A question of credibility
A FORTNIGHT tomorrow, it will all be over bar the shouting and counting. But in the meantime Welsh Labour members still have time to make their choice over who should lead them. However, campaign teams also know the last few days and the next few days are absolutely critical: this is the time when people are most likely to fill in their ballot papers. Which makes it a masterstroke that Huw Lewis’ team has chosen today to emphasise the real value of voting for their candidate. Because, as the Western Mail tells us, he is a player. This article suggests that Huw is not a paper candidate, but he is a candidate who wants endorsements on paper.
By speaking so frankly today – and whether he is in the lead among party members is clearly a debateable point – Team Huw is after one thing. They want to shatter the notion that a vote for Huw is a wasted vote because he isn’t going anywhere. And that’s as important a message to voters thinking about their second preferences as it is for voters thinking about who to put first. In short, this tactic is about demonstrating credibility.
For the duration of this campaign – and well before – Huw Lewis’ campaign team have insisted their candidate is not an also ran. They have recognised from the start that to have a credible chance they have to do a lot to convince Labour members of a series of credibility issues:
Whatever the outcome of this leadership election, there is no doubt in my mind that Huw’s standing and status in the Labour Party has been enhanced. He has moved from being a cult figure to a mainstream prophet. And to confound the stereotypes, he hasn’t ended up as a prophet of doom. Both Huw and his team have much to contribute to Welsh Labour over the next decade.
So do we buy the story in the Western Mail? Not sure. But the message isn’t really aimed at us anyway.
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