Enjoying what Europe has to offer

When the European election turned politics upside down in the UK - even here in Wales - trust me to be enjoying a break in a beautiful country that hopes to be a member of the European Union one day.

Caption: All thanks to reform and postal voting.

Moving on up with Welsh Labour

You know me. I tend not to listen to rumour just as much as the next person. I tend to keep myself to myself, unless someone speaks so loudly that I can't help but hear.

Rumour has it that heads have been turned in the Assembly, in disgust at the way Eluned Morgan MEP has treated the party with contempt by first seeking re-selection for next year's European Election, only to pull out* when the prospect of bigger and brighter offers became apparent. Whatever some might think are bigger and brighter in the political world is purely speculative and remains to be seen.

Welsh Labour have already announced that each list member bounces up the list by one place, much to the delight of Lisa Stevens (Office Assistant to Eluned Morgan and next bright-young-thing in Labour's camp) whose prospect of becoming an elected politician is apparent, short of an election disaster for Labour.

Rumour has it that there are some who are eager to call for a re-opening of the Labour Euro selection process for Wales, which will undoubtedly be strongly resisted by Transport House, some even blame Transport House for their failure to make the top spot. Rumour has it that senior officers backed the selective few from very early on. In fact, if you were to have rummaged around on networking profiles during the selection process you would have seen Labour officials backing candidates that otherwise stood little chance of gaining a large percentage of votes. Oh, and these were the very same officers who were entrusted to keep the process fair and impartial.

If I were an eager observer of Welsh politics and concerned Labour supporter who cared about my party, what sort of questions would I be asking at this time?

1. Did Labour receive any motion requests for the Llandudno conference in March that called for the Euro selection process to be halted because of concerns over a stitch-up?
2. Was an official European office used for canvassing by candidates, against strict ethics rules? i.e. if a member of her staff called constituency secretaries to check they'd received correspondence and then asked if they would consider supporting them in the selection process it would contravene rules and standards in the European Parliament and the Labour Party.
3. Why were calls for party hustings during the selection process repeatedly refused by Transport House?
4. Does Eluned have any ambitions of being an Assembly Member, now or in the future?

Purely speculative, of course. You know me. I tend not to listen to rumour or gossip.

* Eluned Morgan MEP - who announced on Tuesday 14 October that she would not seek re-election to the European Parliament, after serving fifteen years as an MEP.

The full list of Welsh Labour’s candidates for the European election is as follows (as revised):

1. Derek Vaughan
2. Lisa Stevens
3. Rachel Maycock
4. Leighton Veale

Welsh Labour in Europe

Welsh Labour has recently confirmed that Derek Vaughan, the Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council will head the Labour list in Wales for the European Parliamentary Elections in June 2009.

Derek, who was previously Labour’s second placed candidate on the list, replaces Eluned Morgan MEP - who announced yesterday (Tuesday 14 October) that she would not seek re-election to the European Parliament, after serving fifteen years as an MEP.

The full list of Welsh Labour’s candidates for the European election is as follows:

1. Derek Vaughan
2. Lisa Stevens
3. Rachel Maycock
4. Leighton Veale

Confirming the list of candidates, the Chair of Welsh Labour’s Executive Committee, PAT BRUNKER said: “We’re delighted to be able to present to the people of Wales a strong, talented and determined team of Labour candidates for next years elections to the European Parliament.

“Derek Vaughan brings with him a wealth of experience in local government both as Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council – regarded as one of the best local authorities in Wales - and as a leading figure in the Welsh Local Government Association. He will be a real asset for Labour in Wales and for Wales in Europe.

“We’re also pleased that in Lisa Stevens, Rachel Maycock and Leighton Veale, we have three young candidates – all in their late twenties or early thirties, who will provide us with a great deal of energy and enthusiasm, and will help enthuse the younger generation of voters in Wales to take part in the political process.

“We’re confident that the team we have in place will work hard in the months ahead to reach out to the people of Wales, to listen to their concerns, and to demonstrate that only a strong partnership between the Labour-led Assembly Government, a Labour Government in Westminster and a strong Welsh Labour team in Europe will take Wales forward."

Commenting on Eluned Morgan’s decision to stand down from the European Parliament, Pat Brunker added: “Both Eluned Morgan and Glenys Kinnock have served Wales and the Welsh Labour party with distinction over many years. They can both be proud of their records in representing Welsh Labour and serving the people of Wales in Europe. On behalf of Welsh Labour, I wish them both all the very best for the future."

Biographical Details of Candidates

Derek Vaughan

Cllr. Derek Vaughan is currently Labour Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council, and is also the Deputy Leader of the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA). Born in Aberfan, he was educated at Swansea University, where he gained a BScEcon degree in Politics and History, majoring in European politics. He was first elected to Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council in 1995, and was the Cabinet Member for Economic Development before being elected Leader of the Labour Group and Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council in 2004.

He is a strong advocate of the links between the Labour Party and the Trade Union movement, having previously been a full time Trade Union official. He is currently a member of the TGWU section of Unite.

Lisa Stevens

Lisa Stevens was born in Llantrisant, Rhondda Cynon Taf, in 1980 and educated at Corpus Christi High School and St David's Sixth Form College, both in Cardiff. In 2001 she graduated from the University of Southampton and went on to complete a postgraduate diploma in newspaper journalism at Cardiff Journalism School.

Upon graduating, Lisa worked as a news reporter for a regional daily newspaper before taking up her current position working for Welsh Labour MEPs Glenys Kinnock and Eluned Morgan.

Among her political interests are youth issues, the environment, international development and human rights. Lisa is a member of the GMB, Amnesty International and the Burma Campaign UK.

Rachel Maycock

Rachel Maycock was born in Llanfechain, Montgomeryshire in 1981. She was educated at Ysgol Uwchradd Llanfyllin High School and Warwick University, where she graduated from in 2003 with a degree in Politics.

She worked in the European Parliament for an MEP, and then worked for the European Parliamentary Labour Party. She currently works for the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown on European affairs and links with Members of the European Parliament. She was Welsh Labour’s candidate in the Montgomeryshire constituency in the 2007 elections to the National Assembly for Wales. She is a member of the GMB and Unite.

Leighton Veale

Leighton Veale was born in Swansea in 1976, and educated at Dwr y Felin School, Neath and graduated with a degree in Social policy from Cardiff University.

He was Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Brecon and Radnorshire in the 2005 General Election, Regional List Candidate for South Wales West in the 2007 elections to the Natioanl Assembly for Wales, and has been a Labour councilor in the London Borough of Merton since 2002. He is a member of the TGWU section of Unite, GMB, Co-op, and Amnesty International.

His political interests include economic development and social inclusion. He currently works as Public Affairs Officer for Wales at The Stroke Association.

To be continued...

Breathing new life into a Labour MEP

WELSH Labour Euro-MP Eluned Morgan last night tore into Business Secretary Lord Mandelson over his threat to withdraw proposals that would extend parents’ right to request flexible working hours.

There's nothing like speculation, gossip and insider information to breathe new life into a departing Labour MEP. It seems that Eluned Morgan MEP is proving that she will fit nicely into a 'possible' new role by distancing herself from Labour in London, and distinguishing a difference between Welsh Labour and the Labour party in Westminster.

Welcome, Eluned, to the Labour-Plaid coalition in Cardiff. They've been expecting you.