A CALL has been made for North Wales to have its own minister to address the north/south 'divide'.

Wrexham MP Ian Lucas has written a letter to the Labour Party in Wales calling on leadership candidates to consider the creation of a role to address the north/south 'imbalance' since the Welsh Assembly was set up almost 20 years ago.

The letter seen by the Leader outlines how he feels Wrexham and Flintshire, and other areas in the region would benefit from increased representation in the fight for more resources to boost transport links, education and jobs growth.

In the letter Mr Lucas said: "There is still a very strong view in North Wales that the devolution process since 1999 has operated less favourably for our region than for other parts of Wales.

"This geographic aspect of Welsh politics is a very serious challenge to any Welsh Government. I also note that none of the candidates for the Labour leadership in Wales are from outside south Wales.

"I believe that the appointment of the Minister for North Wales by the Welsh Government would create a formal structure of responsibility within government which would help ensure that the needs of the region are addressed and are perceived to be addressed.

"I have, in recent years, worked to set up an All-Party Parliamentary Group for the North Wales, Mersey Dee region within Parliament and also worked closely with local government in North Wales in pursuance of a North Wales Growth Deal bid.

"I have learned from that process that there is a huge appetite from all levels of representation within North Wales and from business, industry and the education and other parts of civic society to work collectively in the interests of North Wales. I was very pleased to see that a similar cross-party grouping has now been established in the National Assembly. "

Mr Lucas pointed to a lack of investment in rail services as a key problem in North Wales.

He added: "The view from North Wales that it has not received sufficient attention in the past is not purely anecdotal.

"You will be aware that in the present Network Rail investment period, no substantial investment was made in the North Wales rail network and the entire budget was assigned to the development of the South Wales mainline and Valleys lines.

"I believe it would be helpful to have these ideas form part of the discussion that will take place during the campaign for the Labour Party leadership in Wales and also the process of consideration of the size and role of the National Assembly which is now taking place."

Mr Lucas ended his letter with a call to recognise how much North East Wales is a "crucial" barometer of feeling across the UK as a whole and has been overlooked in the past.

He said: "North Wales and North-East Wales in particular is a crucial political barometer within both Wales and the United Kingdom and has been a pivotal political battleground in all elections since 2015.

"It is watched closely across the UK. Its importance is felt by many in North Wales not to have been sufficiently recognised within Wales in the past."

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A new leader of the Welsh Government is being sought after current First Minister Carwyn Jones announced his decision to step down from the role last April.

His decision came months after he referred himself to an independent inquiry over allegations of bullying at a senior level of the Welsh Government three years ago, following the death of Alyn and Deeside Assembly Member Carl Sargeant in November last year.

The late Mr Sargeant has since been succeeded by his son AM Jack Sargeant who won a by-election in February this year.

A Welsh Labour party leadership election will take place in December, with three candidates, Cardiff AM's Mark Drakeford and Vaughan Gething, competing against Mid and West Wales AM Eluned Morgan.