The Mari Rees Fund
A fund for the development and training of Black, Asian and minority ethnic members of Welsh Labour and trade unions, designed to empower candidates in selection, election and progression within the party.
Mari Rees
Mari Rees was a Welsh Labour candidate for the Senedd elections in 2011. She was deeply respected among Welsh Labour members.
In that same election, I became the first Black member elected to the Senedd. I remain the only one, because of Mari’s tragic death before that election.
The Wales that Mari and I stood for election in back then has changed so much, and it is still changing.
Welsh Labour must also change if we are to truly represent the country and communities we want to serve.
We have made great strides as a party in representation across local government, in the Senedd, and in Westminster.
But we must do more.
I remain the only non-white Welsh Labour politician elected in either the Welsh or UK parliaments.
And while the picture in local government has improved, we still need to increase the diversity of our councillors.
So as part of my campaign to be Welsh Labour leader and Wales’ next First Minister, I am pledging to establish The Mari Rees Fund.
It will be a ringfenced fund, at arms-length from Welsh Labour, which will fund training and development for Black, Asian and minority ethnic members to help them progress within the party and stand as candidates in elections.
This will include training from Labour Party staff, external training professionals, and mentoring schemes, and graduates will receive formal, recognised certificates from the party.
Mari Rees Graduates will put themselves in stronger positions when seeking selection, or when putting themselves forward for internal party positions.
Honouring Mari’s legacy to make our party fit for the future.
