Why I’m backing Mark Drakeford for Labour Leader

A leadership election within your party always gives you pause for thought and reflection as a politician and as a person. It has lead me to spend some time thinking about what it is I stand for, what I want to continue to achieve for the people of Wales in the future and ultimately, who is the best person to lead the Labour Party in Wales to ensure these ambitions become a reality?

This leadership election comes at a time of incredible uncertainty and growing hardship for the people of Wales. The shambles the Brexit negotiations have been thus far are nearing a critical stage, with countless jobs at stake, while the misguided UK Government policy of austerity has put unparalleled pressure on the Assembly budget and consequently the daily lives of the people of Wales.

I know from my cabinet experience the next leader will have to shoulder a huge responsibility for ensuring Welsh Labour rises to these challenges. We have to have someone leading the Labour Party in Wales who has the skills, knowledge and experience to bring improved quality of life, greater cohesion and cooperation and the vision to be a strong bridge that offers people the length and breadth of Wales a very real hope for the future.

The qualities I am looking for in our next leader include a strong moral compass to mitigate against the volatile and often opportunistic politics of the 21^st century, someone who understands the importance and value of a Government funded NHS, free at the point of delivery, to both current and future generations and someone who can unite, enthuse and marshal the different elements that make up the broad church that is the Labour Party in Wales to ensure real and lasting positive change for the future.

Another prime consideration in making my choice of who to support was that of the future development of, and investment in North Wales. Knowing that there was a candidate who understands the need to address the growing sense of divide between the North and the South made my choice in the end an easy one.

In looking for someone with all of the qualities I have outlined, I could only conclude that Mark Drakeford is that person and that I am very happy to offer him my full support the forthcoming leadership election.