by Keith Richmond
As the three-way fight to succeed First Minister Rhodri Morgan as leader of the Labour Group in the Welsh Assembly hots up, the leading candidate, Carwyn Jones, has revealed he now has the support of almost half of Welsh MPs.
Fourteen Labour MPs – out of 29 in Wales – have now publicly endorsed the Counsel General and Assembly Member for Bridgend.
Mr Jones said: “I am standing as a candidate who can build unity between the Assembly Group and Welsh Labour MPs. Welsh Labour is at its best when it is united, with Labour in the Assembly and Labour at Westminster working together.”
Edwina Hart, Health Minister and AM for the Gower, has promised to put a commitment to the “clear red water” of Welsh socialism at the heart of her bid to be leader. She said she wants to set up a “citizens’ bank for Wales” to be run on a not for profit basis for people currently not served by the traditional banks.
Huw Lewis, AM for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, is the third contender in the race to succeed Mr Morgan, who steps down in December. He is calling for “a radical and bold vision of the future, based on co-operative values.”
