AM pays tribute to supporters (From Barry And District News)

AM pays tribute to supporters

LABOUR'S Jane Hutt has paid tribute to the voters who helped her retain the Vale of Glamorgan seat in the Assembly Elections.

She has thanked voters for their support during her campaign and has said she will be honoured to continue serving the Vale.

Against all the odds Ms Hutt more than trebled her majority at the local elections.

The often under-fire Health Minister achieved 44 percent of the poll clearly beating nearest rival the Conservative's David Melding.

Ms Hutt told the News: "I want to thank the people of the Vale of Glamorgan for putting their trust and faith in me on May 1, so that I can continue to serve them in the National Assembly for Wales as their representative."

She added that the people of the Vale have meant a great deal to her.

"Over the past few weeks of this campaign I have been touched by the goodwill and support I have found in this constituency from the heart of Barry to the villages and towns of the Vale."

The mother of two said: "The hard work will continue and I hope will encourage people to have confidence in the Assembly as a relatively new institution for Wales, which will serve them with commitment and integrity - good enough to increase the turn out at the next election and put Wales on the map in the wider world."

The Vale of Glamorgan was one of Wales most marginal seats.

Conservative candidate David Melding who was promising to cut hospital waiting lists and bureaucracy hoped that his campaign would put them ahead of Labour.

But with a majority of 2,653 Jane Hutt was once again the assembly favourite.

The count which took place at Barry Memorial Hall saw the Welsh Liberal Democrats score the lowest with only 2,049 of the votes.