The former First Minister lost her seat in the Senedd election as the public deserted Welsh Labour for Plaid Cymru and Reform
Eluned Morgan failed to be re-elected in the Senedd Election(Image: Getty Images)
Eluned Morgan has spoken out for the first time since Labour’s historic defeat in last week’s Senedd Election. The result saw Mrs Morgan become the first sitting First Minister to lose their seat in an election.
Plaid Cymru became the biggest party in the Senedd with 43 seats while Reform UK came in second with 34. Labour fell to third with nine elected representatives, Mrs Morgan was one of a number of incumbent Labour members who failed to win their seats.
On Tuesday, the Senedd sat for the first time since the election and voted for Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth to become Wales’ First Minister. More on that here.
Shortly after the meeting of the Senedd, Mrs Morgan spoke out for the first time since she resigned as leader of Welsh Labour moments after she lost her seat.
She described being First Minister and MS for Mid and West Wales as the “greatest honour” of her life and sent her well wishes to the new Welsh Government.
She added that she is “immensely proud” of the work achieved by the administrations she served in. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here.
The former first minister didn’t make any reference to Labour’s seismic electoral defeat, which saw the party’s century-long dominance in Welsh elections come to an end. Mrs Morgan said that she wouldn’t be making any further comment at this time.
The full statement read: “It has been the greatest honour of my life to serve as First Minister of Wales and to represent the people of Mid and West Wales in the Senedd.
“Public service is never about one person. It is about the people and communities who place their trust in you, the staff and volunteers who work tirelessly behind the scenes and the shared belief that Wales can always move forward together.
“I want to thank everyone who has supported me throughout this journey – my team, colleagues, campaigners, friends, my family and above all the people of Wales for giving me the privilege to serve.
Eluned Morgan as she learned she would become the first sitting First Minister to fail to be re-elected to the Senedd(Image: Getty Images)
“To the new Welsh Government, I send my very best wishes. Whatever our political differences, I believe we all want the same thing at heart: a fairer, stronger and more confident Wales.
“I leave this role immensely proud of what we have achieved together – from supporting our NHS and public services, to standing by communities through difficult times, investing in young people and showing what Welsh values of compassion and solidarity look like in practice.
“Wales is a small nation with a big heart. Its story is still being written, and I am deeply proud to have played a part in that story.
“Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for the privilege of serving our country. I will not be making any further comment at this time.”
In her resignation speech made on stage at Ysgol Bro Teifi in Llandysul on Friday after it was confirmed she had failed to be re-elected in the Ceredigion Penfro seat, she admitted that “the people of Wales rejected Labour”. She also said she took full responsibility for Labour’s loss in Wales.
After her resignation as leader of Welsh Labour, Senedd member for Fflint Wrecsam and former transport minister Ken Skates was announced as the party’s interim leader.
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