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Jones vows a Labour 'fight back' Jones vows a Labour 'fight back'
(20 minutes later)
The new leader of Labour in Wales has promised to start the party's electoral fight back immediately.The new leader of Labour in Wales has promised to start the party's electoral fight back immediately.
Carwyn Jones won a comprehensive victory over challengers, Edwina Hart and Huw Lewis in a two-month campaign.Carwyn Jones won a comprehensive victory over challengers, Edwina Hart and Huw Lewis in a two-month campaign.
The Bridgend AM and Counsel General won a majority among Labour politicians, party members and unions, leaving him with a clear mandate from his party "To win back Wales, Welsh Labour has to listen and it has to learn," he said.
Mr Jones, the Bridgend AM and Counsel General, said the economy was a priority, while a timetable on a referendum on assembly powers would be looked at over the next few weeks.
Mr Jones, 42, won a majority among Labour politicians, party members and unions, leaving him with a clear mandate from his party
He is expected to become first minister next week, leading a coalition government with Plaid Cymru.He is expected to become first minister next week, leading a coalition government with Plaid Cymru.
His in-tray also includes a general election due in around six months' time.His in-tray also includes a general election due in around six months' time.
Speaking at the Wales Millennium Centre, where his victory was announced, Mr Jones said Welsh Labour party members knew there was "a difficult task ahead" but the "fight back" had started.Speaking at the Wales Millennium Centre, where his victory was announced, Mr Jones said Welsh Labour party members knew there was "a difficult task ahead" but the "fight back" had started.
He said there were "no no-go areas" in Wales for Labour and that he wanted to be a leader for the whole of the country.He said there were "no no-go areas" in Wales for Labour and that he wanted to be a leader for the whole of the country.
Gordon BrownGordon Brown
He said: "To win back Wales, Welsh Labour has to listen and it has to learn He said: "To win back Wales, Welsh Labour has to listen and it has to learn.
"We have to make sure that we listen to people, that we keep our promises."We have to make sure that we listen to people, that we keep our promises.
"I want my country to succeed. I want to make a difference to the lives of the people of Wales."I want my country to succeed. I want to make a difference to the lives of the people of Wales.
"I am proud to be Welsh, I'm proud to be British and I'm proud to be Labour.""I am proud to be Welsh, I'm proud to be British and I'm proud to be Labour."
He said he would be making a decision next week on his cabinet, but told BBC Radio Wales Mrs Hart and Mr Lewis "had great strengths" and there were others in the party who had talents to bring to the table.He said he would be making a decision next week on his cabinet, but told BBC Radio Wales Mrs Hart and Mr Lewis "had great strengths" and there were others in the party who had talents to bring to the table.
Gordon Brown was among those to offer his congratulations. He said: "Carwyn will be a true fighter for all the people of Wales.
"I know that Carwyn will make taking on the Tories a priority: they would be a change that Wales cannot afford," he said.
Mr Jones, a 42-year-old barrister won in the first round against his two rivals, with 52% of the vote.Mr Jones, a 42-year-old barrister won in the first round against his two rivals, with 52% of the vote.
Plaid Cymru
He said the outgoing party leader, First Minister Rhodri Morgan, was a "hard act to follow".He said the outgoing party leader, First Minister Rhodri Morgan, was a "hard act to follow".
A fluent Welsh speaker, Mr Jones is due to replace Mr Morgan as first minister next week.A fluent Welsh speaker, Mr Jones is due to replace Mr Morgan as first minister next week.
As first minister he will have to see out the remaining year-and-half of Labour's governing coalition with Plaid Cymru.As first minister he will have to see out the remaining year-and-half of Labour's governing coalition with Plaid Cymru.
The two parties' coalition was rocked last week by a row over the timing of a referendum on primary law-making powers for the assembly, a key part of their One Wales [power-sharing] deal.
Mr Jones told BBC Wales: "In terms of the referendum, the next step now is for me to discuss the way forward with our coalition partners.
"We have an agreement, the One Wales [power-sharing] agreement, and that includes, of course, a clause that we have a referendum before 2011.
"So what I want to do is use the next few weeks to actually look at what the timetable might for a referendum in the future."
'Socialist'
Welsh Secretary Peter Hain said he expected Mr Jones to be focused "laser-like" on the task of winning at the general election.Welsh Secretary Peter Hain said he expected Mr Jones to be focused "laser-like" on the task of winning at the general election.
He said Welsh Labour had relied on its traditional heartland support and had lost ground in the west and north and in the cities.He said Welsh Labour had relied on its traditional heartland support and had lost ground in the west and north and in the cities.
He said: "Wales has been changing very dramatically, I think faster than people think over the past 10-15 years, especially, and I think he is very aware of that.He said: "Wales has been changing very dramatically, I think faster than people think over the past 10-15 years, especially, and I think he is very aware of that.
"And that's why I think this the right time to take the party in a new campaigning direction but relying, and in a sense, emphasising, our traditional socialit values but in a modern setting and in a modern Wales. "And that's why I think this the right time to take the party in a new campaigning direction but relying, and in a sense, emphasising, our traditional socialist values but in a modern setting and in a modern Wales.
"He's very engaged about the need to re-galvanise Welsh Labour as a campaigning force, to reach out to the grassroots, to establish our presence at the heart of Wales again.""He's very engaged about the need to re-galvanise Welsh Labour as a campaigning force, to reach out to the grassroots, to establish our presence at the heart of Wales again."
Mr Jones won in the first round against his two rivals, with 52% of the vote, which was announced on Tuesday.
Gordon Brown was among those to offer his congratulations. He said: "Carwyn will be a true fighter for all the people of Wales.
"I know that Carwyn will make taking on the Tories a priority: they would be a change that Wales cannot afford," he said.


What would you like to see from the new First Minister? We will publish a selection of your comments below.What would you like to see from the new First Minister? We will publish a selection of your comments below.
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & ConditionsThe BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions