Welsh Labour Leadership – End of Part Two

THE first part of the Labour leadership election ended a week last Monday with the closure of nominations. At the time, we summarised the position of AMs in terms of the nominations they gave to the three candidates. Since then, the race has gone into its second phase, as candidates seek the endorsement of MPs, trade unions, Constituency Labour Parties and Welsh Labour’s only MEP. At 12pm today the second phase ended. In the last 10 days we’ve tried to keep track of how it’s all panning out with special features like Super Friday, Super Wednesday and our analysis of the trade union section.

The waiting is now over, and we know to a great extent who is backing whom. The supporting nominations have been published. All but five MPs ended up declaring their support. Peter Hain and Wayne David were never going to endorse, and in the end neither did Alan Williams, Julie Morgan or Alun Michael: he endorsed Huw’s ideas, not his candidacy. We know now that a few trade unions and affiliated organisations did not endorse. In order of size, these were: GMB (51,000), USDAW (22,000) and BECTU (1,000). Our final Super Wednesday post accurately summarised the decisions made by CLPs – well, the minority of those that actually did endorse within the deadline. And, finally, MEP Derek Vaughn has declared for Carwyn down the phone to Betsan Powys, though not in time to offer an official endorsement.

All three candidates have expressed their pleasure at attracting so many supporters and supporting organisations. From their official statements Carwyn is “humbled to have received such levels of support from all sections of the Welsh Labour Party”; Edwina is “thrilled by the number of supporting nominations”; and Huw stressed his campaign of ideas was “having an impact right across Wales”.

So final supporting names and numbers for all three candidates are as follows:

Edwina Hart
Five MPs – Kim Howells (Pontypridd) and John Smith (Vale of Glamorgan) today joined Don Touhig, Paul Murphy and Martin Caton in offering their endorsements. Another boost for the health minister in what has been a terrific 24 hours.
Six CLPs – Brecon and Radnorshire, Gower, Neath, Swansea East, Swansea West, and Vale of Glamorgan.
Six affiliated organisations – ASLEF (2,000 levy paying members), Communication Workers Union (14,000), Community (ISTC) (10,000), Socialist Health Association (1,000), TSSA (1,000), and Unite (100,450).

Carwyn Jones
14 MPs – Nick Ainger, Kevin Brennan, Chris Bryant, Ann Clwyd, Paul Flynn, Hywel Francis, David Hanson, Huw Irranca-Davies, Ian Lucas, Madeleine Moon, Albert Owen, Chris Ruane, Mark Tami, and Betty Williams. Derek Vaughn MEP is also supporting, but has not endorsed.
Five CLPs – Aberavon, Alyn & Deeside, Bridgend, Ogmore, and Wrexham.
Six affiliated organisations – UNISON Cymru/Wales Labour Link (52,000) was today joined by the Musicians Union (2,000), NUM (South Wales) (5,000), and UCATT (5,000).

Huw Lewis
Four or five MPs – Nia Griffith, Dai Havard, Sian James, and Jessica Morden were all listed, but where has Martyn Jones gone? He’s still endorsing on Huw’s website.
Four CLPs – Aberconwy, Clwyd West, Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney, and Torfaen.
One affiliated organisation – Wales Council of the Co-operative Party (10,000).

Bring on part three, the theme of which we’ll explain in a future post – and you won’t have too wait long.