Trailblazer in Welsh Politics: Baroness Eluned Morgan Ascends as First Female First Minister

Eluned Morgan: From Youngest MEP to Wales' First Female Leader

Decades after becoming the youngest member of the European Parliament at age 27, 57-year-old Eluned Morgan has now been appointed as the first female First Minister of Wales.

Journalist from Wales @TomosGruffydd

Tuesday, August 6, 2024, 3:

Baroness Eluned Morgan has been put forward as the inaugural female first minister of Wales.

The individual, aged 57, boasts a political career that stretches over thirty years.

Over the years, she has held various roles including Member of the European Parliament, shadow minister in the House of Lords, and multiple positions in the Welsh government.

In 2018, she ran for the leadership of Welsh Labour but did not succeed, coming in third after the members cast their votes.

Before the election, she declared her intention to give up her noble title if she won the position of first minister.

Speaking to WalesOnline during her campaign, she characterized herself as "fairly typical for a politician and very grounded."

Childhood Years

Ms. Morgan hails from Ely, Cardiff, where she was born to a vicar father.

Canon Bob Morgan, who also engaged in politics with the Labour Party, held the position of leader at the South Glamorgan County Council.

Her mother's family, who also included a councillor, originated from Pembrokeshire in West Wales.

Baroness Morgan attended a secondary school where Welsh was the medium of instruction, and she earned a scholarship to attend the United World College of the Atlantic located in the Vale of Glamorgan.

She mentions that although her passion for politics began prior to her academic pursuits, it was during her two-year stint that her fascination with global political issues and international relations truly ignited.

Being exposed to diverse perspectives from international peers during her education "influenced the development of [her] political views."

She subsequently earned a degree in European Studies from the University of Hull.

She formerly held research positions with the BBC and the Welsh-language network S4C.

Venturing into the

At the age of 27, Baroness Morgan secured a seat in the European Parliament in 1994, making her the youngest member at that time.

Baroness Morgan stands out as the fifth woman to secure a full-time political role in Wales and made history as the first full-time politician to give birth during her tenure.

She served as a Member of the European Parliament for 15 years before receiving a peerage in 2011, a year after she chose not to seek reelection. Since then, she has been officially titled Baroness Morgan of Ely, which refers to a district in Cardiff.

She held the position of shadow minister for Wales in the House of Lords from 2013 to 2016 and took on the role of shadow minister for foreign affairs from 2014 to 2016.

Period Spent in the Welsh Parliament

In 2016, Baroness Morgan ran for a seat in the Senedd and has served as the representative for Mid and West Wales following her election.

In the subsequent year, she assumed the role of minister for the Welsh language and lifelong learning.

She subsequently assumed cabinet positions overseeing international affairs and mental health.

Following the 2021 Senedd election, Baroness Morgan has held the position of health secretary, working with both Mark Drakeford and Vaughan Gething.

Stay ahead with the latest breaking news updates.

Download the Sky News application at no cost

Stay updated on the most recent developments in the UK and globally with coverage from Sky News.

For further details, visit Sky News: Musk responds to Starmer following remarks about 'civil war'; 'Severe consequences still ahead' as deadly Storm Debby strikes the US.

As the COVID pandemic progressed into its final phases, she emerged as a key figure in the Welsh government's management of the crisis, frequently leading press briefings to deliver new updates.

Last year, following a critical report about Wales's biggest health board, she survived a no-confidence motion initiated by rival parties.

Sky News Information

About Sky News

Sky News Offerings

Sky Network Channels

Additional Sky Platforms