Affiliated organisations
Edwina Hart (6): ASLEF, Communication Workers Union, Community (ISTC) , Socialist Health Association, TSSA, Unite
Carwyn Jones (4): Musicians Union, NUM (South Wales), UCATT, UNISON Cymru/ Wales Labour Link
Huw Lewis (1): Wales Council of the Co-operative Party
MPs
Edwina Hart (5): Martin Caton, Kim Howells, Paul Murphy, John Smith, Don Touhig
Carwyn Jones (14): Nick Ainger, Kevin Brennan, Chris Bryant, Ann Clwyd, Paul Flynn, Hywel Francis, David Hanson, Huw Irranca-Davies, Ian Lucas, Madeleine Moon, Albert Owen, Chris Ruane, Mark Tami, Betty Williams
Huw Lewis (4): Nia Griffith, Dai Havard, Sian James, Jessica Morden
CLPs
Edwina Hart (6): Brecon and Radnorshire, Gower, Neath, Swansea East, Swansea West, Vale of Glamorgan
Carwyn Jones (5): Aberavon, Alyn and Deeside, Bridgend, Ogmore, Wrexham
Huw Lewis (4): Aberconwy, Clwyd West, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, Torfaen
Phew! And if you haven't seen WalesOnline's exclusive debate between the three leadership hopefuls, you can watch the video here. Ignore the little man running down the steps at the start, he was just doing as he was told.
]]>According to a well-placed source, following the interviews the committee took all of 30 minutes to announce their decision. A cynic may suggest they'd already made up their minds, but let's just assume it was a stellar interview.
I'm told the split of the 28-person committee was 25 for Ms Hart, three for Carwyn Jones and zero for Huw Lewis - but that's yet to be confirmed.
]]>Tomorrow morning the Welsh Liberal Democrat Autumn Conference will endorse the 'Rules for the Selection of Directly-Elected Mayoral Candidates'.
Unrelated statistics:
Number of local authorities in Wales with directly-elected mayors: 0.
Number of local authorities in Wales currently considering the introduction of directly-elected mayors: 0.
Priceless.
]]>The delegates were engaged in a proper debate this morning - and for once with the Welsh Liberal Democrats, it wasn't over arcane procedures for voting rights for regional subcommittees or the like. It was on the party's opposition to free prescriptions fees, and whether to scrap it. And scrap it they did.
Health spokesman Peter Black's motion "that the Welsh Liberal Democrats would not reintroduce prescription charges whilst the case remains that such a policy offers clear health benefits and is economically affordable" was passed overwhelmingly, rejecting an amendment that the policy should rather be reviewed. Given the Liberal Democrats' love of a good review, this is an achievement indeed.
"Are we going to be a party of accountants or are we going to be a party which cares for people and people's health?" Mr Black asked delegates. His motion pointed out that, while "the Liberal Democrats were right to oppose the introduction of free prescriptions at the time...the situation has now moved on". Which could be interpreted as "it actually turned out to be rather popular with the electorate", but whichever way, it makes the Lib Dems rather more palatable as a coalition partner to a possible Edwina Hart-led Assembly Government.
]]>"Sir Richard Gannatt [sic] is appointed by the government, and should perform his duty accordingly," she wrote.
"The role isn't a political one, and is certainly not a party political role. If he wishes to see more troops in Afghanistan or more support from the government, then he should raise this with the Minister in charge, and in confidence. If he is unhappy, or takes issue with the direction of the military in said country, then my advice is that he takes the decision not work for the Government anymore, whose strategy it is to remain in Afghanistan despite 8 years of war, and minimal signs of a solution by violent means."
Quite. Only one slight question: General Sir Richard Dannatt stepped down as Chief of the General Staff in August, and as such is no longer in the appointment of the Government. Which kind of begs the question: precisely what should he resign from?
Alun Pugh Sue Essex, the former Finance Minister, has come out in support of her former Cabinet colleague as "someone who unites not divides", which may or may not be interpreted as a swipe at rivals viewed as a little abrasive in some quarters.
"I worked alongside Carwyn for many years and saw at first hand during the foot and mouth crisis, his judgement, courage and leadership on behalf of Wales at a very difficult time," she says.
