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'Small, smart' vision for Wales Morgan's vision of stronger Wales
(about 3 hours later)
First Minister Rhodri Morgan will close the Welsh Labour conference by setting out how Wales can prosper as a "small, smart country". First Minister Rhodri Morgan has closed the Welsh Labour conference by setting out how Wales can prosper.
Mr Morgan will map out the strategic direction Wales should take, including raising skill and training levels. In Llandudno he mapped the strategic direction Wales should take, including raising skill and training levels.
In Llandudno he will say opponents of the assembly have been proved wrong and Wales has shown it can handle affairs "in an open and democratic way". He told delegates opponents of the assembly had been proved wrong and Wales had shown it handled its affairs "in an open and democratic way".
Mr Morgan will also cite rising employment as an example of success. Mr Morgan, who plans to stand down in about 18 months, also cited rising employment as an example of success.
He will tell delegates that the assembly government has demonstrated it can take the big strategic decisions in health, education and the environment. He told delegates that the assembly government had demonstrated it can take the big strategic decisions in health, education and the environment.
Mr Morgan has held the top job for eight years, but retained it after last year's assembly election only by putting together a coalition with Welsh Labour's traditional opponents, Plaid Cymru.Mr Morgan has held the top job for eight years, but retained it after last year's assembly election only by putting together a coalition with Welsh Labour's traditional opponents, Plaid Cymru.
He will report back to the Labour on a tumultuous 12 months which also saw him taken to hospital for heart treatment as the deal was Plaid was done. He reported back to his party on a tumultuous 12 months which also saw him taken to hospital for heart treatment as the deal was Plaid was done.
The coalition was strongly opposed by some in Labour, but he will say he had to make difficult choices to deliver his party's manifesto.The coalition was strongly opposed by some in Labour, but he will say he had to make difficult choices to deliver his party's manifesto.
Aides said he would not rehearse the arguments in favour of the deal with the nationalists, but he will point to policies on the environment, education and health that are being overseen by Labour ministers in the joint Cabinet. He pointed to policies on the environment, education and health that are being overseen by Labour ministers in the joint Cabinet.
I have been called a 'devosceptic'. No, I am a devorealist Welsh Secretary Paul Murphy, pictured rightI have been called a 'devosceptic'. No, I am a devorealist Welsh Secretary Paul Murphy, pictured right
On health, Mr Morgan is likely to tell the conference that there has been ambitious investment in hospitals and other medical facilities. On health, Mr Morgan told the conference of ambitious investment in hospitals and other medical facilities.
He is also expected to talk about the end of private cleaning contracts this year and how the internal market in the Welsh NHS has been brought to an end. On education, Mr Morgan he outlined how the assembly government planned to tackle the challenges of raising skill levels and training among workers.
On education, Mr Morgan will outline how the assembly government plans to tackle the challenges of raising skill levels and training among workers. Mr Morgan, who has announced he will give up the leadership around his 70th birthday in September 2009, pointed to projects - such as new hospitals and railways in the south Wales valleys - that have become a reality.
Delegates will hear his views on the demographic changes coming Wales' way, and the challenge of creating a skilled workforce to maintain a "competitive edge" in a global economy.
Mr Morgan, who plans to stand down around his 70th birthday in September 2009, will point to projects - such as new hospitals and railways in the south Wales valleys - that have become a reality.
Public servicesPublic services
He will say a decision to make assembly government-owned land available for windfarms is an example of his willingness to tackle difficult questions. He also believed a decision to make assembly government-owned land available for windfarms was an example of his willingness to tackle difficult questions.
The conference saw Gordon Brown make his first visit to Wales since becoming prime minister moving and offered a chance for Labour to rally ahead of May's local elections, when all of Wales' 22 councils are up for grabs.The conference saw Gordon Brown make his first visit to Wales since becoming prime minister moving and offered a chance for Labour to rally ahead of May's local elections, when all of Wales' 22 councils are up for grabs.
On Saturday, Welsh Secretary Paul Murphy said the status of the assembly should not be allowed to get in the way of public services.On Saturday, Welsh Secretary Paul Murphy said the status of the assembly should not be allowed to get in the way of public services.
"Those are the issues that people care most about and it's delivering those services that should be our priority," he said."Those are the issues that people care most about and it's delivering those services that should be our priority," he said.
"I have been called a 'devosceptic'. No, I am a devorealist.""I have been called a 'devosceptic'. No, I am a devorealist."
In a fringe debate on rebuilding support for Labour in the Welsh-speaking communities of west Wales, Counsel General Carwyn Jones said some voters think of Labour as "anti-Welsh".In a fringe debate on rebuilding support for Labour in the Welsh-speaking communities of west Wales, Counsel General Carwyn Jones said some voters think of Labour as "anti-Welsh".
The Bridgend AM, a leading contender to take over from Mr Morgan, said: "We are to blame in a way. We allowed Plaid Cymru to say they are the party of Welsh Wales.The Bridgend AM, a leading contender to take over from Mr Morgan, said: "We are to blame in a way. We allowed Plaid Cymru to say they are the party of Welsh Wales.
"We were that party until the mid-70s.""We were that party until the mid-70s."