WalesHome.org

Huw Lewis asks does Ministerial experience matter?

Huw Lewis’ campaign moved to three corners of Wales this weekend as he spoke at events in Llanelli, Wrexham and Pontypridd and said he was really enjoying finally seeing the “whites of members’ eyes” in party events. This directness is a particular characteristic of his campaigning style.

His team has helpfully supplied some extracts of his speeches, which are deliberately set up as counterpoint to the platforms being advocated by his rivals. Specifically, they tackle the notion that he is not qualified to lead Labour in Wales because he lacks experience: “What experience do I have to lead Welsh Labour? To lead the Assembly Government? I can give you the tick-box answers; I’ve been an Assembly Member for Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney for 10 years – I’m a Labour man rooted in Labour values. I’ve worked in Government, I’ve been a Deputy Minister covering three portfolio areas. I first campaigned for and then wrote the Assembly Government’s flagship child poverty plan.”

Looking to his party political role he also stressed: “As Assistant General Secretary of Welsh Labour, I drove forward party reform and new campaigning techniques – qualities the party is desperate to rediscover.” In that role he certainly has more direct experience of working for the Labour Party than his opponents – if such experience were what mattered.

Yet it is in the conclusion of his quotes that Huw makes the most direct impact and takes the other two candidates head on: “But does all that qualify me to lead? No, it does not. No more than ten years in the current cabinet qualifies you to lead. What qualifies you to lead is a vision; a plan to deliver it; and the determined energy to drive that plan forward. What qualifies you to lead is not the list of things you’ve done, but your to-do list. It is a question all candidates must be asked – what exactly is on your to-do list?

“You can talk about experience if you like – but Tony Blair and Rhodri Morgan were not weighted down by experience of Government before they took over and started making huge strides forward for our party. What they had was a to-do list. Charges of inexperience could be levelled at every prominent political leader who has ever promoted a change of direction, because who invites a change-maker into the comfy world of Government? It normally takes the electorate to do that.”

In a direct appeal to Labour members he concluded: “Well, you are the electorate in this election and I think, together, we can take that leap that is required to renew ourselves in Government.”

At the start of this week of campaigning, the tone of the debate has just got harder. Huw is branding himself as the candidate of change – and is contrasting himself deliberately and directly with Carwyn and Edwina.