Eluned Morgan government
Eluned Morgan government | |
|---|---|
 13th devolved government of Wales | |
| 2024–2026 | |
 Morgan's cabinet meeting in Aberystwyth in June 2025 | |
| Date formed | 6 August 2024 |
| Date dissolved | 12 May 2026 |
| People and organisations | |
Monarch | Charles III |
First Minister | Eluned Morgan |
Deputy First Minister | Huw Irranca-Davies |
Member parties | |
Status in legislature | Minority |
Opposition cabinet | Fourth Shadow Cabinet of Andrew RT Davies Shadow Cabinet of Darren Millar |
Opposition party | |
Opposition leader | Andrew RT Davies (2024) Darren Millar (2024-2026) |
| History | |
| Legislature term | 6th Senedd |
| Predecessor | Gething government |
| Successor | ap Iorwerth government |
The Eluned Morgan government was the government of Wales formed by Eluned Morgan from August 2024, following her appointment as First Minister of Wales on 6 August. Morgan first formed an interim government largely continuing the previous Gething government, then announced a fuller reshuffle in September 2024.
In her interim cabinet she maintained many of the roles and roleholders from the previous Gething government. With the few changes being that she appointed former First Minister Mark Drakeford as her successor to her former role as Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, a role he himself held between 2013 and 2016, and designated Elisabeth Jones as Counsel General-designate.
On 11 September 2024, Morgan announced her cabinet reshuffle. Jeremy Miles and Julie James returned to cabinet following their resignations under Gething, and as health cabinet secretary and Counsel General-designate respectively, with the latter replacing Jones. While Vikki Howells was given a junior role for the first time. All the other members of the cabinet had their roles amended or switched but remained in government, with Huw Irranca-Davies and Lynne Neagle retaining their former roles entirely.
In addition to her cabinet appointments, Morgan also appointed former MP Kevin Brennan as her chief special adviser in August. Brennan stepped down to join the House of Lords, and was replaced by Wayne David.[1] David was then replaced by Citizens Advice Head of Policy, and former Welsh Labour Head of Communications, Luke Young as her new Chief Special Adviser.[2]
History
[edit]Eluned Morgan was nominated and appointed to succeed Vaughan Gething as first minister of Wales on 6 August 2024. Later that day, she announced the appointment of Huw Irranca-Davies as her deputy first minister.[3] This was the first time a deputy first minister had been appointed to the Welsh Government since Ieuan Wyn Jones in 2007.[4]
Morgan announced the rest of her cabinet on 7 August. Her first cabinet was appointed to serve on an interim basis, with most members of her government retaining the same posts they had in the previous Gething government. Changes included the appointment of former first minister Mark Drakeford as the interim cabinet secretary for health and social care, succeeding Morgan as the previous officeholder, as well as Elisabeth Jones as the counsel general-designate to act as the counsel general for Wales for an interim period.[5] Morgan retained her previous responsibility for the Welsh language.[6] The cabinet will remain in place for an interim period until September 2024, when a full cabinet reshuffle "following a listening exercise over the summer with the Welsh public" is planned.[7][8][9]
In addition to her cabinet, Morgan also appointed former MP Kevin Brennan, who had served as former first minister Rhodri Morgan's chief of staff, as her chief special adviser.[10][11][12]
September reshuffle
[edit].jpg)
On 11 September 2024, Morgan reshuffled her cabinet. She appointed Jeremy Miles as Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, and Mark Drakeford as Cabinet Secretary for Finance, while Ken Skates lost his role as Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, while retaining his roles as Cabinet Secretary for Transport and Minister for North Wales. She designated Julie James as Counsel General, alongside appointing her Minister for Delivery. She also appointed Vikki Howells as Minister for Further and Higher Education, and added Culture and Skills to Jack Sargeant's portfolios, alongside Social Partnership.[13][14] Julie James was formally appointed as Counsel General by approval of the Senedd on 17 September 2024.[15]
Alongside these changes, a number of ministers were retained in their prior positions.
