Time for Wales to reach dizzying heights

Carwyn Jones (Image: Daily Express)

Farewell, Carwyn Jones. The Labour Assembly Member (AM) of Bridgend has decided he will no longer be Wales's First Minister, a role he's taken up since 2009. He will say his final goodbyes to this job he's had for the past nine years in September in order to prioritise on family.

His announcement, which was made during the Welsh Labour Spring Conference, came as a surprise to many. Some may have linked this resignation to the news surrounding the death of a Labour AM, Carl Sargeant, however, that's pure speculation at this point.

Mr Jones has led his party to two successful Assembly elections, in 2011 and 2016, and departs as First Minister with a decent track record. Police forces has seen greater relationships with local communities resulting in more crimes being reported when in places like in London, such relations have reached breaking point. Wales's economy has grown more quickly compared to the other nations and school performances continue to improve. In other areas, prescriptions are still free of charge when many in England still pay huge amounts while the steel industry continues to be protected. In addition, investment from Europe is greater, leading to transformed towns and cities from Bangor to Porthcawl.

In Wales, over the past decade, Labour rarely reached crisis point, which is seemingly the opposite currently felt to the party at Westminster. UK Prime Minister Theresa May assured that Britain would vote for a strong and stable government if they put an 'X' next to the Conservative Party in last summer's snap general election. If anyone is looking for 'strong and stable', Carwyn's Wales comes close. I cannot help but admire the journey he's put Wales in, even if some are still sceptical of his rocky relationship with Westminster, his close ties with Brussels and questionable performances at some NHS hospitals.

As I write this, we're no closer to knowing who will succeed Mr Jones. According to some reports the clear favourite is Mark Drakeford, AM for Cardiff West. That would be the natural successor as far as Labour is concerned as he was very close to Carwyn Jones and as current Finance Secretary, has a proven, positive track record in driving the Welsh economy forward. Though, no doubt, others would fancy their chances over the next four-and-a-half months to prove their worth. It'd be interesting to see. Even Momentum, seen as that meddling pro-Corbyn group, has pledged their support to Mr Drakeford.

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Regardless of who takes over Carwyn Jones, they have big shoes to fill. Wales is on the cusp of something great, and this is due to the decent image Carwyn's Wales portrayed abroad. Who'd have thought the Celtic Manor Resort hosting the Ryder Cup in 2010, and Millennium Stadium - or whatever it's called nowadays - hosting a significant part of the London 2012 Olympic Games, the 2017's Champions League final, and attracting big stars such as boxer Anthony Joshua and singing sensation Ed Sheeran, both of whom can't seem to get enough of Cardiff? Who'd have thought south Wales hosting world leaders for NATO summits, as they did in September 2014? These are surely part of how far Wales has come over the past decade or so.

Yet, does Mark Drakeford, or anyone else, have the profile that Mr Jones created for himself to take Wales to the next level? Unfortunately, I have my doubts. Looking at the current roster of politicians at the Senedd (the Welsh government HQ to those unaware), the only high profile AM is Leanne Wood, current leader of Plaid Cymru.

Ms Wood has taken great strides in being recognised nationally. Since she took on her role in 2012, she's appeared in countless number of Question Time episodes, gained plaudits for her contributions in the 2015 and 2017 general election televised debates and sees herself as Wales's answer to Nicola Sturgeon, a big figure in Scotland as their First Minister. She's even managed to elevate Plaid Cymru to being the second biggest party in Wales, overtaking the Conservatives in 2016's Assembly election.

Is this her time to take Wales to the next level? It's difficult to say but if she plays her cards right, come the 2021 Assembly elections, and a potentially disastrous campaign for the Welsh Labour party, never rule out a Plaid revolution. Are we ready for such? For certain, Leanne's Wales would be different to Carwyn's Wales. Not so much by policy as such, but as for the direction she wants the country to go to.

Leanne Wood (L) with Nicola Sturgeon (Image: Wales Online)

It is no secret that Plaid Cymru's vision is for one day Wales to be an independent nation. I say 'one day' with cautious emphasis. Combining their staunch pro-European stance with the UK cancelling its European Union membership, this would only fuel their vision that much further. It will take a long time to convince the Welsh public of this, considering the majority of voters in the country voted Leave in 2016's EU referendum.

Sadly, Carwyn Jones's resignation provides a lot of 'ifs' and questions about Wales's future politically, and therefore culturally. A lot can ride for the country over the next three years. Will Labour's performance in Westminster over this time period impact on their Welsh counterpart? Will Leanne Wood remain leader of Plaid Cymru by 2021? Will the Welsh public's view on Europe shift after the EU-exit takes place? While nobody will have the answers to these questions, all parties involved need to encourage more of their figures to come out of their shells and be as influential and recognisable as Carwyn Jones, Leanne Wood or other great Welsh leaders like the late Rhodri Morgan. Otherwise, Wales would quickly lose its significance on the biggest stage, at the time they need it the most.