SOCIALIST activists in Wales told the Star today they would not support either Welsh Labour leadership candidate after the weekend’s official launch of Jeremy Miles’s campaign.
Welsh Labour Grassroots (WLG) supported Mark Drakeford in his successful leadership bid, but after sending a list of policies to Mr Miles and Economy Minister Vaughan Gething they decided the responses were not in line with its vision.
WLG said it would release the two candidates’ responses to its members to help them make an informed decision.
The left campaign group will also be releasing its manifesto to outline what it feels are some of the key areas that any leader will need to address in Wales.
“If a candidate appears more willing to implement policies we deem necessary, we may decide to support them,” a WLG spokesperson said.
The self-styled centre-left Mr Miles launched his official campaign on Saturday in Swansea and made six campaign pledges.
He pledged more money for education and new orthopaedic treatment centres to cut NHS waiting lists and ruled out a U-turn on the controversial 20mph speed limit.
Mr Miles claimed his six key pledges were on issues that matter the most to the people of Wales — the economy, the NHS, schools, housing, transport, and strengthening Welsh democracy.
If successful, Mr Miles will be the first openly gay leader across the UK nations and said: “I’m standing for Welsh Labour leader and first minister because I have a vision for Wales’s future.
“As first minister, I will invest more in education, provide practical help to the NHS to cut waiting lists, expand co-operative housing and introduce fairer bus fares.
“Every penny spent on building and buying through the Welsh government will have to meet the test of supporting quality, sustainable jobs and our aims of tackling the climate emergency.
“Our Welsh democracy will be strengthened with a stronger Senedd, I will press for the further devolution of powers, including within Wales, and I will work in partnership with Sir Keir Starmer as Labour’s next prime minister.”
Mr Miles was elected in 2016 to represent Neath and has secured the most support from the Senedd Labour group, including a majority of ministers and the entire 2021 election new intake.
