News from Welsh Labour

Almost half Welsh Labour MPs come out for Carwyn Jones

Almost half of all Welsh Labour MPs, have now publicly declared they want Carwyn Jones to succeed Rhodri Morgan, as the Leader of Welsh Labour Party.

The news that so far, 14 Labour Members of Parliament – out of a total of 29 in Wales – have endorsed Carwyn’s Leadership bid, means he has secured more support than either of the other two candidates in the race, in the important ‘Section 1′ of the electoral collage mechanism to elect the new Leader.

‘Section 1′ of the college consists of all Labour AMs, Labour MPs representing Welsh constituencies, and the Labour MEP representing Wales.

The latest list of MP endorsers published, contains the names of six current UK Government Ministers, one former Wales Office Minister and the present Chair of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee.

Today, eight South Wales Labour MPs join their six colleagues from North Wales, who declared earlier this week, in going public to demonstrate their support for Carwyn’s campaign.

Such is the high level of solid support for Carwyn’s candidacy amongst MPs that on current pledges, he has greater numerical backing to become the next Leader, than the support of both other candidates added together.

Another striking feature about the level of backing Carwyn has attracted from MPs, relates to the geographic spread of support he has received from right across the country – underlining his claim that he would be a Leader for the whole of Wales.

The MP endorsements come ahead of tomorrow’s deadline (Thursday, 22nd October) for the submission of supporting nominations from Welsh Labour Members of Parliament, in the contest.

At an event held in Westminster later today, Carwyn will be joined by a number of his MP supporters, who have expressed their total confidence in his ability to unite and motivate the Party and take the fight to their political opponents at the General Election in 2010 and the subsequent Assembly elections in 2011.

The full list of the 14 MPs currently publicly supporting Carwyn (in alphabetical order) is as follows:

* Nick Ainger, MP for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire (former Wales Office Minister);
* Kevin Brennan, MP for Cardiff West (Minister for State for Further Education, Skills, Apprenticeships and Consumer Affairs);
* Chris Bryant, MP for Rhondda (Minister for Europe);
* Ann Clwyd, MP for Cynon Valley (former Chair, Parliamentary Labour Party);
* Paul Flynn, MP for Newport West;
* Hywel Francis, MP for Aberavon (Chair, Welsh Affairs Select Committee);
* The Rt. Hon David Hanson, MP for Delyn (Minister of State for Security, Counter-Terrorism, Crime and Policing);
* Huw Irranca-Davies, MP for Ogmore (Minister for Marine and Natural Environment);
* Ian Lucas, MP for Wrexham (Minister for Business and Regulatory Reform);
* Madeleine Moon, MP for Bridgend;
* Albert Owen, MP for Ynys Môn;
* Chris Ruane, MP for Vale of Clwyd (Chair, North Wales Group of Labour MPs);
* Mark Tami, MP for Alyn and Deeside (Government Whip);
* Betty Williams, MP for Conwy.

Commenting on his support for Carwyn’s candidacy, Cardiff West MP, Kevin Brennan said:

“What I’m looking for in a new leader for Labour in the Welsh Assembly and a new Labour First Minister is someone who can communicate with the Welsh people, somebody with a vision for the future of Wales, and most importantly of all, someone who can help us win a victory next time in the Assembly elections, so we can once again form a Labour administration in the Welsh Assembly.

“That’s why I’ve got no doubt that Carwyn Jones is the right person to lead us forward in Wales and I’ll be supporting him in the leadership election for the Welsh Labour Party.”

Speaking highly of Carwyn’s abilities to become the next Leader, Ogmore MP, Huw Irranca Davies said:

“The reason I’m supporting Carwyn is we go back a long way and I know what he’s like to work with, how good he is at building bridges both with organisations out there in the voluntary sector and the public sector but also between Westminster and the Welsh Assembly Government.”

Carwyn’s campaign manager and Rhondda AM, Leighton Andrews said:

“We said last week that we were quietly confident that Carwyn will receive the backing of a majority of Welsh Labour MPs. Already 14 of the 29 have publicly declared their backing for him and we confidently expect a majority to vote for him.”

Other news from Welsh Labour

• Carwyn Jones sends congratulations to new President of Ireland - 1 November 2011
• Decision day dash to save Wales from savage cuts - 5 May 2010
• Six out of seven North Wales Labour MPs declare support for Carwyn Jones - 19 October 2009