We owe public apology, says new Welsh Labour leader

Eluned Morgan, the new Welsh Labour leader, has said her party owes an apology to the Welsh public following months of turmoil.

“We have not made a good fist of things in the past few weeks,” said Ms Morgan, 57, who is set to be Wales’ next first minister after she was elected unopposed as party leader on Wednesday.

The contest was triggered by the resignation of Vaughan Gething, who was forced out by the resignations of four senior politicians in his government last week.

Ms Morgan – the current Welsh health secretary who will be Wales’ third first minister this year - promised to unify Welsh Labour which has been beset with splits since Mr Gething succeeded Mark Drakeford in March.

The Welsh Conservatives said Ms Morgan had been coronated, while Plaid Cymru said the election showed the "turmoil" in Labour.

Mr Gething remains first minister until a vote of the Welsh Parliament is held to install Ms Morgan at a yet-to-be determined date.

The Cardiff-born politician is a life peer and former Member of the European Parliament who has been MS for Mid and West Wales since 2016.

Ms Morgan, who has overseen the Welsh health service since the last Senedd election, has promised to unify the split Welsh Labour group.

Huw Irranca-Davies, who supported Mr Gething's opponent Jeremy Miles in the last leadership contest, is expected to be her deputy.

She was supported by 26 of the party's 30 Labour Senedd members, with the exception of Lee Waters, Hannah Blythyn and Mr Gething, who as first minister was not expected to back a candidate.

Ms Morgan said she was "truly honoured" to be elected .

"When we pledged unity, we meant it - and that is how we will lead."

Speaking to BBC Wales, Ms Morgan said it was "important to apologise to the Welsh public".

"We have not made a good fist of things in the past few weeks," she said.

"But this is about turning a new page."

With no full contest having taken place, Ms Morgan has not set out what she will do as first minister.

She promised to listen to the public, saying the people of Wales will "set the agenda for us".

Ms Morgan told the BBC: "I imagine that they would want a much stronger economy than we've got at the moment, focusing on good quality, ideally, green jobs.

"I imagine that they would like an NHS that works better, better education standards, better buses and transport."

She said people would be brought in "from outside of Wales" to look at the Welsh NHS's high waiting lists.

Asked if she would give up her peerage, she said she had not been to the House of Lords "for many years".

"I'm hoping I will be able to pause that relationship and have that opportunity if necessary to think about what happens in the future."

Prime Minister and UK Labour leader Keir Starmer said: "Eluned's election as Welsh Labour leader and candidacy for first minister is fantastic news for Wales and for the Labour Party.

"Eluned brings with her a wealth of experience and track-record of delivery, and as the first woman to lead Welsh Labour, she is already making history."

Plaid Cymru's Rhun ap Iorwerth said: "The fact that she is the third leader in three months speaks volumes about the turmoil at the heart of the governing party."

He attacked her record as health minister, saying she had failed "to get to grips with the significant challenges with the NHS".

Andrew RT Davies, Welsh Conservative leader in the Senedd, congratulated Ms Morgan on becoming the first female leader of Welsh Labour, and the expected "first ever female first minister

He accused of presiding over the "worst Welsh NHS waiting lists on record".

"The baroness has picked up the crown at the coronation, with Prince Charming as her deputy," he added.

Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds said: "It is now up to both Eluned and Welsh Labour to re-earn the trust of both the Senedd and, most importantly, the people of Wales."

"I will also be fighting to expand the Welsh childcare offer to support working parents, tackling child poverty, and addressing the concerns of rural communities," she added.

Mr Gething's time in office was dogged by controversy over donations of £200,000 from a company owned by a man previously convicted of illegally dumping waste.

It later emerged that he had also lobbied environmental regulator Natural Resources Wales on behalf of a subsidiary of the same company.

He lost a vote of no confidence after two of his Members of the Senedd (MSs) failed to back him.

His sacking of a minister for allegedly leaking text messages led to further drama when the politician involved, Hannah Blythyn, denied speaking to the press.

The MS for Cardiff South and Penarth quit only 118 days into the job.

While her role as Welsh Labour leader is confirmed, a formal roll call vote is required of all 60 MSs before Ms Morgan becomes first minister.

It was originally planned that Mr Gething would step down in September but it is expected he will go much sooner.

The Senedd is currently in summer recess and would require a request from the Welsh government to bring the parliament back.

Ms Morgan told PA Media: "This is out of my control, in the sense that it's the current First Minister who determines that in co-ordination with the presiding officer.

"I'm sure conversations will happen very soon."

The fact that some MSs are abroad on holiday is an added complication.

The vote requires every MS to say out loud who they think should be first minister.

In theory, the opposition - with exactly half the numbers in the Senedd - could prevent Ms Morgan from being confirmed by getting behind a single candidate in a tied vote.

But that is not going to happen and Labour will likely have the numbers to get their new first minister confirmed.

Welsh Liberal Democrat Jane Dodds plans to abstain, while Conservatives and Plaid Cymru would to nominate their own leaders.