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Carwyn Jones elected Welsh Labour leader
Tories pay tribute to outgoing Rhodri Morgan and congratulate Wales's next first minister
Paul Owen and agencies
Wednesday December 2 2009
guardian.co.uk
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/dec/01/carwyn-jones-new-welsh-labour-leader
Carwyn Jones was tonight elected to succeed Rhodri Morgan as leader of the Welsh Labour party.
The Bridgend assembly member beat Edwina Hart and Huw Lewis at the end of an eight-week contest.
Despite his popularity, Morgan has stuck to his long-held plans to retire after nearly a decade in the job.
Jones, who won 52% of the vote, is due to be installed as first minister next week.
In his acceptance speech, Jones said he looked forward to a general election next year and assembly elections in 2011, which he said he wanted to win.
"We know there's a difficult task ahead. But tonight let us say that in this building at this event, that tonight our fightback starts," he said.
Jones said there were "no no-go areas" in Wales for Labour.
"I also said I want to be a leader for the whole of Wales and that remains. To win back Wales, Welsh Labour has to listen and it has to learn.
"We have to make sure that we listen to people, that we keep our promises. I want my country to succeed. I want to make a difference to the lives of the people of Wales.
"I am proud to be Welsh, I'm proud to be British, and I'm proud to be Labour."
If Labour loses the next UK general election, Jones will become the most powerful elected Labour figure in the country.
Cheryl Gillan, the shadow Welsh secretary, said: "I wish to congratulate Carwyn on his success and wish him well for the task ahead. I would also like to wish Rhodri Morgan all the very best for his future. Although a political adversary, in all my dealings with him he has been courteous and charming."
Nick Bourne, the Tories' leader in the Welsh assembly, said: "Welsh Conservatives congratulate Carwyn on his victory. We also wish to pay tribute to Rhodri Morgan for his decade of service and for his commitment to his party, to the assembly and to Wales.
"We are pleased two months of political uncertainty and drift has come to an end. For far too long Labour has been distracted by political ambition.
"It is vital the assembly government quickly gets back to business to address the many problems facing Wales today."
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