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How did Labour A&E campaigners know about plans before official announcement ask Tories

The Welsh Conservatives say they've discovered that a Labour campaign name to fight controversial changes to the Royal Glamorgan Hospital was registered online four days before the announcement was made.

They've found an online record of the domain name 'LABOUR4ROYALGLAM' being registered on the 19th May. A public consultation on proposals for A and E services in South Wales was announced on 22nd May. They say the campaign's Facebook and Twitter pages have also been changed to 'Campaign4RoyalGlam'

Opposition leader Andrew RT Davies has accused Labour politicians involved in the campaign of 'hypocrisy' and says the online discoveries raise 'serious questions' about both the consultation and Labour's campaigning role.

This sorry affair raises questions that need to be answered. How did they know that the Royal Glamorgan was included in the proposals some four days before the announcement? How can the public have confidence in the legitimacy of a consultation process that seems to give Labour politicians the inside track? And, finally, why have all traces of the original website, Twitter and Facebook pages now disappeared?”

– Andrew RT Davies, leader of the Opposition

Labour welcomes Tory airport 'u-turn'

Labour has responded to plans set out by the Welsh Conservatives to boost the fortunes of Cardiff Airport with a view to re-privatising it by saying that the decision to accept the airport's public ownership is a 'welcome u-turn.'

After months of burying his head in the sand, it's encouraging to see Andrew RT Davies now finally making this welcome u-turn and backing the Welsh Labour Government's interventionist approach.The Welsh Conservatives have been swimming against a wave of public opinion so it's no surprise to see them change tack and finally admit they've got it wrong.

We welcome the fact the Welsh Tories have joined the Welsh Labour Government in calling for the devolution of Air Passenger Duty. We now look forward to them stating publicly what representations they’ve made to the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer on this issue.

– Vaughan Gething AM, Labour

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Anglesey deal to deliver stability - Labour

The leader of Labour's three councillors on Anglesey council, says the deal reached with Independent councillors to run the authority 'will provide stability' for the island. Arwel Roberts said:

Last week's local elections gave us the chance of a new beginning. Every single person elected last week owes it to the people of Ynys Mon to work to secure an administration that will provide stability and deliver for our people. That is exactly what we have done.This partnership will deliver the stability we need, offering a clear majority for the administration. It will also put jobs and investment in the Island at the very heart of all that we do. The priority of Labour councillors will be to secure continued progress on 'Wylfa B'- jobs and training opportunities for our young people.

Now is the time for all parties to put the damaging politicking of the past behind us, and work to deliver stability, and a future that the people of Ynys Mon can be proud of. Regardless of whether they are part of the administration or not, the doors of Labour Cabinet members will be open to all councillors who want to be part of a constructive future for the island.

– Cllr Arwel Roberts, Labour group leader

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First Minister to defend hospital shake-up

First Minister Carwyn Jones is expected to deal directly with growing controversy over plans to shake up Wales' network of hospitals in his speech to Welsh Labour's conference in Llandudno.

But he won't please opponents who want him to change direction. Instead he'll insist the direction is the right one.

Mr Jones is due to use the speech to explain why change is needed and why it's necessary to 'do what's right for the people of Wales.'

A source close to the Welsh Labour leader said he'll make it clear 'there's no backtracking on this and yet the plans are 'on course.'

Labour's plans for Westminster targets

by Nick Powell

The left wing website Labour List says the Labour party has decided that four of the eight Welsh seats considered general election targets will only consider applications from women to be candidates for Westminster. The process is intended to increase the number of female MPs.

Six Welsh seats held by other parties have been excluded at this stage. That's because Labour doesn't currently classify them as winnable, although the Shadow Welsh Secretary, Owen Smith, has said that Clwyd West, held by the Secretary of State, David Jones, could also be targeted.

  • ALL WOMEN SHORTLISTS
  • Aberconwy (Conservative majority 3,398)
  • Cardiff Central (Liberal Democrat majority 4,576)
  • Cardiff North (Conservative majority 194)
  • Carmarthen West & South Pembs (Conservative majority 3,423)
  • OPEN SHORTLISTS
  • Arfon (Plaid Cymru majority 1,455)
  • Carmarthen East & Dinefwr (Plaid Cymru majority 3,481)
  • Preseli Pembrokeshire (Conservative majority 4,605)
  • Vale of Glamorgan (Conservative majority 4,307)

Today the party’s powerful Organisation Sub-committee of the National Executive Committee (more commonly known as Org Sub) agreed which target seats will be “Open selections” (where all members can apply) and which will be All-women shortlists. All recommendations must go forward to the next full NEC – but it’s unlikely we’ll see any significant changes now that the Org Sub wrangling is over.

– Labour List

All women shortlists have led to problems for Labour in the past, most notably in Blaenau Gwent where the late Peter Law stood as an independent. He defeated a female candidate that some local activists felt had been imposed by the party machine. Labour regained the seat at the last election.

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