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Morgan's 'stick with Labour' plea Morgan's 'stick with Labour' plea
(about 2 hours later)
Welsh Labour leader Rhodri Morgan is to urge voters to "stick with Labour" during the economic crisis. Welsh Labour leader Rhodri Morgan has urged voters to "stick with Labour" during the economic crisis.
The economy will be the main theme of what is likely to be Mr Morgan's last speech to the conference as leader. In his last speech as leader, he told the party conference in Swansea the Labour model of devolution was the best way to see Wales through the recession.
Speaking at Swansea's Brangwyn Hall, the First Minister will praise his government's efforts to protect jobs and families during the recession. He warned of "tough choices" ahead but attacked what he said was a Tory hidden agenda of cutting public services.
He is also expected to be critical of Labour's coalition partner, Plaid Cymru. He said Plaid Cymru, Welsh Labour's coalition partner, made a "tactical blunder" by discussing independence.
Mr Morgan will admit tough choices lie ahead because of the squeeze on public finances, announced by the Chancellor Alastair Darling in this week's budget. Mr Morgan, who has said he will step down as Welsh Labour leader and first minister around the time of his 70th birthday in September, said a squeeze on public sector funding, announced by Chancellor Alastair Darling in this week's budget, required a "re-engineering of the state" to protect services.
But he will argue that Wales has already led the way by getting to grips with the storm. Speaking at at Swansea's Brangwyn Hall, he said his coalition administration with Plaid Cymru had proved itself to be an "agile government for fragile times," with policies such as subsidised training for redundancy-threatened workers.
He will describe Plaid's renewed discussions about Welsh independence as a "tactical blunder" at a time when small countries across Europe are struggling to save their economies. These were in contrast to the "do nothing" approach of the Conservatives, he said, devoting large parts of his speech to attacking the Tories.
And he will claim that the introduction of government training schemes such as PROACT and REACT a is proof of an "agile government for agile times" and that these are in contrast to the "do nothing" approach of the Conservatives. Crucial test
Labour's deputy leader, Harriet Harman MP, will also address the conference later. Meanwhile Labour's Deputy Leader, Harriet Harman, issued a rallying cry to party activists.
Ms Harman, who is also the party chair, called on members to take the fight to the Conservative party ahead of the European elections at the beginning of June.
The elections are seen as a crucial test for the party, with both Plaid Cymru and the Conservatives predicting that Labour could come second or third in terms of the popular vote in Wales - for the first time since the 1930s.
Labour performed poorly in last year's local elections, shedding over a hundred seats and losing control of councils in its traditional heartlands.
But Ms Harman insisted that on this occasion voters would be faced with a clear choice at the polls.
Speaking on Friday, Prime Minister Gordon Brown told Labour party members that public investment should be maintained through the recession.Speaking on Friday, Prime Minister Gordon Brown told Labour party members that public investment should be maintained through the recession.
Addressing the conference, the prime minister said people should be offered "a hand up" during the economic downturn.Addressing the conference, the prime minister said people should be offered "a hand up" during the economic downturn.
Mr Brown also said he did not like raising taxes "but to equip ourselves for the future costs money".Mr Brown also said he did not like raising taxes "but to equip ourselves for the future costs money".