Eluned Morgan, Baroness Morgan of Ely explained

Honorific-Prefix:The Right Honourable
The Baroness Morgan of Ely
Office:First Minister of Wales
Term Start:6 August 2024
Deputy:Huw Irranca-Davies
Predecessor:Vaughan Gething
Office1:Leader of Welsh Labour
Term Start1:24 July 2024
Predecessor1:Vaughan Gething
Embed:yes
Office:Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
Term Start:13 May 2021
Term End:6 August 2024
Firstminister:Mark Drakeford
Vaughan Gething
Predecessor:Vaughan Gething
Successor:Mark Drakeford
Office1:Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing
Term Start1:8 October 2020
Term End1:13 May 2021
Firstminister1:Mark Drakeford
Predecessor1:Office established
Successor1:Lynne Neagle
Office2:Minister for the Welsh Language
Term Start2:3 November 2017
Term End2:13 May 2021
Predecessor2:Alun Davies
Deputy1:Carolyn Harris
Office2:Member of the Senedd
for Mid and West Wales
Term Start2:5 May 2016
Predecessor2:Rebecca Evans
Embed:yes
Office3:Member of the House of Lords
Status3:Lord Temporal
Term Label3:Life peerage
Term Start3:26 January 2011
Office4:Member of the European Parliament
for Wales
Term Start4:10 June 1999
Term End4:4 June 2009
Predecessor4:Position established
Successor4:John Bufton
Office7:Member of the European Parliament
for Mid and West Wales
Term Start7:9 June 1994
Term End7:10 June 1999
Predecessor7:David Morris
Successor7:Seat abolished
Birth Name:Mair Eluned Morgan
Birth Date:16 February 1967
Birth Place:Cardiff, Wales
Party:Labour Party
Nationality:Welsh
Spouse:Rhys Jenkins
Children:2
Father:Bob Morgan
Alma Mater:University of Hull
Website:www.elunedmorgan.wales

Mair Eluned Morgan, Baroness Morgan of Ely (born 16 February 1967) is a Welsh Labour politician who has served as First Minister of Wales and Leader of Welsh Labour since 2024.[1] She previously served as Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care in the Welsh Government from 2021 to 2024.[2] [3]

Morgan has been a Member of the House of Lords since 2011 and has served as a Member of the Senedd (MS) since 2016. She is a Welsh speaker[4] and was Minister for the Welsh Language from 2017 to 2021, Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing from 2020 to 2021, and a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from 1994 to 2009.

Personal life and Education

Eluned Morgan was born and brought up in Ely, Cardiff, the daughter of Revd Canon Bob Morgan and Elaine Morgan.[5] She was educated at Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf, as well as, through a scholarship, the independent United World College of the Atlantic, and later gained a degree in European Studies from the University of Hull.[6] [7]

Morgan is married to Rev Dr Rhys Jenkins, who is a GP and also a non-stipendiary priest.[8] [9] Morgan's family hails from St David's in Pembrokeshire.[10]

In March 2022, Morgan was banned from driving for a period of six months following repeated speeding fines. The offence which took her over the 12-point limit was on a 30mph road in Wrexham.[11]

Professional career and voluntary positions

Morgan formerly worked as a researcher for S4C, Agenda TV and the BBC.[12]

After leaving the European Parliament she worked as the Director of National Development for SSE in Wales (SWALEC) from 2009 to June 2013 where she was responsible for establishing the new SWALEC Smart Energy Centre in Treforest. She was appointed Chair of the Cardiff Business Partnership.

Morgan is a Fellow of Trinity College Carmarthen[13] and is an Honorary-Distinguished Professor and Fellow of Cardiff University.[14] She served on the board of the International Baccalaureate Organisation for three years.[15] She was the Chair of the Cardiff Business Partnership.[16] She was a member of the External Advisory Board to the Wales Governance Centre.[17] She served on the Council of Atlantic College. She was Chair of Live Music Now in Wales, a charity which sends talented young musicians to care homes and special schools and demonstrates the transformational impact of music, from 2012 to 2016.[18]

Political career

Welsh Labour and Yes for Wales

Eluned Morgan served on the Welsh Labour Party Executive for ten years and was appointed to the Welsh Assembly Advisory Group, which was responsible for developing the standing orders of the Senedd. She was a founding member of the Yes for Wales Cross-party group, which campaigned for the Assembly to be established.[19]

European Parliament

In 1990, she worked as a stagiaire in the European Parliament for the Socialist Group.

