Eluned Morgan confirmed as First Minister of Wales
Emily Price
Baroness of Ely Eluned Morgan has been confirmed as the First Minister of Wales after a vote in the Senedd.
The former health minister who grew up on a council estate in Ely will succeed Vaughan Gething who bowed out in July after only four months in the role.
Baroness Morgan received applause from the Chamber after saying it was the greatest honour of her life to become the first woman to become the First Minister of Wales.
She said: “For the young women watching this today, you need to know, your potential is limitless, the path to leadership is not now just a possibility – it’s a reality.”
She described the outgoing First Minister true trailblazer for devolution.
First woman
Baroness Morgan was backed by 28 Labour members. Tory Andrew RT Davies had 15 votes and Plaid Cymru’s Rhun ap Iorwerth had 12 .
The Labour leader’s name will then sent be to the King to gave his approval, allowing the new First Minister to take office.
Lib Dem Jane Dodds abstained from the vote said she believed that recent events had undermined public trust in politics.
Baroness Morgan who represents the Mid and West Wales regional seat in Cardiff Bay was elected Labour leader without a contest following months of infighting and controversies.
Vaughan Gething was forced to resign from office after several members of his cabinet quit in protest against his leadership.
His short tenure saw him embroiled in scandals over a huge donation to his leadership campaign from a convicted polluter and the sacking of one of his junior ministers, Hannah Blythyn.
Baroness Morgan said the last few weeks had been “difficult” adding that her party had been in “some turmoil”.
She said: “Now is the time to focus on the issues that genuinely impact our communities in all parts of Wales to ensure we are tackling the concerns that really matter to you.”
‘Impressive’
The newly elected FM will now begin planning her new cabinet.
She will embark on her journey leading the Welsh Government alongside deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies.
Baroness Morgan said: “We used to say that behind every successful man is a woman. On this occasions there will be an impressive man behind a woman.
“I couldn’t ask for a more capable political partner.”
Andrew RT Davies said there will be a different dynamic in the Chamber with a woman at the helm.
He said: “I do hope that the First Minister will engage with parliament through the recess period because it is important that we understand what she will bring to the role as First Minister because you are the third First Minister this year and that has had a very corrosive effect.”
Plaid Cymru’s Rhun ap Iorwerth said as a father of two daughters it was “truly remarkable” that Wales had a female First Minister for the first time.
He added it was important to acknowledge why they were all there in the Chamber, because it wasn’t a “tidy transfer of power” from one FM to another.
Lib Dem Jane Dodds said it was now up to both Eluned and the Welsh Labour Government to “re-earn the trust of both the Senedd and, most importantly, the people of Wales.”
More to follow…
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The message to young women may come across that you can rise without trace through the Labour machine, thanks to Dad, who was embedded in the Cardiff Labour machine. We should elect First Ministers of Wales directly as Welsh voters, like most other proper countries. On merit!
Touch of the old boys/girls network down at the senate clubhouse
Mabon ap Gwynfor wants a word
Long live Labour’s revolving anti democratic doors !
I wonder will Baroness “Speeeedy” Morgan last longer than Vaughan Gething?
Was that two thumbs or two fingers because that is what it feels like…
The Giant Crabs from Desolation Bay have chosen a new leader…
The one book from the Crab series the late Guy N. Smith (RIP) didn’t write…
I give up on the Senedd achieving some measure of maturity regarding democratic integrity…
The enlightenment of Cymru was compromised from day one…ask Iolo…
So Eluned Morgan has been confirmed, or coronated , as the First Minister of Wales. Big deal. She’s just a yes-woman to her boss Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens who pulls her strings. Nothing will change for Wales. We will still be on the same old road to nowhere whether she’s First Minister or not, as Labour only know one direction for Wales. Reverse. Stagnation of our nation is their game. Managing not eradicating Welsh poverty a political weapon well used by their Labour masters at Whitehall to limit not only our expectations and aspirations as a people & country, but… Read more »
Well now that she’s got what she wanted it’s up to her to prove that she’s any good. (She’s got to be better than the last bloke) My initial feeling is that a leopard doesn’t change its spots but I’m prepared to be proved wrong. Hopefully there’s enough time for her to do what needs to be done before 2026 when the people can decide. (But I feel half of the people aren’t bothered and most of the ones that do vote don’t think about who they’re voting for they just put their cross where they’ve always done. )
A white privileged middle class woman been appointed as First Minister of Wales. Big deal.
And yet you get white privileged middle class feminist politicians making a big deal about this. Yawn…
‘She described the outgoing First Minister (as a) true trailblazer for devolution.’
If she’d been talking about Mark Drakeford I’d agree.
But Vaughan Gething? His brief period in that top office led me to the conclusion that he was primarily merely a ‘true trail-blazer’ for himself and his own ambition.
The last guy did blaze a trail that everyone could see but it didn’t go anywhere.
True; so it proved.
It also provided a useful lesson in humility. Relying on my perception of his performance as health minister during the pandemic, I thought he’d be a good first minister.
And, similarly based on his prior performances, when Drakeford became first minister, I thought that he’d be a dead loss.
So I was wrong on both counts. Goes to show that age doesn’t guarantee wisdom.
Happy Days for some…
Last time that smile came out she was being feted in Kerala or was it Kolkata or Mumbai.
Indian Summers and Diplomatic Soirees, aren’t we lucky…
Shades of Lord Porthmadog…
‘Thumbs Up’… a Fat Shanks and Trump affectation…
If she wants to do one thing to lift Wales out of chronic decline, it would be to actively lobby to have a Wales only Corporation Tax notably lower than England – say 15%.
Yes, it will reward ugly capitalists.
Yes, it really did work for Dublin.
Cymru to set it’s own level of Corporation tax.
England would never allow it.
It only worked for Dublin after three quarters of the island of Ireland won its war against Britain which resulted in independence.
I hope you’re advocating we gain our independence solely through the ballot box and not trying to encourage a violent approach.
The Baroness had to receive approval from King Charles to become First Minister of Wales. When she visits King Charles she may drive over the Price of Wales bridge. And people question if we are still a colony!