Gething clears hurdle in Welsh Labour race
VAUGHAN Gething will challenge Mark Drakeford to be the next Labour leader. Under the current rules, any leadership candidate requires five nominations from fellow Assembly Members.
Labour Vale of Clwyd AM Ann Jones has given her backing to the health secretary, meaning he can stand against Mr Drakeford, a fellow cabinet member who so far has the backing of the most Assembly colleagues.
Mr Gething had already secured the backing of Hefin David, Lynne Neagle, Joyce Watson and Vikki Howells. Ms Jones’ backing means he has enough nominations to join Mark Drakeford on the ballot sheet that goes to Labour members in Wales.
Other AMs who have said they want the top job but have not secured enough support from fellow AMs are Huw Irranca-Davies, Eluned Morgan and Alun Davies, who launched his bid for the leadership in Tredegar yesterday.
Ms Jones said she was “delighted” to back Mr Gething.
Speaking after making her announcement, she said she wanted to back someone who had been through the same trade union route into the party as she had.
“We have known each other for a long time and I just wanted to make sure, before I gave my nomination, that when I gave it, it was wholehearted.
“I am not playing games just to get people onto the ballot papers. I am fully supportive of Vaughan, he is the person for the years to come.
“We face many, many issues in the party with austerity, Brexit, and I believe that Vaughan is the best person that will lead the party through these difficult times and into the next election.”
Ms Jones is an advocate for women’s rights but said she would not be forced into voting for a female candidate.
“I think people who expect us to do anything have to realise that we do things for the right reasons.
“I have fought for a long, hard time in this party so we won’t have tokenism. I felt by people telling me who I should nominate, when they have had their chance to nominate I just won’t listen to their arguments.
“I pondered for a long, hard time about who I was going to come out for. It’s not just about putting your name down, it’s about supporting Vaughan.
“I had to be sure in my mind that I was doing it for the right reasons. I believe I was doing it for the right reasons.
“I am a strong advocate of women going forward in the party, but not a token woman, and not one that I feel it would be wrong for me to lend a nomination to.”
She said she had waited to see if a North Wales colleague would stand, but when they did not, she decided to back Mr Gething.
“I would have liked to have seen a North Wales colleague stand and that’s one of the reasons I held back from nominating anyone.”I wanted to see if anyone would be entering the field.
“It’s clear that people from the north are not.”
She admitted she had considered standing herself but “very quickly” decided against it.
Mr Gething said he was “delighted” to have got the nomination.
He accepted that many issues or policies of any of the candidates were not being discussed in wider political circles.
But he said as the campaign started in earnest more would be discussed for members to make their decision.
He said there could yet be another name on the ballot form.
“There’s plenty of room for a third name on the ballot paper, including a very real prospect of a woman.”
“My colleagues in the Labour group now have to make their choice”.