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Jones to join leadership contest Jones joins Labour leader contest
(about 13 hours later)
Carwyn Jones is expected to announce his intention to stand for the Welsh Labour leadership. Carwyn Jones has confirmed that he has joined two fellow Assembly Members in contesting the Welsh Labour leadership.
It is expected the Bridgend AM will launch his leadership campaign in front of party members at a meeting in his constituency. The Bridgend AM has launched his leadership campaign in front of party members at a meeting in his constituency.
The counsel general will be the third contender in the race to succeed Rhodri Morgan, who will step down in December. The counsel general is the third contender in the race to succeed Rhodri Morgan, who will step down in December.
Health Minister Edwina Hart and Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney AM Huw Lewis have already confirmed they will stand.Health Minister Edwina Hart and Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney AM Huw Lewis have already confirmed they will stand.
Details of Mr Jones's campaign preparations have emerged with the release of English and Welsh video messages from Mr Jones on two new campaign website. Details of Mr Jones's campaign preparations emerged with the release of English and Welsh video messages from Mr Jones on two new campaign websites.
In the videos, Mr Jones tells supporters that he wants to help "make a difference to the lives of people in Wales" by building on the achievements of Mr Morgan's governments over the past nine years.In the videos, Mr Jones tells supporters that he wants to help "make a difference to the lives of people in Wales" by building on the achievements of Mr Morgan's governments over the past nine years.
He salutes the work that has been done to strengthen the education system and health service, and to introduce policies such as free bus travel for older people and free prescriptions. He saluted the work that has been done to strengthen the education system and health service, and to introduce policies such as free bus travel for older people and free prescriptions.
Mr Jones also launches a strong attack on Plaid Cymru's policy of independence, which he warned would cut people in Wales off from their friends and families and would be unaffordable.
In the video, he says: "Like other members of Welsh Labour, I'm proud to be Welsh, but also proud to be British".
'Dependable''Dependable'
Mr Jones also launched a strong attack on Plaid Cymru's policy of independence, which he warned would cut people in Wales off from their friends and families and would be unaffordable.
In the video, he says: "Like other members of Welsh Labour, I'm proud to be Welsh, but also proud to be British".
Speaking after his campaign was launched, Mr Jones said he wanted to unite his party and get rid of "perceptions of isolation" in west and north Wales.
"We have to make sure that firstly we get a Labour government elected in May 2010. We need to secure as much funding as possible for the assembly government and that means getting a Labour government elected," he said.
"Secondly, then, of course, we have to make sure we win a Labour majority in the assembly elections of 2011.
WELSH LABOUR ELECTION TIMETABLE 2 October: Election notice goes to local parties, affiliated organisations, AMs, MPs and MEP12 Oct: Deadline for nominations2 November: Ballot papers issued1700 GMT, 26 Nov: Ballot closes1 December: New Welsh Labour leader announced9 Dec: New leader expected to be confirmed as first minister
"We have to work hard to do that. We have to be united as a party to do that but I'm confident we can certainly do that."
He added that he did not anticipate a "battle" during the campaign as he "gets on very well personally" with Ms Hart and Mr Lewis.
A number of Labour politicians have declared their support for Mr Jones, including Environment Minister Jane Davidson, AM for Pontypridd, the first cabinet minister to do so.A number of Labour politicians have declared their support for Mr Jones, including Environment Minister Jane Davidson, AM for Pontypridd, the first cabinet minister to do so.
Last Friday Mr Jones received endorsements from Anglesey MP Albert Owen and Cardiff South and Penarth AM Lorraine Barrett.Last Friday Mr Jones received endorsements from Anglesey MP Albert Owen and Cardiff South and Penarth AM Lorraine Barrett.
And Wrexham AM Lesley Griffiths is the latest to confirm her backing for him. Wrexham AM Lesley Griffiths is the latest to confirm her backing for him.
Ms Hart, the Gower AM, confirmed her candidature last week with an announcement on the video-sharing website YouTube, urging Labour voters "both past and present to 'come home to Labour'."Ms Hart, the Gower AM, confirmed her candidature last week with an announcement on the video-sharing website YouTube, urging Labour voters "both past and present to 'come home to Labour'."
WELSH LABOUR ELECTION TIMETABLE 2 October: Election notice goes to local parties, affiliated organisations, AMs, MPs and MEP12 Oct: Deadline for nominations2 November: Ballot papers issued1700 GMT, 26 Nov: Ballot closes1 December: New Welsh Labour leader announced8 Dec: New leader to be confirmed as first minister 'Nominations'
In her message, which included the slogan "I Hart Labour", she said: "We need a strong voice for a strong Wales. I believe I am that voice."In her message, which included the slogan "I Hart Labour", she said: "We need a strong voice for a strong Wales. I believe I am that voice."
Mr Lewis also announced that he had the required six nominations from fellow Labour AMs to throw his hat into the ring.Mr Lewis also announced that he had the required six nominations from fellow Labour AMs to throw his hat into the ring.
He called for Wales to "take a new departure" and needed a "radical and bold vision of the future, based on co-operative values".He called for Wales to "take a new departure" and needed a "radical and bold vision of the future, based on co-operative values".
Mr Lewis has also urged the party to ensure that the leadership contest is conducted as 'a clean fight'.Mr Lewis has also urged the party to ensure that the leadership contest is conducted as 'a clean fight'.
"I've had long and friendly chats with both Carwyn and Edwina in recent days and I have complete faith in their commitments to run good, ideas-based campaigns," he said."I've had long and friendly chats with both Carwyn and Edwina in recent days and I have complete faith in their commitments to run good, ideas-based campaigns," he said.
'Regressive'
Plaid Cymru AM for South Wales Central Leanne Wood said Mr Jones's use of the "proud to be Welsh, proud to be British" "mantra" came as no surprise.
"We understand that Mr Jones will need to make every effort to appear as detached from Plaid Cymru as possible in order to please some of the more regressive elements of his party," she said.
"Plaid Cymru is clear about its identity, open about its aims and ambitions with its policies. That's why Plaid is able to show so much leadership at the helm of the Welsh government."