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Assembly election 'a straight fight' with Tories for Labour Welsh Labour faces 'toughest election' since devolution
(about 2 hours later)
Labour must avoid distractions and focus on a "straight fight with the Tories" at May's assembly election, Carwyn Jones will tell his party. Welsh Labour faces its toughest election since devolution began in 1999, Carwyn Jones has said.
The first minister will say voters face a choice between him or Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies. The first minister told his party conference in Llandudno he was willing to take difficult decisions and take the flak that comes with them.
"That is not a fight the people of Wales can afford us to lose," he will say at Welsh Labour's conference in Llandudno on Saturday. Mr Jones is seeking another term in office to complete a "decade of delivery" that started in 2011.
Mr Jones said the party had not been helped by internal rows at Westminster. He said voters faced a choice between keeping him as first minister or Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies.
There have been several disagreements within the party since Jeremy Corbyn was elected leader. Mr Jones, first minister since 2009, outlined the party's six key pledges for May's assembly election campaign.
But Labour is determined to make the assembly election a contest between Mr Jones and his opposite number in the Tory Party. He also repeated a promise that Labour would not increase income taxes if the assembly gets the powers necessary.
Opponents have criticised Labour's record on public services, but Mr Jones will say the "momentum in our schools, hospitals and in our economy" would be at risk if Labour loses power in Cardiff Bay. Having led the Welsh government - either alone or in coalition - for 17 years, Labour's record will come under scrutiny at the election.
He will say he agrees with Mr Davies's verdict on opinion polls that give Labour the lead and put the Tories in second place in Wales. But Mr Jones hailed achievements in education, health and the economy under his party.
"He said that the Tories are the only alternative to Welsh Labour in the assembly and he has also said that it is a straight fight between me and him for who will be the next first minister of Wales," Mr Jones will say. Labour could not afford "distractions" and must keep its sights set on "the fact that this election is a straight fight between Labour and the Tories," he said.
"And he's dead right on both counts. "We need to be very clear in our own minds about the challenge ahead of us in May.
"There are distractions on the sidelines, not least from UKIP, but we can never lose sight of the fact that this election is a straight fight between Labour and the Tories. "This will be our toughest ever assembly election campaign."
"Our vision and values against theirs. That is not a fight the people of Wales can afford us to lose." After months of infighting in Labour under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership, Mr Jones said Labour needed to "pull together, and work together, and campaign together".
Labour is seeking another five years and its fifth consecutive term in office, having governed either on its own or in coalition since devolution in 1999. Reacting for the Welsh Conservatives, Mr Davies said: "Carwyn Jones's term in office can only be categorised as an abject failure and he would've been sacked years ago if he worked for a private sector firm."
Mr Jones said his Labour administration is halfway through a decade of delivery. Earlier, Mr Corbyn told the conference Welsh Labour had made a "massive difference" during its 17 years in power.
On Friday, he told BBC Wales' Newyddion 9 that divisions in the party had been unhelpful, but the campaign for the assembly election would be run by the party in Wales and would be based on policies made in Wales.
"There's been a lot of rowing in Westminster and if people see a party isn't as one, that doesn't help," he added.
In his speech to the conference on Saturday, Mr Corbyn praised Welsh Labour for making a "massive difference" during its 17 years in power.
He said Wales enjoyed good industrial relations, where ministers had not "picked a fight" with junior doctors who had gone on strike in England over new contracts.He said Wales enjoyed good industrial relations, where ministers had not "picked a fight" with junior doctors who had gone on strike in England over new contracts.