Carwyn Jones to head Welsh Assembly

Carwyn Jones, aged 42, who represents the Bridgend Constituency in the Welsh Assembly, has been elected leader of the Welsh Labour Party. It is expected that he will be confirmed as First Minister of the Assembly, replacing Rhodri Morgan who is retiring, next week.

His victory was a comfortable one, gaining nearly 52 percent of the overall vote at the first count. He defeated Edwina Hart, the Assembly Health Minister, who got just over 29 per cent of the vote, and Huw Lewis, the Assembly Member for Merthyr, who came third with less than 19 per cent of the vote.

Jones is currently the Assembly's Counsel General but is best remembered for his work when he was the Minister for Rural Affairs at the time of the 2001 foot and mouth crisis when he gained the respect of the farmers.

He is barrister and a fluent Welsh speaker.