VALE AM Jane Hutt says she is concentrating on her work as a minister, despite speculation that she is considering a leadership bid.

Welsh Assembly Government First Minister and Labour leader Rhodri Morgan is stepping down in September this year.

Ms Hutt, the Minister for Education, Children, and Young People, is the second potential leadership candidate to have emerged after Health Minister Edwina Hart.

Barry resident, Grace Hill, 73, said: "Jane Hutt works hard and has helped a lot of people.

"I suppose she would make a good replacement for Rhodri Morgan.

"Why shouldn’t she have a go?"

Former Vale Council leader and party colleague, Cllr Margaret Alexander said: "I think she would bring people together, because in the Vale she always manages to thread her way through a huge range of groups and politicians, and she is accepted by a whole spectrum of the community."

Jane Hutt said: "There is no leadership contest and I am concentrating on my portfolio, as I see education as key to leading Wales out of the Recession."

Ms Hutt was re-elected in the Vale in 2007 with a majority of 83 over the now Vale Council Tory leader, Cllr Gordon Kemp.