Morgan now needs one more nomination for leadership bid
ELUNED MORGAN has won four of the five nominations she needs to become the third candidate for the leadership of Welsh Labour.
Two other would-be candidates – Alun Davies and Huw IrrancaDavies – have dropped out of the contest, having failed to get support from their colleagues.
Together with two other AMs – Dawn Bowden and David Rees – they have given Baroness Morgan their nominations, although at this stage Alun Davies is the only one of the four to say he will definitely be voting for her to become leader.
Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford and Health Secretary Vaughan Gething have already secured the five nominations necessary to get on the ballot paper.
But with Alyn and Deeside AM Jack Sargeant becoming the latest AM to back Mr Drakeford, Baroness Morgan now needs the support of outgoing First Minister Carwyn Jones to make it a three-horse race – assuming none of Mr Drakeford’s backers switch allegiance.
Mr Jones has previously stated that he would not back any candidate to succeed him, although he has also said it “would not look good” if there is no woman in the contest.
Last month Mr Gething said it would not be right if the election was contested only by two men, and urged uncommitted AMs to nominate Baroness Morgan.
In a joint statement, the four AMs now nominating her said: “Since our Welsh Labour conference in the Spring many of our members and elected representatives have stressed the importance of an election process which helps our party to debate many of the key issues facing Wales in the decades ahead.
“A healthy debate actually depends on our membership and affiliates having a choice of candidates, and therefore ideas, for the next Welsh Labour Leader and our nominee for the next First Minister.
“Today we are acting to try and ensure our membership and affiliates have that choice. We are putting deeds not words in to action. It is a responsibility we must meet so that the membership of our party can choose from amongst candidates who reflect the diverse nature of the communities we seek to represent.
“Each of us will form our own view on the merits of the candidates who finally make it on to the ballot paper, but today we confirm that we will give our nominations to Eluned Morgan AM to try to ensure she can take part in the leadership election.”
In a personal statement, Mr Irranca-Davies said: “I believe strongly that we have a duty as a party – and as Labour AMs – to ensure that our members have a diverse choice of candidates from which to choose.
“I also believe that we have a duty as Welsh Labour to reflect the diversity of wider society if we are to be seen as a modern and progressive party.
“As the contest proper continues into the Autumn, I look forward to engaging with all our prospective candidates.”
Explaining why he will vote for Baroness Morgan in the leadership contest, Alun Davies said: “I believe Eluned has the skills, experience and vision to lead our party and country. Eluned has a breadth of experience that can bring radical change to Cardiff Bay.”
Announcing that he was backing Mr Drakeford, Mr Sargeant said: “The country and my constituency face many issues, social and economic – particularly Brexit and the future of industry. More also needs to be done to close the north-south divide.
“I believe Mark will champion the need for a ‘kinder politics’ that I have advocated and want to see since being elected to the Welsh Assembly.
“That, encompassed with his experience in government, skills in negotiating and authenticity, is why I am proud to give Mark my support.”