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Labour race on to replace Morgan Two join race to succeed Morgan
(38 minutes later)
The race has begun to succeed Rhodri Morgan as Welsh Labour leader and first minister. The race has begun to succeed Rhodri Morgan as Welsh Labour leader and first minister, with two of the likely three candidates confirming they will stand.
The party is to give full details later on how the leader is to be chosen after Mr Morgan confirmed his departure. Health Minister Edwina Hart and Merthyr AM Huw Lewis both announced they were in the running as the contest officially started at noon.
Three candidates are expected to throw their hats into the ring: Counsel General Carwyn Jones, Health Minister Edwina Hart and Merthyr AM Huw Lewis. A third candidate, Carwyn Jones, who is seen as the favourite, is expected to join next week.
Meanwhile Mr Morgan defended his legacy when he was challenged about policies like free prescriptions and bus passes. The party will also give full details later on how the leader will be chosen.
The party's executive committee said the election campaign would begin officially at midday. Mr Morgan confirmed his departure on Thursday, starting in motion the competition to find the next leader of the Welsh assembly.
The 36-member committee, comprising constituency Labour parties, MPs and AMs, will oversee the process which is expected to take eight weeks. Mr Lewis announced that he has the required six nominations from fellow Labour AMs to throw his hat into the ring.
The Merthyr AM called for Wales to "take a new departure" and needed a "radical and bold vision of the future, based on co-operative values"
"I have a clear idea of what a better Wales will look like and I want to get on and start building it," he said.
"There is a strong appetite throughout the party for a meaningful debate on how we translate our traditional values into new, modern policies that will win back voters. There has been an element of drift during the last three elections, I want to put a halt to that.
"All I ask from MPs, AMs, party members, trade unionists and affiliates is that they keep an open mind during the weeks ahead.
"I genuinely believe that this debate is too important for old ideas, alliances or prejudices to dictate decisions - I'll be very happy if people make up their minds on what they see and hear during the contest."
Ms Hart, the Gower AM, confirmed her candidature with an announcement on the video-sharing website YouTube, urging Labour voters "both past and present to 'come home to Labour'."
Her campaign said she was "widely seen as already having gained enough support for her nomination".
Mrs Hart said: "We need a strong voice for a strong Wales. I believe I am that voice."
She said she knew "the importance of connecting the concerns of local communities with those of the wider Labour movement" and was "brought up in a family where practical politics was part of everyday life, both through the trade unions and in local councils".
She added: "That experience taught me, from early on, that standing up for working people takes determination. No advances for progressive causes have ever been made without a struggle, including devolution itself".
The party's 36-member executive committee, comprising constituency Labour parties, MPs and AMs, will oversee the process which is expected to take eight weeks.
AMs have 10 days to declare their candidacy. Candidates need the names of six AMs - including their own - to go forward.AMs have 10 days to declare their candidacy. Candidates need the names of six AMs - including their own - to go forward.
Hustings will be held in the assembly's five electoral regions.Hustings will be held in the assembly's five electoral regions.
There is a kind of colonial-era psychology which says if you're doing something different from England it must be a gimmick Rhodri Morgan on England following Wales in scrapping NHS parking feesThere is a kind of colonial-era psychology which says if you're doing something different from England it must be a gimmick Rhodri Morgan on England following Wales in scrapping NHS parking fees
Constituency Labour parties, affiliated trade unions, socialist societies and Labour politicians can indicate their support for a candidate with a supporting nomination.Constituency Labour parties, affiliated trade unions, socialist societies and Labour politicians can indicate their support for a candidate with a supporting nomination.
AMs, Welsh Labour MPs and the party's Welsh MEP will have a third of the votes.AMs, Welsh Labour MPs and the party's Welsh MEP will have a third of the votes.
Welsh party members will have a third and members of affiliated trade unions and socialist societies will have the final third on a one-member one-vote basis.Welsh party members will have a third and members of affiliated trade unions and socialist societies will have the final third on a one-member one-vote basis.
The last time Welsh Labour held a leadership election was between Alun Michael and Rhodri Morgan in 1999. That attracted criticism because the unions were not obliged to ballot their members but instead delivered a "block" vote for their preferred candidate.The last time Welsh Labour held a leadership election was between Alun Michael and Rhodri Morgan in 1999. That attracted criticism because the unions were not obliged to ballot their members but instead delivered a "block" vote for their preferred candidate.
Mr Michael won that election, although he remained first minister for only nine months. He resigned while facing a no-confidence motion and the leadership passed to Mr Morgan.Mr Michael won that election, although he remained first minister for only nine months. He resigned while facing a no-confidence motion and the leadership passed to Mr Morgan.
This time the system has changed and the unions which want to take part must conduct a ballot and must then vote in proportion to the way members indicate.This time the system has changed and the unions which want to take part must conduct a ballot and must then vote in proportion to the way members indicate.
Assembly budgetAssembly budget
There will be a single-round ballot, with voters ranking their preferences. Votes will be counted by an independent company.There will be a single-round ballot, with voters ranking their preferences. Votes will be counted by an independent company.
While Mr Jones has been for many years regarded by some as the heir apparent, the outcome of the election is far from certain.While Mr Jones has been for many years regarded by some as the heir apparent, the outcome of the election is far from certain.
Last week Health Ms Hart was urged by cabinet colleague Andrew Davies to stand as Welsh Labour leader.Last week Health Ms Hart was urged by cabinet colleague Andrew Davies to stand as Welsh Labour leader.
Mr Lewis, chair of the assembly's expert group on child poverty, is generally regarded as the outsider.Mr Lewis, chair of the assembly's expert group on child poverty, is generally regarded as the outsider.
Mr Morgan has already signalled that he plans to remain as first minister until next year's assembly budget is passed, meaning that it is likely to be early December before his successor takes over.Mr Morgan has already signalled that he plans to remain as first minister until next year's assembly budget is passed, meaning that it is likely to be early December before his successor takes over.
The executive committee is to give further information later on the timetable and procedure for the election.The executive committee is to give further information later on the timetable and procedure for the election.
Speaking on BBC Radio Wales' Good Morning Wales programme, Mr Morgan defended policies including free hospital parking saying that England was now following Wales's lead in scrapping parking fees outside NHS hospitals.Speaking on BBC Radio Wales' Good Morning Wales programme, Mr Morgan defended policies including free hospital parking saying that England was now following Wales's lead in scrapping parking fees outside NHS hospitals.
"When we started introducing policies which were different from in England, there is a kind of colonial-era psychology which says if you're doing something different from England it must be a gimmick," he said."When we started introducing policies which were different from in England, there is a kind of colonial-era psychology which says if you're doing something different from England it must be a gimmick," he said.
He also defended the assembly government's foundation phase for three to seven-year-olds which will do away with formal classroom teaching in primary schools and import a Scandinavian-style philosophy of teaching children through play.He also defended the assembly government's foundation phase for three to seven-year-olds which will do away with formal classroom teaching in primary schools and import a Scandinavian-style philosophy of teaching children through play.
"That isn't a gimmick. That is long-term building to correct the long-term difficulties in Welsh education," he said."That isn't a gimmick. That is long-term building to correct the long-term difficulties in Welsh education," he said.
He added that his last two months in office would be taken up with dragging the economy out of the recession, combating swine flu and finalising the assembly government's spending plans for next year.He added that his last two months in office would be taken up with dragging the economy out of the recession, combating swine flu and finalising the assembly government's spending plans for next year.