A CANDIDATE hoping to replace Rhodri Morgan as First Minister has stated his belief that Corus should be supported by the Assembly Government.

Huw Lewis met managers and trade union officials at the steel plant in Port Talbot yesterday.

Mr Lewis, who is battling with Edwina Hart and Carwyn Jones to lead the Labour party in Wales, took a tour of the blast furnaces, steelmaking plant and hot rolling mill at Corus.

"We need to give key employers like Corus the support they need, and to use this as a basis for further economic growth in the Port Talbot area," said Mr Lewis.

"The kind of Assembly Government I want to lead would put its money where its mouth is and invest hugely in our strategic economic strengths."

Mr Lewis said his visit revealed a sense of positivity at the plant.

"I was immensely impressed by the work, the investment and improvements going on at the plant," he said.

"Everyone seems very optimistic and enthusiastic about the future, and there's a sense of rebirth and renewal about the place since the Tata takeover."

Mr Lewis said his visit came on an important day for Welsh Labour, with the ballot papers going out to members across Wales.

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"I thought it was right to make a statement with where I went on this crucial day for our party, and that is why I wanted to come to Corus in Port Talbot," he added.

Ahead of his visit to the plant, Mr Lewis said he was keen to change the way Wales works "from government down to shop floor".

He said: "Right now, thousands of skilled and able people are locked out of the workplace because we haven't developed flexible enough working patterns."