Edwina banks on her track record

Edwina Hart AM launched her campaign manifesto today

Hart, who is currently health minister, having previously held both the finance and social justice portfolios, told the launch in Cardiff that her three major achievements in government were removing the internal market in the health service; setting up Communities First to revitalise disadvantaged areas, and establishing the Post Office Development Fund, protecting vital services in the most disadvantaged communities in Wales.

Of the three candidates, Hart is easily the most experienced in government, and now appears to be banking on that experience to appeal to Labour members looking for a safe pair of hands to guide them through an anticipated troublesome two years ahead.

She added: “I feel I have already proved myself as a woman of action and ideas in Labour governments and the union movement. As First Minister I would continue to deliver and get things done. As people know, I’m someone who is prepared to roll up my sleeves and get on with it.”

Her manifesto includes some of the following pledges:

• Public service reform, ‘Voice not Choice’ -  how to deliver publicly funded services the ‘Welsh Way’, with the voice of the Citizen at its heart;
• The setting up of special public service improvement bodies to develop leadership, innovation and the interchange of ideas and workers between the various public services in Wales;
• Reforming the way the Welsh Assembly is funded by Westminster so that the Welsh block grant is based on need;
• Supporting further powers for the Assembly following a successful referendum campaign;
• Tackling child poverty and youth unemployment through improved strategies;
• Establishing a Citizens’ Bank to make sure that access to finance is available to individuals, groups and enterprises;
• Reviving Welsh Labour from top to bottom.

Her launch event emphasised her personal qualities and her directness of purpose. Accompanied by her campaign manager Andrew Davies, she appeared comfortable and engaging as she thanked her supporters and was quizzed by the media about the policy programme she is proposing.

She did not shy away from hard questions. “Barnett is bust” was a quote that is typical of her direct style. There will be no one-legged duck metaphors if she gets quizzed on Newsnight.