Outgoing First Minister requests Senedd recall to allow Eluned Morgan to take over

The Senedd will be recalled early next month to allow Eluned Morgan to take over as Welsh first minister from Vaughan Gething, who quit after just four months in the job.

Baroness Morgan, 57, became the Welsh Labour leader on Wednesday after being elected unopposed but must be confirmed as first minister in a vote in the Senedd.

The Welsh Parliament is on recess and was not due to return until September.

Outgoing First Minister Mr Gething announced on Thursday that he had asked for the Senedd to be recalled on Tuesday August 6, a request that had been agreed by the Llywydd (Presiding Officer).

While the recall has been welcomed by opposition groups, the Conservatives have argued it should happen sooner.

Resignation

In a statement, Mr Gething said: “I have today written to the Llywydd (Presiding Officer), in accordance with Standing Order 12.3, to request arrangements are made to recall the Senedd on August 6 to nominate a new first minister.

“This is subject to receiving His Majesty the King’s acceptance of my formal offer of resignation.”

The Conservative and Plaid Cymru groups are expected to put forward their leaders as nominees for first minister, neither party is expected to have enough support to beat Baroness Morgan.

Reacting to the announcement, Andrew RT Davies MS, leader of the Senedd Tories, said: “I am grateful to the First Minister for heeding Welsh Conservative calls to recall the Senedd to give Wales some much-needed stability.

“Considering the chaos that has engulfed the Labour government in Cardiff Bay, you would have thought they would have brought this decision forward by bringing in an earlier recall to give Wales that stability.

“Given that Eluned Morgan’s delivery as health minister was questionable, you would have also thought that she would want to get going straight away by being elected by the Senedd as first minister.”

Once she is confirmed, Baroness Morgan will be the first woman to lead the Welsh government in its 25-year history, something she has said she is extremely proud of.

Difficult

She is also the third leader of Welsh Labour this year, after a difficult few months since Mr Gething took over from Mark Drakeford in March.

Mr Gething announced his intention to resign after four members of his government quit last week, criticising his leadership.

During the last leadership race, Mr Gething took a £200,000 donation for his campaign from a company owned by a man twice convicted of environmental offences, which led to some members of his own party criticising his judgment.

Last month, Mr Gething lost a vote of no confidence in the Senedd, after rows over the donation, and his decision to sack Delyn MS Hannah Blythyn as a minister.

National significance

The Senedd can be recalled during recess, on the authority of the Llywydd, to discuss issues of national significance. In its 25-year history, the Senedd has been recalled previously to discuss the response to the Covid-19 Pandemic, Brexit and the future of the steel industry. This is the first time it will meet in recess to nominate a new First Minister.

The meeting will be hybrid, with some Members present in the debating chamber, the Siambr, with the option to also participate virtually.

Discussions have been held about MSs participating from abroad, as guidance state that Members cannot vote from outside the UK.

As a result, new guidance is being drawn up specifically for this meeting with arrangements being made to enable Members to take part in the roll call from overseas.

The difference with the process for nominating the FM is that it is done orally by roll call, and does not follow the usual voting process.

Members of the public will be able to watch proceedings from the viewing gallery in the Senedd and the meeting will be shown live on senedd.tv.