Who is Eluned Morgan? The woman likely to be Wales' new First Minister

She didn't run against Vaughan Gething in 2023 although some had speculated she would, after previously running to be First Minister in 2018.

Eluned Morgan MS has been confirmed as the new Welsh Labour leader and is likely to shortly become first minister of Wales.

If elected, she would be the first woman to hold the office.

She's entered a joint bid with Huw Irranca-Davies, the current Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs.

If Baroness Morgan was to succeed, she would be the first female leader of Wales.

She didn't run in 2023, instead backing Vaughan Gething, although some had speculated she would, after previously running to be First Minister in 2018.

At the time she said if she did become First Minister, she would stand down from her position in the House of Lords.

In November 2010 she was given a life peerage in the House of Lords and made Baroness Morgan of Ely.

She was born in Ely in Cardiff to a Reverend but her family hail from Pembrokeshire.

What do people in Ely think about Eluned Morgan's rise to Labour leader?

Health Minister

She is currently serving as Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and has been since May 2021, a role she previously told ITV Wales she didn't want to stay as under Vaughan Gething's leadership.

Whilst in the role she oversaw decisions relating to the Coronavirus pandemic.

She's previously served as Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Minister for the Welsh Language.

From 1994 to 2009 Baroness Morgan was a member of the European Parliament. Credit: ITV Wales

European Parliament

Before representing Mid and West Wales in the Senedd, she began her political career as a Member of the European Parliament between 1994 and 2009.

At 27 she was youngest member of the parliament, and the first full time politician in Wales to have a baby while in office.

When will she become First Minister?

A vote in the Senedd is required before she can become first minister.

The Welsh parliament is currently on recess until September, and it would need to be recalled for her to take over sooner.

If other candidates had stood against Baroness Morgan, a hustings period over the summer would have taken place before a first minister election on 18 September.

Baroness Morgan has been a peer in the House of Lords since 2011, taking on the Shadow Minister position in the past.

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