In 1994, Morgan was elected as a Member of the European Parliament representing Mid and West Wales. At the time she was the youngest MEP when she took up her seat.[20] She continued as an MEP representing the Wales constituency, being elected at both the 1999 and 2004 elections, before standing down at the 2009 elections.[21]

Eluned Morgan served as the budget control spokesperson for the 180 strong Socialist Group. She was also the Labour Party's European spokesperson on Energy, Industry and Science.[22] She was responsible for drafting the European Parliament's response to the Energy Green Paper and also took the lead role in negotiating on behalf of the Parliament the revision of the Electricity Directive.

House of Lords

On 19 November 2010 it was announced that Morgan had been granted a life peerage and would sit on the Labour benches of the House of Lords,[23] and was gazetted on 27 January 2011 as Baroness Morgan of Ely in the City of Cardiff.[24] From 2013–2016, Morgan served as the Shadow Minister for Wales in the House of Lords, and from 2014 to 2016 she served as Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and also as a whip.[25] She was responsible for leading for Labour in the House of Lords on the EU Referendum Bill and led for Labour on two Wales Bills.[26]

Morgan is currently on a leave of absence from the House of Lords.

Senedd and Welsh Government

In 2015 Morgan was selected as a candidate for the 2016 Welsh election on the Mid and West Wales regional list.[27] On 5 May 2016 she was elected from the regional list as an Assembly Member in the Senedd.

In November 2017 she was appointed Minister for Welsh Language and Lifelong Learning.[28] She contested the 2018 Welsh Labour leadership election, but was not successful, coming third. She was then appointed by First Minister Mark Drakeford as Minister for International Relations and the Welsh Language in December 2018 before being moved to Minister for Mental Health, Wellbeing and the Welsh Language in October 2020.

Morgan was re-elected at the 2021 Senedd election,[29] and a week later was appointed Minister for Health and Social Services.[30] In March 2023, the Welsh Conservatives submitted a motion of no confidence in her, following mounting criticism of Morgan's handling of the Betsi Cadwaladr crisis. The motion was defeated, with 26 votes in favor and 29 against.[31]

Morgan endorsed Vaughan Gething in the February–March 2024 Welsh Labour leadership election.[32] She retained her role as Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care in the Gething government.[33]

Leader of Welsh Labour

In July 2024, Morgan announced that she would be standing in the July 2024 Welsh Labour leadership election on a unity ticket with Huw Irranca-Davies, who would serve as her deputy first minister if she was elected leader.[34] [35] On 24 July 2024, she was confirmed to be the only candidate that met the 5 nomination threshold, and was therefore elected as leader of Welsh Labour.[36]

First Minister of Wales

See also: Eluned Morgan government. On 6 August 2024, Eluned Morgan was officially sworn in as the First Minister of Wales, following her nomination by the Senedd, which was recalled from its summer recess for this purpose. As the leader of the largest party in the Senedd,[37] Morgan secured the position with 28 votes, marking the beginning of her tenure as Wales' first female First Minister.[38]

Upon entering government as the first minister, one of the first issues to face Morgan was the prospect of the 2024 United Kingdom riots beginning in Wales. In a statement, Morgan said that she was "not complacent", further adding that Wales was a "society and a nation that should be welcoming people... we cannot let those people who are determined to be destructive within our communities to get a hold".[39]

