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'Core vote not enough' for Labour | 'Core vote not enough' for Labour |
(about 8 hours later) | |
A likely contender to take over from Welsh Labour leader Rhodri Morgan has warned his party it can no longer rely on its core vote to win elections. | |
In a speech, Bridgend AM and assembly government minister Carwyn Jones said it was time to "make accommodations" with occasional Labour voters. | |
He was speaking at an event at the National Eisteddfod at Bala, Gwynedd. | |
First Minister Mr Morgan has said he expects to step down around the time of his 70th birthday next month. | |
Mr Jones, the assembly government counsel general, told a fringe meeting organised by Labour's Welsh language discussion forum Cymdeithas Cledwyn that the party needs to be honest about its current level of public support. | |
It follows Labour's poor performances in European, local and assembly polls in recent years. | It follows Labour's poor performances in European, local and assembly polls in recent years. |
In the European poll in June, Labour was humiliated when it failed to come first in a Welsh election for the first time since 1918 and the Conservatives topped the poll. | In the European poll in June, Labour was humiliated when it failed to come first in a Welsh election for the first time since 1918 and the Conservatives topped the poll. |
Mr Jones urged the party to reach out, to both people who occasionally vote for it and those who have not voted for the party for a long time, or face the prospect of no longer winning elections in Wales. | |
He also admitted Labour faces challenges winning back support from ethnic minority voters because of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. | |
He called for the party to put itself at the heart of a "fair play coalition", or "chwarae teg coalition" founded on principles of fairness, justice and opportunity. | |
No Labour AM has formally declared they intend to stand for the party's leadership. | No Labour AM has formally declared they intend to stand for the party's leadership. |
But Mr Jones, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney AM Huw Lewis and Gower AM and Health Minister Edwina Hart are all thought to be preparing campaigns. |