Carwyn Jones - a Leader for the whole of Wales?

Labour Leader of the House, Carwyn Jones, this evening confirmed his intention to stand for the leadership of the Labour Group in the National Assembly for Wales with a promise ‘to be a leader for the whole of Wales’.

The election to find a new Leader of Welsh Labour, is taking place following Rhodri Morgan's announcement he is to stand down from the role in December.

Speaking to members of his Bridgend constituency party, Mr Jones said:

"Over the last few weeks I have spoken to most Welsh Labour Assembly Members and most Welsh Labour MPs. I am persuaded that I have strong support for my candidacy in both the National Assembly Labour Group and the Welsh Parliamentary Labour Party.

"I am standing as a candidate who can build unity between the Assembly Group and Welsh Labour MPs. Welsh Labour is at its best when it is united, with Labour in the Assembly and Labour at Westminster working together. It’s a formidable force when we get it right and I will fight at the forefront of that force for a Labour victory in the General Election next year.

"Over the last year, I have travelled across Wales talking to members of our party and to trades unionists and listening to what they have to say. They want a Leader who listens to people, and a Leader who learns from people. One who leads by example- a decisive leader, but a thoughtful one.

"They want a Labour Party in Wales that listens to the people, which is open and honest with them, which is responsive and engaged.

"They want a Leader for the whole of Wales, one who unites not divides, one who listens not lectures. A leader rooted in Labour values, proud of our past but focused on our future."

Mr Jones said that the Bridgend experience was directly relevant to helping Welsh Labour rebuild in Wales, and spoke of how he and local party members in Bridgend and Ogmore had worked together successfully to win back control of the Bridgend County Borough Council in 2008.

"We all campaigned together in Team Bridgend, to win back the council from our opponents in 2008. We had to listen to people. We had to learn from people. We had to show people that we had a vision for the future and practical plans to deliver it.

"To win back Wales, Welsh Labour has to listen. Welsh Labour has to learn. To earn the right to lead Wales, we have to show we understand Wales as it is, not Wales as it was.

"Wales is an old country, but a young democracy. I was proud to campaign for devolution in the referendum in 1997. I want my country to succeed. I want to make a difference to the lives of people in Wales. I want Wales to win in the world. I am proud to be Welsh, proud to be British, and of course, proud to be Labour. But I want to be a Leader for the whole of Wales."

Mr Jones was joined at his launch by Labour Assembly Members Leighton Andrews, Lesley Griffiths, Jane Davidson, John Griffiths and Alun Davies.