THIS is a huge moment for Wales and our party. We face a Tory cost-of-living crisis and expect a general election any day. We need a leader ready from day one.
 
I offer the experience, values, and vision needed to lead a united movement and build a hopeful, fairer future.
 
As a Welshman with a Welsh father and a Zambian mother, I know what it’s like to face prejudice and have your place in your community questioned.
 
I don’t want anyone in Wales to feel that way. That’s why I’ve dedicated my life to standing up for social justice, as a trade union shop steward, trade union lawyer, devolution campaigner, councillor, MS, and minister.
 
As health minister during Covid, I was tested in the toughest circumstances. While Tories partied in No 10, Mark Drakeford and I worked around the clock to keep Wales safe alongside our brilliant NHS, trade unions, and councils.
 
Now I’m leading the crucial fight for steel jobs, together with unions and communities. Under the highest pressure, you can trust me to step up, keep my judgement and stand firm with our shared Welsh Labour values.
 
While difficult days lie ahead, I’m optimistic for the future we can create together.
 
For a healthy nation: a Welsh NHS, safe in public hands and always the Budget priority. Services focused on improving both physical and mental health, and social care fit for our future.
 
For green prosperity: green job creation at the heart of protecting Wales’ future. A just transition, tackling poverty and protecting our planet, with good jobs and community wealth.
 
For a place called home: accelerating social housing construction. Reliable, affordable public transport. Devolving powers and funding to local government.
 
For ambitious futures: educational opportunity at every age and stage of life, expanding childcare and apprenticeships. Achieving excellence in our schools and colleges, working with teachers and support staff.
 
For a stronger Wales: more powers for Wales and across Wales. An ambitious, progressive nation taking its place on the world stage with a thriving future for Cymraeg.
 
I’m ready to lead and bring people together from every part of our movement into a united, campaigning force.
 
Alongside Welsh Labour members, I’m proud to have the support of the six biggest Labour-affiliated unions in this campaign, with the support of Community, GMB, Unison, Unite, Usdaw and the CWU, representing over 100,000 workers across Wales. As First Minister, alongside campaigning for Labour’s New Deal for Working People, our government would work in partnership with trade unions and establish Gwaith Teg — a new fair work fund for Wales to help promote fair working practices.
 
Likewise, I’m honoured to have the backing of the majority of Labour group leaders from local councils right across Wales. After nearly 14 years of the Tories punishing Wales and our public services, it is Labour councillors who are often the last line of defence.

Where Welsh Labour is in power, councillors face difficult decisions every day to try to use evermore dwindling resources to improve communities and protect the most vulnerable in our society from the worst of Tory cuts.

Where we do not have a majority, councillors face the tough job of standing up for those who need it most, whether in opposition or in coalition. Working to secure the election of more Welsh Labour councillors and enable us to do still more for our communities would be a priority for me as leader.

This next general election cannot come soon enough — it’s time to sweep the Tories out of Downing Street and have two Labour governments working in partnership for the first time in 14 years.

Together, we can create a Wales where everyone can succeed, no matter their background or appearance.
 
I want young people across Wales to look to the future with hope for the happy, fulfilled lives they can build here  — a future where we grow the economy to support public services that are a source of pride and properly funded, where good, meaningful work helps to lift people out of poverty and tackles the climate emergency, where we work to spread opportunity to all and understand that only by working together can we deliver for everyone.
 
With your support, we can create a fairer future  — for Wales, for Labour, for you.

Follow Vaughan on X @vaughangething.