Special conference sept 2004

AWales Labour Party Special Conference
Holland House Hotel, Cardiff - 11th September 2004.

The media and opposition want to create an impression of conflict between the interests of ‘Westminster’ and the interests of Wales. I disagree.
Labour colleagues who represent Wales in the UK Parliament are just as committed to seeing a successful Wales as are those of us who are members of the Welsh Assembly. They share our values – which isn’t really surprising since we are after all the same Party!
Now I know it will come as a disappointment to the media to see the Labour Party in the Assembly and Westminster, in the constituencies and the affiliated organisations - all uniting around a sensible and practical route map to further improve the operation of devolution.
And the opposition aren’t just disappointed they’re gutted! They would like nothing better than to focus on constitutional arrangements as if it was an end in itself.
In the Labour team we know that what we a doing today is fine-tuning the mechanism we use to deliver for our people.
I have always argued for powers for a purpose. I believe that as socialists we are not in the business of ‘nation building’ - we are in the business of delivering for our people.

I put spreading prosperity, achieving social justice and increasing opportunities for our people way ahead of constitutional niceties and separatist wish lists.
I am very proud of what we have achieved in Wales - as a Labour Welsh Assembly Government and as a Labour team with colleagues in Westminster, Labour MEPs in Brussels and Labour councils throughout the country.
I am proud but not complacent and I look forward to meeting the challenges with face us in taking our agenda forward.
Yesterday in Caerphilly I launched the two thousandth project - under the European structural funds programme Labour delivered for Wales. 2000 projects committing £1 billion - yes £1 billion - of European funding which together with supported matched funding has led to £1.3 billion of investment in projects that have created or safeguarded 72,000 jobs - and helped some of the poorest communities in Wales. That project - the Credu project - like so many others providing opportunities for our communities - this one ensuring our young people have the IT skills they need to succeed in the new economy we are building together.
You may not have heard about it as the broadcast media decided it was too good a news story to cover - the good news of Labour delivery for our communities the length and breadth of Wales. They preferred to concentrate on trying to find fault with our Party’s united position on the document before this conference. There is a message in that for all of us here and I think it is a message we have all now understood.
Let the other parties and media play in the sand of constitutional debate - we are focussed on the real job.
And as a Labour team throughout the UK will get that job done!