WalesHome.org Exclusive – Carwyn says “It’s Time to Get Real”
Labour leadership race — By Daran Hill on October 24, 2009 6:29 am
CARWYN JONES will up the ante in the Welsh Labour leadership election over the next week when he will launch a series of statements under the theme “Time to get real”. Clearly these words are deliberately chosen to mark him out as a realist and political pragmatist
As we indicated yesterday, the third race in this campaign is about to get a lot more policy focused. With the other two candidates having released manifestos (available online here and here) the question has been posed on how Team Carwyn was going to present more of a policy front. The clever answer seems to be to a series of statements rather than a single document.
This approach is more structured and, for this week at least, we will borrow the same narrative. If Carwyn makes a statement on a topic, we will report it and also bring into focus what the other two candidates are also saying on the issue.
We will start later today by showcasing what Carwyn says about energy during his visit to North Wales, and contrasting that with the other two candidates.
Huw Lewis called for this contest to be about ideas and not just endorsements. Here on WalesHome.org we agree. And our coverage of the contest on the Hearth is changing to reflect that.
Tags: Carwyn Jones, Labour leadership race
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2 Comments
The ‘time to get real’ approach is interesting and will obviously generate a number of stories in the Welsh media in the next few weeks. How far these stories will penetrate the selectorate is another matter, however. Most Labour Party members probably get their information from the UK media. Most will probably not attend the hustings and in this context any TV debate could have a crucial bearing on the final result which could be very close.
The candidates will also try to influence potential voters via the party mailshots. Like all Party members I’ve just received the first three leaflets. Two of the leaflets, Edwina Hart’s and Huw Lewis’s, were in different ways in my opinion very professional. Edwina even produced a bi lingual leaflet. Huw Lewis’s ‘Lewis for Labour’ approach with his pledges up front really caught the eye. I was surprised, however, at the style of Carwyn Jones’s leaflet which in my opinion was more suited for a local council election. I really didn’t see the point of a long list of supporters in contrast to a tiny box outlining the priorities. The priorities also carried the dangers of posing questions rather than providing answers. It would be interesting, for example, to hear Carwyn explain how councils in the present economic climate could afford to find the money to build council houses when housing associations at the moment can’t build new homes because of a lack of funds.
Finally, Daran, it is important to realise that the Labour Pary is more than a “dessicated calculating machine” churning out pragmatic policies. Whoever wants to become Leader has also to tune into the ‘hopes and aspirations’ of ordinary members. Many might be bruised and battered after 12 years in power but they still want someone who can inspire them . Many still consider themselves to be socialist and the only candidate to use the word ‘socialist’ was Edwina Hart. In much the same way as Huw Lewis’s pledges have an attraction, Edwina Hart’s first sentence in her personal appeal which talks about “Social Justice depends on economic justice” will definitely strike a chord with many.
The pragmatic approach might be attractive to many in the Welsh establishment it will not win many votes amongst those who will have the final say in who will lead the Labour Group in the Assembly.
Thanks as ever for your observations, Jeff. Hadn’t noticed the point about the word “socialist.”
Just to be clear we’ll be comparing policy announcements from Carwyn with the positions of the other two candidates over the coming week but we will still of course cover the news agendas being set by them too, and where they make policy statements (showcasing parts of their existing manifestos) we’ll cover those issues.