The rapid rise of Owen Smith
Owen Smith joins the Shadow Cabinet after two years as an MP. But he is no new boy. He was first linked to the Wales Office 10 years ago.
Peter Hain resigns as Shadow Welsh Secretary
Peter Hain has announced he's standing down from the Shadow Cabinet to lead a campaign in Parliament for the building of a Severn Barrage.
Peter Hain angered at Bahrain GP
A leading welsh politician has told ITV Wales News of his dismay that the Bahrain Grand Prix has gone ahead.
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Labour leaders promise a productive partnership
Owen Smith and Carwyn Jones have held their first meeting since Mr Smith's appointment as the Shadow Welsh Secretary. Afterwards they gave a joint interview outside the Senedd. Mr Smith said they were old friends with similar views and he was looking forward to a 'productive powerful partnership'.
Owen Smith MP: "Jobs are my priority"
The new Shadow Welsh Secretary, Owen Smith, has told ITV Wales that jobs are his priority. In his first television interview he said that the first thing we need to be looking at is the economy.
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The rapid rise of Owen Smith
by Nick Powell
Owen Smith joins the Shadow Cabinet after two years as an MP. But he is no new boy. He was first linked to the Wales Office 10 years ago.
Read the full storyOwen Smith confirmed as new Shadow Welsh Secretary
Pontypridd MP Owen Smith has been confirmed as the new Shadow Welsh Secretary. He replaces Peter Hain who confirmed yesterday that he was stepping down from the role in order to campaign for a Severn Barrage.
Mr Smith will be giving his first TV interview in Wales Tonight at 6pm
Owen Smith MP is 'definitely' new Shadow Welsh Secretary
There is still no official news on the new Shadow Welsh Secretary, but ITV Wales understands that Pontypridd MP Owen Smith is most likely to get the job. One source has told ITV Wales' Political Editor that he has 'definitely' got the job.
No formal announcement has yet been made but an announcement is likely within the next few days.
Peter Hain announced earlier this week that he would stand down from the role to concentrate on campaigning for a Severn barrage.
Hain 'played a key role' in Welsh politics
Wales' First Minister, Carwyn Jones AM, comments on the resignation of Shadow Welsh Secretary, Peter Hain.
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Severn barrage could be 'devastating'
Meanwhile, Friends of the Earth Cymru have hit back at Hain's plans for the Severn barrage saying it has "the potential to be environmentally devastating."
The Director of the environment group, Gareth Clubb, said the tidal barrage would "destroy" vast areas of habitat and "devastate" fish and bird life.
The group says it agrees that using Wales' natural resources for renewable energy is important in tackling climate change, but believe that the barrage could be the "wrong solution."
– GARETH CLUBB, THE DIRECTOR OF FRIENDS OF THE EARTH CYMRUTidal energy can be captured by other means with much less damaging consequences, and could be giving us green energy far sooner than the 20 years it will take to build this barrage.
Hain: 'Ed Miliband didn't want me to go...but I felt it was right'
Hain successor announcement 'unlikely' today
by Adrian MastersIt now seems unlikely that there'll be a new Shadow Welsh Secretary announced today. I'm told 'non-Wales-related delays' have put Ed Miliband's reshuffle announcements back until tomorrow or possibly even Wednesday.
'A great loss' - Ed Miliband on Hain
Labour leader Ed Miliband has paid full tribute to his departing Shadow Welsh Secretary, although there's no hint as to who he might appoint as a replacement.
Peter Hain has made an enormous contribution from the front bench over the past 16 years.
In government his Ministerial career was extraordinarily diverse including time in the Foreign Office, the Northern Ireland Office where he played a crucial role in the Northern Ireland peace process and at Work and Pensions. He also had the distinction of serving as Leader of the House for two years and remains respected across the House as one of our most distinguished Parliamentarians.
He has been a tireless champion of Wales for the past three years as Welsh Secretary and Shadow Secretary.
His political campaigning has not just been limited to his time in Parliament, before becoming an MP he played an important role in the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa.
Most of all he has been an exceptional colleague and trusted friend both in government and in opposition. He will be a great loss to the Shadow Cabinet but we know his service to Wales and to the Labour Party will continue for many years to come.
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