The second race begins

NOW THAT all the AMs having declared their allegiances to one of the three Labour leadership candidates, the focus for the coming week will be on the Members of Parliament. There are 29 Welsh Labour MPs and each one has the same voting strength as the 26 AMs and one MEP.

Curiously, few MPs have made their preferences known so far. Edwina Hart can count on the open support of Martin Caton, who represents her Gower seat in Parliament, and who was visible when she launched her campaign in Mumbles. Of other Parliamentarians there has so far been no sign.

Carwyn Jones is reputed to be polling well amongst MPs but, as with the AMs, once more their names are being drip-dripped out. Only three supporters have been declared. Madeleine Moon from Bridgend has pledged her support, Chris Bryant from the Rhondda came out on Facebook, and Ynys Mon MP Albert Owen has been visible in his support on both the media and in the House of Commons.

Huw Lewis has been backed by Jessica Morden from Newport East, who is playing a prominent part in his campaign. He can also count on Sian James from Swansea East, Martyn Jones from Clwyd South, and Dai Havard, who also represents the people of Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney. This gives him a public tally of four, which is the highest for the three candidates so far.

That makes just eight of the 29 who have gone public. Two others have indicated they will not endorse – Wales Office Ministers Peter Hain and Wayne David.

So what about the other 19 MPs? At 0.59% of the electoral college per MP, that’s 11.2% of the total electorate up for grabs. Surely they can’t be so distant from the Assembly that they don’t really care who leads it?

For the record, here’s the list of those who have yet to say anything – at least in public:

Betty Williams – Conwy
Chris Ruane – Vale of Clwyd
Ian Lucas – Wrexham
David Hanson – Delyn
Mark Tami – Alyn & Deeside
Nick Ainger – Carmarthen West & South Pembrokeshire
Nia Griffith – Llanelli
Alan Williams – Swansea West
Hywel Francis – Aberavon
Kevin Brennan – Cardiff West
Alun Michael – Cardiff South
Julie Morgan – Cardiff North
John Smith – Vale of Glamorgan
Huw Irranca-Davies – Ogmore
Ann Clwyd – Cynon Valley
Kim Howells – Pontypridd
Paul Flynn – Newport West
Paul Murphy – Torfaen
Don Touhig – Islwyn