A CLASH over how to elect the next leader of Welsh Labour is expected at the party’s conference in Llandudno in April.

Welsh Labour’s executive committee ruled in November that it would continue to use an electoral college system where members of the British Parliament and Welsh Assembly, affiliated trade unions and societies and ordinary members each have one-third of the vote.

But a proposed change to the one-member, one-vote (Omov) system that unexpectedly brought Jeremy Corbyn to lead the Britain-wide Labour Party, prompting a threefold increase in membership and its biggest rise in the popular vote since 1945, is favoured by left-wing campaigners and even a majority of the Welsh cabinet.

Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford has declared his support for Omov and he is said to be backed by Economy Secretary Ken Skates, Energy Secretary Lesley Griffiths, chief whip Julie James and Local Government Secretary Alun Davies.

A Welsh Labour spokeswoman said the executive’s decision followed a four-month consultation process and that the committee was “representative of the whole Welsh Labour family.”