Welsh Labour leader hopeful Jeremy Miles' 20mph review pledge

Jeremy Miles, like Vaughan Gething, has long been seen as a potential future Welsh Labour leader

One of the candidates to be the next Welsh Labour leader says he will start a review of the 20mph speed limit in his first week in office, if elected.

Education Minister Jeremy Miles put forward five pledges for immediate action if he is chosen to succeed Mark Drakeford as first minister in March.

Last week his opponent, Economy Minister Vaughan Gething, said he would also favour a review of the policy.

The Welsh government had previously said the impact would be looked at.

That followed a Plaid Cymru amendment in the Senedd calling for the impact of the change to be "continuously reviewed" passed with the backing of Labour ministers and backbenchers.

Along with the pledge on the speed limit, Mr Miles also promised that at least half the members of his government would be women and that he would set up a new delivery unit in the Welsh government.

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He also said he wanted to talk about how the NHS copes with the current and future pressures on it and would also set up a national economic council to build prosperity.

"This must be the year that we get rid of the UK Tory government," Mr Miles said.

"Their incompetence, austerity and economic mismanagement have constrained Welsh government budgets meaning real world hardship for people and the services they rely on.

"However, none of that takes away from the absolute need of the next first minister and Welsh government to focus on the delivery of good, reliable public services for the people of Wales. 

"That means having a government that reflects our communities, is relentless in protecting and improving public services, and is open to scrutiny and constructive criticism."

Both candidates are expected to announce a range of policy initiatives in the coming weeks, before Labour members all over Wales cast their vote.

The result is expected in March, with Mark Drakeford standing down before Easter.

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