, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney CLP, Torfaen CLP.