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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Hart flattered by leader backing | Hart flattered by leader backing |
| (28 minutes later) | |
| Health Minister Edwina Hart says she is "flattered" that a senior colleague has strongly backed her to succeed Rhodri Morgan as Labour's Welsh leader. | Health Minister Edwina Hart says she is "flattered" that a senior colleague has strongly backed her to succeed Rhodri Morgan as Labour's Welsh leader. |
| But Ms Hart says she will wait for any announcement that Mr Morgan is to stand down before declaring whether she will be a candidate for his job. | But Ms Hart says she will wait for any announcement that Mr Morgan is to stand down before declaring whether she will be a candidate for his job. |
| Finance Minister Andrew Davies backed her, and ruled himself out of the race. | Finance Minister Andrew Davies backed her, and ruled himself out of the race. |
| First Minister Mr Morgan could announce he is to stand down at the Labour Party conference this weekend. | First Minister Mr Morgan could announce he is to stand down at the Labour Party conference this weekend. |
| Two Labour AMs - Carwyn Jones and Huw Lewis - are already thought to be planning to enter the race to take over his job, once he makes an announcement. | |
| Mr Davies, the Swansea West AM, gave Ms Hart, the AM for nearby Gower, his endorsement on Wednesday, saying she has all the personal qualities, experience and leadership needed to take on the role. | Mr Davies, the Swansea West AM, gave Ms Hart, the AM for nearby Gower, his endorsement on Wednesday, saying she has all the personal qualities, experience and leadership needed to take on the role. |
| Rhodri's been a great first minister and he'll obviously advise people in due course Health Minister Edwina Hart | Rhodri's been a great first minister and he'll obviously advise people in due course Health Minister Edwina Hart |
| He also said he thought that she was the kind of strong leader that people in Wales would respond to. | He also said he thought that she was the kind of strong leader that people in Wales would respond to. |
| Speaking later, Ms Hart said she was "obviously" flattered by Mr Davies' endorsement. | Speaking later, Ms Hart said she was "obviously" flattered by Mr Davies' endorsement. |
| "I always consider it a compliment if Andrew says something nice about me," said Ms Hart. | "I always consider it a compliment if Andrew says something nice about me," said Ms Hart. |
| But she insisted that any talk of her candidacy at the moment was "pure speculation". | But she insisted that any talk of her candidacy at the moment was "pure speculation". |
| "At the end of the day if the first minister decides he's stepping down the party will then decide when the contest is going to be. | "At the end of the day if the first minister decides he's stepping down the party will then decide when the contest is going to be. |
| Six nominations | Six nominations |
| "And I think the candidates, or possible candidates, and everyone should really wait until that particular moment. | "And I think the candidates, or possible candidates, and everyone should really wait until that particular moment. |
| "Rhodri's been a great first minister and he'll obviously advise people in due course." | "Rhodri's been a great first minister and he'll obviously advise people in due course." |
| Each person needs to secure six nominations from their fellow 26 Labour AMs to be able to stand in the leadership race. | Each person needs to secure six nominations from their fellow 26 Labour AMs to be able to stand in the leadership race. |
| BBC Wales political editor Betsan Powys earlier said that Mr Davies' intervention in support of Ms Hart, the first by a senior figure in the party, signalled the starting gun for what is likely to be a hard-fought contest between Ms Hart and Carwyn Jones, the counsel general in the assembly government. | BBC Wales political editor Betsan Powys earlier said that Mr Davies' intervention in support of Ms Hart, the first by a senior figure in the party, signalled the starting gun for what is likely to be a hard-fought contest between Ms Hart and Carwyn Jones, the counsel general in the assembly government. |
| The likelihood of her standing would also deal a blow to the candidacy of Merthyr AM Huw Lewis, she said. | The likelihood of her standing would also deal a blow to the candidacy of Merthyr AM Huw Lewis, she said. |
| She explained that it is thought he has six confirmed backers among AMs, and one or more of them may now be tempted to defect to Ms Hart, leaving him short of the number needed to enter the contest. | She explained that it is thought he has six confirmed backers among AMs, and one or more of them may now be tempted to defect to Ms Hart, leaving him short of the number needed to enter the contest. |
| Ms Hart was Gower AM in the assembly's first election in 1999. She served as minister for finance and local government from 2000 to 2003. She was then appointed the minister for social justice and regeneration from 2003-2007, and became health minister in May 2007. | Ms Hart was Gower AM in the assembly's first election in 1999. She served as minister for finance and local government from 2000 to 2003. She was then appointed the minister for social justice and regeneration from 2003-2007, and became health minister in May 2007. |