In December 2024, Morgan announced that her chief special adviser Kevin Brennan would resign from the government in the new year after he was nominated for a peerage by Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Former MP and MEP Wayne David was announced as his successor.[12][16]
Budgets
[edit]After the collapse of the co-operation agreement between Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru in May 2024 budgets agreements had to be made on every occasion. The first budget in 2025 by the Morgan government was made with the single Welsh Liberal Democrat MS, Jane Dodds.[17] This included extra funding for childcare, councils and transport. Also included was a commitment to ban greyhound racing.[17]
After the Caerphilly by-election in October 2025 the government lost its majority. This led to agreement discussions between Welsh Labour and with Jane Dodds, Conservatives and independent MS Russell George.[18][19] In the end Plaid Cymru agreed to a deal and abstained in the budget vote to allow it to pass. For this concession Plaid and Labour agreed to extra funding for health, infrastructure and councils.[20]
Cabinets
[edit]August–September 2024
[edit]Cabinet Secretaries
[edit]| Portfolio | Name | Constituency | Party | Term | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Minister of Wales | .jpg) |
The Baroness Morgan of Ely
MS |
Mid & West Wales | Labour | August 2024 – 2026 | |
| Deputy First Minister of Wales Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs |
.jpg) |
Huw Irranca-Davies
MS |
Ogmore | Labour | August 2024 – 2026 | |
| Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office | .jpg) |
Rebecca Evans MS | Gower | Labour | 2018 - September 2024 | |
| Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Local Government, and Planning | .jpg) |
Jayne Bryant MS | Newport West | Labour | August 2024 – 2026 | |
| Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care | .jpg) |
Mark Drakeford MS | Cardiff West | Labour | August 2024 - September 2024 | |
| Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Transport and North Wales | .jpg) |
Ken Skates MS | Clwyd South | Labour | 2024 – 2026 | |
| Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Social Justice, Trefnydd (House Leader) and Chief Whip | .jpg) |
Jane Hutt MS | Vale of Glamorgan | Labour | 2024 – 2026 | |
| Cabinet Secretary for Education | .jpg) |
Lynne Neagle MS | Torfaen | Labour | 2024 – 2026 | |
Ministers
[edit]| Portfolio | Name | Constituency | Party | Term | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minister for Mental Health and Early Years | .jpg) |
Sarah Murphy MS | Bridgend | Labour | 2024 – 2026 | |
| Minister for Social Care | .jpg) |
Dawn Bowden MS | Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney | Labour | 2024 – 2026 | |
| Minister for Social Partnership | .jpg) |
Jack Sargeant MS | Alyn and Deeside | Labour | 2024 – 2026 | |
| Counsel General Designate | .jpg) |
Elisabeth Jones | N/A | N/A | August 2024 – September 2024 | |
Other appointments
[edit]- Kevin Brennan – chief special adviser to the First Minister
September 2024 – May 2026
[edit]On 11 September 2024, Morgan announced changes to her cabinet and the new cabinet is as follows:[21]
Cabinet Secretaries
[edit]| Portfolio | Name | Constituency | Party | Term | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Minister of Wales | _(cropped).jpg) |
The Baroness Morgan of Ely
MS |
Mid & West Wales | Labour | August 2024 – 2026 | |
| Deputy First Minister of Wales | _(cropped).jpg) |
Huw Irranca-Davies
MS |
Ogmore | Labour | August 2024 – 2026 | |
| Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language | _(cropped).jpg) |
Mark Drakeford MS | Cardiff West | Labour | September 2024 – 2026 | |
| Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning | |
Rebecca Evans MS | Gower | Labour | September 2024 – 2026 | |
| Cabinet Secretary for Housing, and Local Government | _(cropped).jpg) |
Jayne Bryant MS | Newport West | Labour | September 2024 – 2026 | |
| Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care | .jpg) |
Jeremy Miles MS | Neath | Labour | September 2024 – 2026 | |
| Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales | _(cropped).jpg) |
Ken Skates MS | Clwyd South | Labour | September 2024 – 2026 | |
| Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd (House Leader) and Chief Whip | _(cropped).jpg) |
