The First Century

Today Carwyn Jones marks one hundred days as First Minister of Wales. In an exclusive interview with the Western Mail this morning he reflects on that period and, more particularly, on the challenges ahead. Today he will also be examining his first century when he speaks at a conference jointly organised by Positif Politics and the Bevan Foundation. His messages are already public on the WAG website. And, as the Western Mail reflects, we can expect a speech from a man who took the helm at a difficult time – both for his party and the country as a whole. So how has he fared over the first one hundred days?

Carwyn’s “emphatic win” over Edwina Hart and Huw Lewis back in December was impressive. He polled over 50% of the vote and it gave him a clear mandate to build upon.

This was consolidated by a clever Cabinet reshuffle in which his rivals were rewarded but more particularly new faces entered the Welsh Assembly Government. In Leighton Andrews, the new Education Minister, he has a shrewd political operator who has made his mark already with a series of high profile announcements which span his portfolio. The new Local Government Minister Carl Sargeant has also impressed, taking a firm stand with the shambolic Anglesey Council and this week delivering a no nonsense verdict on failures in the Communities First programme. At the next rung down Huw Lewis has moved ahead with the children’s portfolio, announcing a consultation on enshrining the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child into Assembly law; while Lesley Griffiths has demonstrated her effectiveness as a rising star amongst Deputy Ministers. These appointments have all been successful and rejuvenated the feel of the Labour Party within the Welsh Assembly Government.

A second significant achievement for the new First Minister was piloting through the Assembly the trigger vote for the referendum on more coherent legislative powers. After the anarchy of last November, that he managed to do this and achieve unanimity amongst Assembly Members was testament to the strength of his bargaining both publicly and behind the scenes. It may have taken blinks and winks, but it was the toughest call of his premiership so far and it was successful. That fact speaks for itself.

In terms of his political party, Carwyn gave an impressive performance when he spoke at the Welsh Labour conference in Swansea last month. The conference was the best Labour has had in Wales in years and this was in no small part due to the lead given by the First Minister. He spoke and engaged with energy and passion – the two characteristics his critics argue he lacks – and it set the right tone. On the podium he looked so comfortable he seemed to have been in the job for years (and I mean that in a nice way). Labour took heart from this and it was as much as any party could expect from a new top dog.

But, as the First Minister concedes, his tougher times lie ahead. Potential budget cuts, potential changes of government in Westminster, the potential of a referendum that could be lost… All these challenges sit on the desk of a man who has yet to put a foot wrong. Yet it’s how he treads over the next twelve months in the run up to the next Assembly election that will show where he stands.