Shortly after taking office, First Minister Eluned Morgan met with Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Cardiff during his visit to Wales.[40] The meeting focused on "resetting the relationship" between the UK and Welsh governments. Key topics included NHS funding, energy independence, and the future of Tata Steel jobs in Wales. They also discussed the development of renewable energy through the Welsh Government's initiative, Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru, aimed at producing clean energy and creating skilled jobs in Wales.[41]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Eluned Morgan: Wales' new first minister confirmed. BBC News.
  2. News: 2021-05-13. Wales election: New health and education ministers in reshuffle. en-GB. BBC News. 2021-05-13.
  3. Web site: 2024-03-21 . First Minister Vaughan Gething announces new Welsh Government Cabinet GOV.WALES . 2024-03-21 . www.gov.wales . en.
  4. Web site: 13 things you need to know about Eluned Morgan. Ruth. Mosalski. 24 July 2024. Wales Online.
  5. News: 23 January 2011 . Baroness Morgan of Ely's tribute to Cardiff childhood . BBC News.
  6. Web site: (Mair) Eluned Morgan MORGAN OF ELY . 4 November 2015 . Debrett's.
  7. Web site: 2024-07-22 . Eluned Morgan: Who is the first minister candidate? . 2024-07-22 . BBC News . en-GB.
  8. Web site: New ministers ordained by Archbishop - The Diocese of Llandaff . 2017-10-20 . The Diocese of Llandaff . en-GB.
  9. Web site: Register of Member's interests - Fifth Senedd . 26 July 2024 . senedd.wales.
  10. News: Eluned Morgan elected as regional AM . 2017-10-20 . County Echo . en.
  11. News: 2022-03-17 . Driving ban for Welsh Health Minister Eluned Morgan for speeding . 2022-03-27 . BBC News . en-GB.
  12. News: Morris . Steven . 2024-07-23 . Who is Eluned Morgan, Wales's likely next first minister? . 2024-07-24 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077.
  13. Web site: Baroness Eluned Morgan AM - University of Wales Trinity Saint David . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20190926082020/https://www.uwtsd.ac.uk/research/art-and-design-research/good-health-wales/baroness-eluned-morgan-am/ . 2019-09-26 . 2017-10-20 . www.uwtsd.ac.uk . en.
  14. Web site: Profile: Eluned Morgan . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240219170356/https://profiles.cardiff.ac.uk/honorary/eluned-morgan . 2024-02-19 . profiles.cardiff.ac.uk.
  15. Web site: Eluned MORGAN [ParlTrack] ]. 2024-07-22 . parltrack.org.
  16. News: Barry . Sion . 20 June 2012 . Baroness Morgan appointed new chair of Cardiff Business Partnership . 24 November 2015 . Wales Online.
  17. Web site: External Advisory Board, Wales Governance Centre . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20151126072557/http://sites.cardiff.ac.uk/wgc/people/external-advisory-board/ . 2015-11-26 . 25 November 2015 . Cardiff University.
  18. Web site: Board of Governors . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130822110555/http://www.livemusicnow.org.uk/board_of_governors . 2013-08-22 . 29 November 2015 . Live Music Now.
  19. Web site: 2017-02-10 . Launching Yes for Wales . 2024-07-26 . Institute of Welsh Affairs . en-US.
  20. News: MEP Eluned Morgan will step down. 2008-10-14. 2017-10-20. en-GB.
  21. News: Eluned Morgan to step down as MEP. WalesOnline. 2008-10-14. walesonline. 2017-10-20.
  22. News: What science can do for Wales. WalesOnline. 2006-04-05. walesonline. 2017-10-20.
  23. Web site: Latest Peerages announced. Number10.gov.uk. 27 February 2011.
  24. Web site: HOUSE OF LORDS - Official Report . Parliamentry Debates (HANSARD) . 2011-01-26 . 2011-01-31.
  25. Web site: Baroness Morgan of Ely . UK Parliament . en . 2017-10-20.
  26. News: Labour AM Morgan backs Wales Bill . Deans . David . 2017 . BBC News . 2017-10-20 . en-GB.
  27. Martin Shipton (11 December 2015) "Former MEP Baroness Eluned Morgan on course to become an Assembly Member", Wales Online. Retrieved 2016-05-07.
  28. Web site: The full details of Carwyn Jones' Welsh Government reshuffle . Williamson . David . 3 November 2017 . . 22 April 2018.
  29. Web site: Election results for Mid and West Wales, 6 May 2021 . 2024-07-25 . business.senedd.wales . en-gb.
  30. Web site: 2021-05-13 . Written Statement: Cabinet appointments to the new Welsh Government . 2024-07-25 . www.gov.wales . en.
  31. News: 2023-03-21 . Welsh NHS patients at risk, says former health boss . 2023-03-30 . BBC News . en-GB.
  32. Web site: Williams . Rhys . 2023-12-20 . Welsh Labour leadership: Who's backing who to become the next First Minister? . 2024-07-25 . Caerphilly Observer . en-GB.
  33. Web site: 2024-03-21 . First Minister Vaughan Gething announces new Welsh Government Cabinet GOV.WALES . 2024-07-25 . www.gov.wales . en.
  34. Web site: 2024-07-22 . Eluned Morgan confirms bid to be next Welsh first minister . 2024-07-22 . BBC News . en-GB.
  35. Web site: Mansfield . Mark . 2024-07-22 . Eluned Morgan confirms bid to replace Vaughan Gething . 2024-07-22 . Nation.Cymru . en-GB.
  36. Web site: Eluned Morgan to be Wales' next first minister after becoming Welsh Labour leader . 2024-07-24 . BBC News . en-GB.
  37. News: Deans . David . 25 July 2024 . Senedd will sit in August for first minister vote . 25 July 2024 . BBC News.
  38. Web site: Evans . Tomos . 6 August 2024 . Eluned Morgan selected as Wales's new first minister after Vaughan Gething's resignation . 6 August 2024 . Sky News.
  39. Web site: 7 August 2024 . UK Riots: Wales' first minister Eluned Morgan 'not complacent' . 9 August 2024 . BBC News.
  40. Web site: Gareth Lewis: Keir Starmer, Eluned Morgan meet as problems loom . 2024-08-20 . www.bbc.com . en-GB.
  41. Web site: Wheeler . Richard . 2024-08-20 . Sir Keir Starmer: Key role for Wales in making Britain an energy superpower . 2024-08-20 . Evening Standard . en.