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Ex-minister says Labour 'unfit' Ex-minister says Labour 'unfit'
(about 1 hour later)
An ex-assembly minister has published a pamphlet saying the Welsh Labour party is "unfit for purpose" and needs to be radically overhauled.An ex-assembly minister has published a pamphlet saying the Welsh Labour party is "unfit for purpose" and needs to be radically overhauled.
Merthyr AM Huw Lewis made the call in the first publication from a new group within Labour set up to kick-start debate about the Welsh party's future.Merthyr AM Huw Lewis made the call in the first publication from a new group within Labour set up to kick-start debate about the Welsh party's future.
Named the Wales 20:20, the group plans to write articles and essays.Named the Wales 20:20, the group plans to write articles and essays.
Welsh Labour leaders have not commented but it is thought an official party review "think-tank" is being set up. Welsh Labour leaders have not commented but it is thought an official party review think-tank is being set up.
Wales 20:20 says the Scottish Labour party has begun an extensive debate about its future but fear that there is no similar effort in Welsh Labour. Wales 20:20 said the Scottish Labour party had begun an extensive debate about its future but feared that there was no similar effort in Wales.
Its website says the organisation is committed to renewing the Labour movement across Wales. Its website said the organisation was committed to renewing the Labour movement across Wales.
The lack of discourse on this subject since May has been shocking Huw Lewis AM on response to the election result The lack of discourse on this subject since May has been shocking Huw Lewis AM, on the response to the assembly election result
It pledges to achieve that aim by providing "a forum for progressives throughout Wales" to express their ideas about the way forward for the party. It pledged to achieve that aim by providing "a forum for progressives throughout Wales" to express their ideas about the way forward for the party.
It is written by Mr Lewis, a known critic of the Labour-Plaid coalition, who lost his job as deputy economy and transport minister after the government was formed. It was written by Mr Lewis, a known critic of the Labour-Plaid coalition, who lost his job as deputy economy and transport minister after the assembly government was formed.
In his pamphlet he says Labour effectively lost May's election but says the party is not facing up to the changes needed in response to that result. In his pamphlet he said Labour effectively lost May's election but the party was not facing up to the changes needed in response to that result.
He writes: "'The lack of discourse on this subject since May has been shocking."He writes: "'The lack of discourse on this subject since May has been shocking."
Mr Lewis said Labour must "react to the 2007 result as if it were a heavy defeat" or it risks "sleepwalking" to an even worse defeat in 2011. Mr Lewis said Labour must "react to the 2007 result as if it were a heavy defeat" or it risked "sleepwalking" to an even worse defeat in 2011.
"I contend that the only way to do that will require the remaking of Welsh Labour from top to bottom, as presently organised it is simply not fit for the purpose of winning Assembly elections," he writes. "I contend that the only way to do that will require the remaking of Welsh Labour from top to bottom, as presently organised it is simply not fit for the purpose of winning assembly elections," he wrote.
The new group is also encouraging online debateThe new group is also encouraging online debate
He rejects claims that Labour can never again expect to win a majority of seats in Wales as a "counsel of despair" but says changes do need to be made. He rejected claims that Labour could never again expect to win a majority of seats in Wales as a "counsel of despair" but said changes were needed.
Chief of these is how the party is organised, with Mr Lewis claiming staffing levels were hopelessly inadequate for running the party across Wales. Chief among these was how the party was organised, with Mr Lewis claiming staffing levels were hopelessly inadequate for running the party across Wales.
He also said trade unions should play a full part in the policy-making structure.He also said trade unions should play a full part in the policy-making structure.
Other suggestions include Welsh MPs being given a new role in forming and scrutinising policies, to avert the risk of the Welsh party alienating the Westminster group permanently. Other suggestions included Welsh MPs being given a new role in forming and scrutinising policies to avert the risk of the Welsh party alienating the Westminster group permanently.
Although there has been no comment from the Wales Labour leadership, there is likely to be private criticism of Wales 20:20.Although there has been no comment from the Wales Labour leadership, there is likely to be private criticism of Wales 20:20.
Its name echoes that of another website set up by the former UK cabinet ministers. Its name echoes that of another website set up by former UK cabinet ministers Charles Clarke and Alan Milburn, who had been forced to deny that The 2020 Vision was a veiled attempt to stop Gordon Brown becoming leader.
Charles Clarke and Alan Milburn were forced to deny that The 2020 Vision was a veiled attempt to stop Gordon Brown becoming leader. Both Wales 20:20 and the Merthyr AM have strongly denied that their group was a cover for any possible future leadership bid by Mr Lewis.
Both Wales 20:20 and the Merthyr AM are strongly denying that their group is a cover for any possible future leadership bid by Mr Lewis. They also insisted that it was not aimed at providing a forum for those who remained opposed to the new Labour-Plaid coalition government.
They also insist that it is not aimed at providing a forum for those who remain opposed to the new Labour-Plaid coalition government.
It is thought an official think-tank is in the process of being set up with a similar aim of reviewing what change is needed.It is thought an official think-tank is in the process of being set up with a similar aim of reviewing what change is needed.