"No one can replace Rhodri, but Carwyn shares the same values and many of the same character traits essential for a modern leader, such as the ability to communicate well, work with others, listen to people and take tough decisions in a fair and considered way.
"It's vital to the Labour Party in Wales that we stay united and strong. Rhodri achieved this though his leadership and I believe Carwyn is in the same mould. Someone who unites not divides."
She may only have a vote as a lay member of the party now, but Ms Essex still commands respect - Mr Jones will be pretty pleased this afternoon. Now who's Mr Pugh backing?
Somebody, perhaps, like her daughter Estelle, NUS Wales Women's Officer, who last night tweeted this cogent critique of the performance of former Trade Minister Lord Digby Jones on Question Time.
f*** off Digby because you are clearly only where you are due to a society that rewards massive right wing c***s #bbcqt
Punchy, outspoken, yet so perspicacious. Are there more of these to come from the Hart clan?
]]>Mr Dixon muses on the decision, and the reaction to it, of Adam Price's decision to step down as MP for Carmarthen East & Dinefwr at the next election, spend a year studying in the US as a Fulbright scholar and then seek a seat in the Senedd in 2011. He makes the points that the candidate for Carmarthen East will be the choice of the local party, and that it shouldn't be considered a safe seat.
But he makes a third point:
"...whilst there are a number of additional winnable constituencies for the party in 2011, it's hard to see how any of them could be won without a long and hard campaign on the ground. Switching candidates in or out at the last minute is hardly the best way to set about that."
Mr Price is staying on as an MP until the next election, likely to be in May next year. He will then spend the 2010/11 academic year in the States. The next Assembly election is in May 2011 - around about the time he completes his studies. Hence he's highly unlikely to be running "a long and hard campaign on the ground" from at least 7,000 miles away, regardless of which constituency he plumps for. He'll have to be switched in "at the last minute".
Is cold water being poured on Mr Price's plans by his own party chairman?
]]>No, not this furore in 2000. Nor this one, back in 2006. This one, earlier this month.
Well, like the others, this one has ended in a humiliating backdown strategic reversal for the Presiding Officer - and if anything, actually sees the Assembly Commission go further than ever before, in that they've agreed to translate oral evidence given to committees from English into Welsh for the first time.
"Firstly, we will continue to translate the Record of Plenary Proceedings from English into Welsh so that a fully bi-lingual written record is produced, but to do so within 3 to 10 days of each plenary meeting," says Lord Elis-Thomas.
"Secondly, we will introduce the facility for all proceedings related to legislation to be translated... Henceforth, therefore, we will produce a record of both plenary and committee proceedings on Measures in both languages. Specifically, a full record in both languages will be produced of all proceedings at Stages 2, 3 and 4 as well as committee scrutiny of the Member in charge of a Measure at Stage 1.
"Thirdly, we will establish an independent review to examine our delivery of bilingual services prior to the formal review of the Assembly's Welsh Language Scheme in 2010. Fourthly, we will take steps to bring forward legislation to put the status of the two languages used in the business of the Assembly on a sound statutory footing."
Why the change? Because the Presiding Officer wants to "demonstrate our commitment to remaining so by strengthening the position of Welsh in the work of the Commission and the Assembly, in a way that is effective, practical and relevant."
And because there was a cross-party consensus against it that would have seen it defeated if the Commission didn't knock it on the head before AMs arrived back in Cardiff Bay tomorrow.
]]>But not everybody's happy. Among them is Plaid Cymru MEP Jill Evans, who has accused Mr Barroso of getting his priorities wrong.
Ms Evans, who is President of the European Free Alliance group in the European Parliament, has just issued a statement which says:
"I will not be voting for President Barroso to lead the Commission for another five years. The debate on future powers for the Assembly is much more important to people in Wales than the detail of the Lisbon Treaty yet he ignores the first and focuses completely on the second."
Quite. Media Wales reporters attended many of the All Wales Convention's meetings, and we can report we did not see Mr Barroso at a single one.
It's certainly bold and bright. Whether it's 'a daily dose of inspiration' is another matter.
They've either been inspired by Google's HQ. Or Playschool.
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