AN ASPIRING Newport politician is celebrating after beating the ex-wife of Ron Davies in a Labour battle over the party's list for the European elections.

Jayne Bryant won 66 per cent of the vote in a ballot of Welsh Labour party members, making her second in the Labour line up for next year's poll and giving her a good chance of being elected as an MEP.

Newport West MP Paul Flynn has hailed the win as proof of the strength of the grassroots, with Ms Bryant's opponent Christina Rees having had the backing of major Labour party figures including Peter Hain, Alun Michael and Rhodri Morgan.

Supporters of Ms Bryant, who works for Mr Flynn, hope that the party will be able to win back its second MEP slot after it was lost in the 2009 European elections.

Sitting Labour MEP Derek Vaughan, and third list member Alex Thomas, had already been selected, with the ballot deciding which women candidates would be second and fourth on the list.

Ms Bryant, 35, said: "I’m delighted to have the chance to work with the talented Welsh Labour team led by Derek Vaughan.

"I am grateful for the votes of party members - their enthusiasm guarantees a positive campaign next year to win a better deal for Wales from Europe.”

Mr Flynn said: "The 66 per cent vote for Jayne Bryant is further proof of the strength of positive campaigning and the power of grassroots opinion "By any standards this is a remarkable triumph over great odds by a little known rank and file candidate."

Jayne Bryant polled 2,708 votes while Christina Rees won 1,396.

MEPs are elected via a list system, which chooses members of the European Parliament according to what proportion of the vote the party gets.

Plaid Cymru's list will be headed up by sitting MEP Jill Evans, followed by Marc Jones, Stephen Cornelius, Ioan Bellin and Gwynfor Owen.

MEP Kay Swinburne will lead the Tory list, followed by Aled Davies, Dan Boucher and Richard Hopkin.

Sitting UKIP MEP John Bufton is standing down. The Lib Dem list will be led by Alec Dauncey.