Welsh Labour: Eluned Morgan to 'think about' leadership

Welsh Language Minister Eluned Morgan has said she will "think about" standing for the Welsh Labour leadership.

So far, Mark Drakeford is the only declared candidate to replace Carwyn Jones, who steps down in the autumn.

Other leading Labour figures have called for a "contest not a coronation" with a diverse range of contenders.

Ms Morgan's office said she would make a statement on the leadership at an event in Pembroke Dock on Friday.

Asked about the leadership on BBC Radio Cymru on Thursday, the life peer and Mid and West Wales AM said: "I think it's very important now to have an opportunity to think about it and we'll see what happens."

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Pressed on whether she thought there should be a woman candidate, Ms Morgan said: "Maybe I'll make some sort of comment tomorrow."

Later, her office confirmed she would make a statement about the leadership on Friday at a money advice event she had organised in Pembroke Dock.

Speaking ahead of that event, the ex-MEP said: "The real challenge for us in Wales today is the increasing number of people who suffer from in-work poverty with many struggling to pay their bills which has a severe impact on people's mental health.

"Any leadership contender needs to have an answer to this and other fundamental questions that impact on people's daily lives if they want to run the country," she added.

Nia Griffith says it is very important to see women at all levels in the party, including as leaders

Llanelli MP Nia Griffith and Environment Minister Hannah Blythyn are among those who have called for a woman to enter the contest.

Ms Griffith - Labour's shadow defence minister - told BBC Wales: "It would be absolutely shocking if we didn't have a woman on the shortlist.

"We've done a huge amount in the Labour party to try to make sure that women participate absolutely fully."

Meanwhile Local Government Secretary Alun Davies has called on Labour Party members in Wales to use the "time and space" to have a debate about the future of the party.

Writing on his blog, he said the prospect of an eight-month election campaign "makes even the most enthusiastic activist tremble with fear".

"We have the opportunity to have a wide-ranging and open debate about the future of Welsh Labour and how we as a political movement respond to the enormous challenges facing us across Wales," Mr Davies wrote.

He said those issues ranged "from Brexit to populism to defeating austerity ... how we campaign, how we involve people in our politics and how we organise ourselves."