Our Campaign
Edwina has officially launched her campaign to become the leader of Labour in Wales with a wide 
ranging manifesto.
Edwina has now published her personal manifesto outlining her commitment to the “clear red water” tradition of Welsh socialism along with her plans to complete the four year programme for government endorsed by the Labour Party in 2007. The Manifesto outlines her ideas for developing devolution over the next ten years. Specific, often radical, measures dealing with the improvement of government administration, the delivery of public services, employment, child poverty, climate change, the Welsh Language, coalition in Cardiff and relationships between Wales and Westminster are outlined.
The Manifesto document also explains her personal reasons for wanting to lead the Welsh Assembly Government. In a message to electors she says:
“When my mother was born, women in Wales had never had the vote. Now less than a century later, I am a candidate to be the first woman to lead our party in Wales. None of this has happened without the Labour movement, and I am proud of the part I have been able to play, both as President of the Wales TUC and as a Minister in Rhodri Morgan’s Assembly Government for the past ten years.”
Edwina also emphasises her personal qualities. In her message about her ten years as a minister she stresses her willingness to roll up her sleeves and get on with the job.
“During that period I have been responsible for finance, local government, social justice and, over the past two years, for the biggest portfolio, health and social services, with a track record of putting our party’s policies into practice. In the process I have learned that it takes strong leadership and political determination to make the machinery of government work for progressive agendas.
You can download the Manifesto in its entirety from the "Campaign Downloads" section of the "Get Involved" page on this website or by clicking on the icon on this page.
In her manifesto, which combines the personal and the political, Edwina has laid out a powerful vision.
This includes:
- Public service reform, ‘Voice not Choice' - how to deliver publicly funded services the 'Welsh Way', with the voice of the Citizen at its heart
- The setting up of special public service improvement bodies to develop leadership, innovation and the interchange of ideas and workers between the various public services in Wales
- Reforming the way the Welsh Assembly is funded by Westminster so that the Welsh block grant is based on need
- Supporting further powers for the Assembly following a successful referendum campaign
- Tackling child poverty and youth unemployment through improved strategies
- Establishing a Citizens’ Bank to make sure that access to finance is available to individuals, groups and enterprises
- Explaining why we can't afford another “lost generation”
- Developing further the work of the Climate Change Commission
- Reviving Welsh Labour from top to bottom
- Working flat out for Labour in the General Election and a majority in the next Assembly elections
