Carwyn Jones sets out stall for Labour leadership campaign

Welsh Labour Leadership candidate, Carwyn Jones has set out his stall with a wide-ranging statement promising to put health at the centre of Welsh Assembly Government business.

The full statement is on Welsh Labour's official leadership campaign website leadership campaign website.

Jones tells members that under his Leadership, further improvements in the delivery of healthcare would be a priority for him if elected as First Minister.

Commenting on his statement, Mr Jones said:

"It is important that we recognise that since devolution, it has been Labour Health Ministers in the Assembly that have made the major improvements in the delivery of health care in Wales. It has also been Labour Ministers have committed and invested billions in additional expenditure right across the country."

However, in his message to members, the Bridgend AM and Leader of the House, also pledged to recognise and rectify those areas of service in the NHS, where problems currently exist, saying:

"My agenda for Welsh Labour will focus firmly on the issues that matter to ordinary people - continually improving healthcare, with better access to GP services, and working with staff and their unions to improve areas like the Ambulance service.”

Underlining his ambition to be a 'Leader for the whole of Wales', Jones also sought to re-assure people in North Wales that borders will not be a barrier in the future, when it comes to offering patients access the best healthcare the NHS can provide:

“Under my leadership we will continue to work in partnership with the rest of the UK - for example, while we want the strongest health services in Wales, we must also acknowledge how for example cross-border health provision is critical to excellent services provided to Welsh patients, particularly in North Wales.”

Expanding on this in a statement, Mr Jones said:

“I want to see continuing action to reduce waiting times, and a new focus on primary care, enabling patients to see their GPs in the evenings and at weekends, to make surgery bookings online, and to book hospital appointments through GP surgeries.”

More broadly in his statement on Welsh Labour's website, Jones also spoke of how he wants to create a re-invigorated economy for Wales, built on a resurgent manufacturing base, world-class skills and innovative green jobs.

Setting out his vision for both the Party and the country under his Leadership, Jones committed himself to:

• creating a dynamic economy, growing well-paid jobs and providing apprenticeships with meaningful training;
• placing a new focus on Welsh manufacturing;
• increasing the emphasis on green jobs with investment in insulation and renewables to tackle climate change and to boost the construction industry;
• putting in place a proper funding programme to improve school buildings;
• delivering on affordable childcare; and
• promoting policies to look after Wales’s children

Relishing the opportunity to present his policies to the wider Labour movement in Wales, Jones concluded his message, by saying:

"Over the coming weeks I will be listening to members about where they see the future for our party. I will also be outlining some new and radical ideas that I think can take Labour forward and take Wales forward."