Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Key vote in Welsh contest

Brendan Berry
Thursday 18 February 1999 19:02 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

THE GMB union will today give a key pointer in the battle to choose Labour's leader in Wales.

Officials will reveal results of a branch consultation of its 64,000 members in Wales on whether it should back the Welsh Secretary, Alun Michael, or his backbench rival, Rhodri Morgan.

The GMB has 6.2 per cent of the overall vote and its support could be crucial if constituency parties, Welsh MPs and assembly candidates are as evenly divided as predicted.

Mr Michael, the preferred choice of Tony Blair, is assured of the block votes of the transport and engineering unions, although Mr Morgan has the support of Unison, the only big union to conduct an individual ballot.

After a three-month campaign, union votes are being seen as crucial before the victor is declared in Cardiff tomorrow. Unions have a third of the overall vote, with MPs, assembly candidates and the party's 25,000 members in Wales also balloting as part of an electoral college. Opinion polls and ballots among smaller unions have been in favour of Mr Morgan, the Cardiff West MP, by about 3:1.

His team was buoyant yesterday after the Manufacturing, Science and Finance union backed him, the ninth to do so.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in