Another forty endorsements to think about

POLITICAL endorsements in the Labour contest aren’t just made by people. Perhaps we’ve been as guilty as anyone of focussing on individual AMs and MPs at the expense of the organisations that make up the Labour Party in Wales.

The second race is about more than just individual MPs’ endorsements. The three candidates are also seeking backing from Welsh Labour’s sole MEP, the trade unions and other affiliated organisations. But endorsements can also come from constituency Labour parties.

Each of Wales’ forty CLPs can therefore endorse a candidate – or choose not to endorse one. There is a very interesting dynamic here, and one which poses a number of questions. Firstly, will the three CLPs back their own local candidates? Secondly, will CLPs follow the leads of AMs and MPs in endorsing the same preferred candidates? Thirdly, who will get the most CLPs to endorse them? And fourthly, of course, how significant will the geographical spread of endorsements be?

Any intelligence on how CLPs are moving would be gratefully received by WalesHome.org, both from campaign teams and others.

The deadline for supporting nominations will be midday on Thursday 22nd October. So expect the next week to be very busy indeed.