Welsh Labour should always be distinctively and confidently Welsh – Jeremy Miles
Welsh Labour leadership candidate Jeremy Miles says the party in Wales should always be “distinctively and confidently Welsh”.
Mr Miles, who is going head-to-head with Vaughan Gething in the leadership election, has also set out a detailed plan to strengthen Welsh Labour and has pledged to ensure the party remains “firmly rooted in communities” across Wales.
He has also stated that if elected as the party’s next leader, he will put the party on red alert to fight the next UK General Election on his first day in office.
Proud
Mr Miles, the Minister for Education and Welsh Language, said: “I’m proud to be Welsh, and proud to be Labour. My values are Welsh Labour’s values – and I’ve been a member of our party for more than 35 years.
“Welsh Labour is home to good-hearted people of passion and talent, and commitment to the causes of equality and social justice. My generation are the inheritors of a radical Welsh Labour tradition – shaped over the years by Rhodri, Carwyn and Mark. The task is to apply our enduring values to the changing world we live in. Under my leadership, we will do exactly that.
“We must renew the unspoken contract between members and the party. As members knock on doors ahead of the General Election, we must embrace the latest campaign techniques and help activists to develop the latest campaign organisation skills.
“Alongside this we must recognise their dedication, energy, and ideas are why we succeed. Which is why I’m committing myself and Welsh Labour Ministers in a government I lead to ongoing engagement with our constituency labour parties, affiliates and the many traditions that make up our party in Wales.”
Modern Wales
In his manifesto, Miles said Welsh Labour must reflect modern Wales in all its diversity, in its organisation and in its representation.
To deliver that, he is supporting women’s leadership in the party, guarantees on representation on shortlists and implementing the campaign objectives of the Welsh Labour Charter for Women.
And he will also proactively support local parties to search for talented candidates for the 2026 Senedd selections, ensuring better representation in particular of women, Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, disabled candidates and LGBT+ candidates and work with trade unions to encourage and support candidates from their membership.
Mr Miles added: “Welsh Labour must reflect all parts of our country – north, south, urban, rural – and embrace our national commitment to the Welsh language in all that we do as a party.
“I will listen to the experiences of women within our movement as we continue to remove barriers to representation at all levels. I was proud to be an active supporter of the Welsh Labour Charter for Women from its foundation a decade ago. It is work I will carry forward as leader.”
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Have a look at a map of political affiliations of Cymru and tell me how this ‘proud’ Labour hack can speak for the whole of Cymru…
He can certainly “ proud 🏳️🌈 “ or not reflect the modern more confident tendancy in his own party that seems to be emerging from the Kinnock tradition and their candidate that has let down our nation…
‘Proud’ just had it explained, I was thinking of Rishi’s use of the word…perhaps you could explain what the heck you are talking about…are you old enough to recall the words of Jerry Adams being spoken by an actor then if so think about it some more…
Jeremy Miles says, “Welsh Labour” should always be distinctly and confidentially Welsh”. Enough saying and more doing. You’ve had 24 years to make a noticeable difference. But what has Labour really done for Wales in its 124 year history since its establishment as a political party in 1900? Not much. It seems Wales has given far more to Labour than it’s ever received in return.
Your last sentence is so true, Y Cymro…
The Royal Navy has always done well out of Cymru from the ‘Wooden Walls’ to the ‘Ironclad’…
Copper bottomed and the finest steam coal in the world…
Manpower and a ready RNR merchant fleet to call up…
Next time Penny M pipes up remind her of a bit of history…
If that’s the case, you should become a unique party in your own right instead of a branch/brand of Unionist Labour. In fact, there’s a short cut. Stop faffing about with “New Conservative” Labour, choose democratic Welsh Statehood and join Plaid Cymru.
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ENGLISH. Bla, bla, bla… (ac ond yn ‘Bla’ ar Gymru yw’r Pleidiau Prydeinig i gyd)- os mae Mr Miles am i’r Blaid Lafur yng Nghymru fod yn ‘distinctly and confidently Welsh’, does ddim gwell ffordd o wneud hynny na chymryd siswrn a thorri’r ‘llinyn bogail’ ariannol a gweledigaethol’ rhyngddi hi a’r Blaid Brydeinig – cyn gynted â phosib. ~ Blah, blah, blah… – if Mr Miles wants the Labour Party in Wales to be ‘distinctly and confidently Welsh’, there is no better way to do that than to take a scissors and cut the financial and… Read more »
Earlier on TV they announced a party political broadcast by Welsh Labour. However the broadcast was presented by Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves MP and not once was there a mention of Wales. Welsh Labour has always been controlled by it’s Masters in London. There is no such thing as Welsh Labour
…. Shaped over the years by Rhodri, Carwyn and Mark. What about Alun?
did anyone see the ‘Welsh Labour’ (ha ha!) political broadcast tonight? Nice to see the Union Jack portrayed so proudly.