Jane Hutt MS | Vale of Glamorgan | Labour | September 2024 – 2026 | |
| Cabinet Secretary for Education | |
Lynne Neagle MS | Torfaen | Labour | 2024 – 2026 | |
Ministers
[edit]| Portfolio | Name | Constituency | Party | Term | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing | |
Sarah Murphy MS | Bridgend | Labour | September 2024 – 2026 | |
| Minister for Children and Social Care | _(cropped).jpg) |
Dawn Bowden MS | Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney | Labour | September 2024 – 2026 | |
| Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership | _(cropped).jpg) |
Jack Sargeant MS | Alyn and Deeside | Labour | September 2024 – 2026 | |
| Minister for Further and Higher Education | _(cropped).jpg) |
Vikki Howells MS | Cynon Valley | Labour | September 2024 – 2026 | |
| Counsel General and Minister for Delivery | _(cropped).jpg) |
Julie James | Swansea West | Labour | September 2024 – 2026 | |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ "First Minister Eluned Morgan's top adviser stands down". www.bbc.com. 18 July 2025. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- ↑ Mansfield, Mark (25 July 2025). "Appointment of new top aide by Eluned Morgan questioned by women's rights group". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- ↑ Frampton, Ben; Grey, Jack; Pigott, Paul (6 August 2024). "Live Reporting: Reaction as Eluned Morgan confirmed as Wales' first minister". BBC News. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ↑ "'To the young women watching today, you need to know your potential is limitless' – more from new First Minister". Wrexham.com. 6 August 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ↑ Evans, Tomos (7 August 2024). "Mark Drakeford appointed new Welsh health secretary after Eluned Morgan becomes first minister". Sky News. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
- ↑ Haines, Chris (7 August 2024). "Mark Drakeford makes shock return as Wales health secretary". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
- ↑ Browne, Adrian (7 August 2024). "Drakeford back in government as health secretary". BBC News. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
- ↑ Morgan, Eluned (7 August 2024). "Written Statement: Cabinet Appointments". GOV.WALES. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
- ↑ "Mark Drakeford named as Wales health secretary in First Minister Eluned Morgan's cabinet". ITV News. 7 August 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
- ↑ Bloom, Dan (6 August 2024). "And still the rioting goes on". Politico. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ↑ Shipton, Martin (25 July 2024). "Former MP Kevin Brennan to be top adviser to First Minister Eluned Morgan". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- 1 2 Shipton, Martin (20 December 2024). "Carwyn Jones and Kevin Brennan go to the House of Lords". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
- ↑ Haines, Chris (11 September 2024). "Two former ministers return to government as Eluned Morgan completes first reshuffle". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
- ↑ Deans, David; Lewis, Gareth (11 September 2024). "Welsh first minister begins cabinet reshuffle". BBC. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
- ↑ "Plenary 17/09/2024". senedd.wales. 17 September 2024. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
- ↑ "Statement from the First Minister". Welsh Government. 20 December 2024. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
- 1 2 "Welsh Labour government budget deal expected with Lib Dem Dodds". www.bbc.com. 20 February 2025. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- ↑ "Conservatives hold budget talks with Labour's Eluned Morgan". www.bbc.com. 21 October 2025. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- ↑ "Welsh government has budget talk with independent Russell George". www.bbc.com. 6 November 2025. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- ↑ "Senedd approves Welsh government's budget after Plaid Cymru deal". www.bbc.com. 27 January 2026. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- ↑ "Welsh government reshuffle: Miles back as minister after ousting Gething". BBC News. 11 September 2024. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
