Tough at the top: the challenges facing Eluned Morgan as the new First Minister of Wales

It was an historic moment last week as Eluned Morgan was sworn in as the first female First Minister of Wales.

Her appointment comes at a crucial time for the country. She’s the third First Minister Wales has had within a year, with her predecessor, Vaughan Gething, announcing his decision to quit after just 118 days. She begins her leadership after a period of political turmoil marked by sackings, resignations and votes of no confidence.

Wales may be a small country, but the task facing Eluned Morgan is indeed sizeable. Along with addressing core issues such as NHS waiting lists and steel jobs, she must unite her own party and reach out to potential allies and partners, not least to secure backing for the next Welsh Government budget. As one commentator put it, “her in-tray is already over-flowing”.

In tackling her new role, Morgan has an abundance of experience to draw on. Few people can say that they have served in three Parliaments in three capitals, but Morgan brings to the First Minister’s office the political guile she has acquired as an MEP and a member of the House of Lords as well as in the Senedd since 2016. She also has business experience from working for the energy giant, SSE, and chairing the Cardiff Business Partnership.

As a member of the Cardiff Business Partnership 2030 Group, I saw at close quarters how knowledgeable she was about the Welsh economy and the issues facing businesses in Wales. She may be promising “a vibrant splash of colour” in her outfits, but the business community can also be sure she knows her new job needs a steady hand and attention to the less colourful details of government.

That was demonstrated by her decision to bring back Mark Drakeford as Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care on an interim basis. As she made clear, she values his “significant knowledge and experience” to help provide the stability that the Welsh Government needs in this period of transition.

As with any new leader, the first few months will be crucial. It is not just about trying to make a mark but also about building the foundations for long-term success by creating trust, establishing authority and setting clear and achievable goals.

Above all, she needs to carry the people of Wales with her. The controversy around the 20mph speed limit underlined how difficult this can be – even when the evidence is compelling – but Morgan has shown she understands its importance by pledging to tour Wales over the summer to ask people “what should we be doing better?”.

In her address in the Senedd, after being confirmed as First Minister, she reflected on being the first female to hold the post since it was created 25 years ago and said it would help “refresh” the role.

“I think having a new female first minister means that things will look different, they’ll sound different, and they will be different, and that gives us an opportunity to take that refresh seriously,” she said.

Wanting women to know that their “potential is limitless”, she said the path to leadership “is not now just a possibility, it’s a reality”.

It is arguable that Wales has been behind the curve in putting a woman in the top job, but all too few countries – small or large – have done it. In 2023, there were only 15 female prime ministers or presidents world-wide. Fewer than a third of all countries have ever had one.

Wales has at least achieved this distinction ahead of some much bigger democracies, notably the United States, where Kamala Harris is now hoping to be elected as the first female president. But, as Morgan said herself, it would be refreshing if we could get to a stage where a female becoming a leader of a country wasn’t news but just a normal part of political life.  It feels, however, like there is still a long way to go.

Morgan will not be able to please everyone – and will expect to be questioned and challenged – but let’s make the debate constructive. After all, our hopes and ambitions for Wales depend on it.

This article was written by our chief executive, Angharad Neagle, and featured in the Western Mail on 12 August 2024.