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Morgan rejects claims she is letting Wales down

Senedd Cymru Eluned Morgan is pictured with her arms crossed wearing a white jacket sat in a chair in the debating chamber of the Welsh Parliament. Her colleague Jane Hutt is sat next to her. They are listening to Andrew RT Davies, Welsh Conservative Senedd leader, who is not in the shot.Senedd Cymru
Eluned Morgan defended her short record as first minister at a Senedd debate on Wednesday

Eluned Morgan has defended her first 100 days at the helm of the Welsh government, as her opposition used the occasion to claim she was letting the country down.

Welsh Conservative Andrew RT Davies and Plaid Cymru's Rhun ap Iorwerth attacked the first minister over waiting times, and claimed she was not standing up against controversial UK Labour policies.

In a Senedd debate on Wednesday Morgan claimed a "lengthy list" of achievements, boasting of public sector pay awards and money to tackle NHS waits.

The Welsh Labour leader took over from Vaughan Gething after his resignation in the summer.

Morgan took the helm of Welsh Labour without a contest after months of turmoil in the party over Gething's leadership.

She has promised to focus the government on a list of priorities - vowing to cut Wales' long NHS waits and boost education standards.

Opposition parties have previously characterised the first minister's plans as lacking substance.

Senedd Cymru Andrew RT Davies speaking in an earlier Senedd debate, wearing a blue jacket and a blue tie.Senedd Cymru
The Welsh Conservatives, led by Andrew RT Davies in the Senedd, criticised Eluned Morgan's record.

The Welsh Tories called a Senedd debate to mark the 100th day of Eluned Morgan's time as first minister, which is Thursday.

Senedd Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies said: “We in Wales, regrettably, have a higher proportion of the population on a waiting list than any part of the United Kingdom.”

He said that while fewer than 150 people are waiting two years or more for English NHS treatment, the figure in Wales is 24,000 “and rising”.

Mr Davies said it was a “damning indictment of government failure here in Wales”.

He accused Eluned Morgan of being "silent" on the withdrawal of universal winter fuel payments and reductions to agricultural property relief from inheritance tax.

"The first minister has in her first 100 days failed to stand up for the people of Wales," he argued.

Rhun ap Iorwerth, Plaid Cymru leader, said nothing had "fundamentally changed" in the last 100 days.

While he said the first ministers' priorities were "admirable," he added: "100 days in the truth is there’s no plan and no sign of a plan."

Ap Iorwerth accused the first minister of failing to "move the dial” on funding for Wales, the winter fuel allowance and the two child benefit cap.

“I am afraid that what we have seen is Labour in Welsh government under the new first minister shifting into the mode of defending their masters at Westminster.”

PA Media Rhun ap Iorwerth speaking in front of a black backdrop.PA Media
Rhun ap Iorwerth accused Labour ministers of defending their masters

Morgan said her cabinet was “focused on the priorities of the people of Wales”.

“We haven’t been idle since August". She said the Welsh government had “delivered public sector wages which have risen higher and faster than that of prices.”

“We have invested £28m to cut waiting times and £13m on better end of life care. We have launched our north Wales medical school,” she said, adding that her government had spent £7.7m in a centre for burns and plastic surgery at Morriston Hospital in Swansea, and secured a £1bn investment in Shotton Mill.

“This is a lengthy list," she said. "It will be longer as we continue to deliver."

“The first 100 days demonstrates how Welsh Labour is delivering real investments, real jobs, real support for communities, not promises and pledges, but delivery.

“Our government is ambitious for our nation, is driven by the people's priorities, and it's absolutely focused on delivery."