Image: Senedd Cymru / Welsh Parliament [CC BY 2.0], via Flickr
Eluned Morgan becoming Wales’ first ever female leader described as “significant and important”
The Learned Society of Wales has welcomed the election of Eluned Morgan as first minister of Wales, saying it looks forward to working with her.
It also said that Morgan (pictured) becoming the first woman to ever hold the post was “significant and important” for the country.
Morgan became first minister on 6 August replacing Vaughan Gething, who resigned on 16 July after four ministers left his government following a motion of no confidence.
“We congratulate baroness Eluned Morgan on becoming first minister of Wales,” the society said. “We have enjoyed positive working relations with former first ministers and look forward to working with baroness Morgan.”
‘Wide experience’
Morgan has a degree in European Studies from the University of Hull and worked as a researcher in the media before becoming a politician.
In 1994 she was elected as the youngest member of the European Parliament aged just 27, according to her government webpage, and remained a member until 2009. During that time she was a Labour Party spokesperson on industry, science and energy.
She was granted a peerage in 2011, becoming formally known as Baroness Morgan of Ely. Since then she has served as the shadow minister for Wales and for foreign affairs. She has held ministerial posts for the Welsh language and lifelong learning; international relations; and mental health and wellbeing.
The Learned Society of Wales added: “Her wide experience, not least in innovation and health, overlaps with the interests and strengths of the Learned Society of Wales and many of its fellows.”