The second Welsh assembly elections were a victory for Labour over the Nationalists, one that gives us the opportunity to govern alone. Having won half the seats, Rhodri Morgan has a unique opportunity to implement our manifesto in full and to carve out an agenda that redistributes resources and opportunity to the communities in greatest need. This is not arrogance. We have no better opportunity to deliver a socialist and redistributive agenda – something that is impossible with the Liberal Democrats sitting around the cabinet table.
The key theme of election night was the collapse of the nationalist vote in the Valleys. Rhondda and Islwyn, solid Labour seats captured by the Nationalists four years ago, came back to Labour with thumping majorities. In a remarkable pattern across the Valleys, our share of the vote increased by as much as 20 percent.
In west Wales, the Nationalist performance was stronger. However, Labour captured Llanelli from an incumbent Plaid Cymru assembly member (albeit by just 21 votes) and
we held onto Carmarthen West and Pembrokshire South in the face of a strong Plaid challenge. In the north our results were equally impressive, as we held the former Tory seat
of Clwyd West and captured Conwy from Plaid. Only losing Wrexham to the independent (and former Labour MP and AM) John Marek blighted the night for us.
Despite our victories, there were several lessons for Welsh Labour. The night’s stunning results were achieved through excellent organisation and hard work by both local parties and by Welsh Labour. If we are serious about consolidating these results, the hard work and professionalism mustn’t end there. The Nationalists are not finished yet and the Tories, who won two extra seats, are still a political force in Wales.
Second, we have to spend less time discussing socialism and start getting on with implementing a socialist and redistributive agenda. This means redistributing opportunity and resources, especially in health and education, to the poorest communities in the Valleys and in the industrial north. Our most popular measures, particularly free prescriptions for all, were universal measures. We now need measures that lift the life chances of the people of our heartland areas, which remain the poorest parts of Wales.
The real test of Rhodri Morgan’s commitment to social justice will be how we implement some of our other promises. The £100 million crime-fighting fund must go to the estates that suffer most from crime, and the £1 billion of investment to modernise GP surgeries, hospital wards and schools must be directed towards the communities in need of it most.
It was a great night for Labour, but we cannot be complacent. If fewer than 1,000 votes had been cast for the Nationalists rather than for us in a few key seats, we would be looking at a Labour group of maybe just 26 seats out of the possible 60. Ultimately, though, they weren’t. We have been given a mandate
to put forward and drive through a radical agenda for change.
The test of leadership Rhodri Morgan underwent at the hands of the electorate this time was nothing compared to what the communities and seats that came back home to Labour will demand of him. This is the real test – of his commitment to redistribution and to social justice.