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Senedd recalled for First Minister vote

Thursday, 25 July 2024 at 14:51

By Gareth Joy X @lookoutwales2

The Senedd will be recalled from its summer recess next month to elect a new First Minister.

It comes after Eluned Morgan was elected unopposed as the new Welsh Labour leader - the third so far this year.

The health secretary is expected to take over the top job in Welsh politics from Vaughan Gething, following his resignation last week amid a wave of controversies.

Senedd members have been given the option to attend the vote in-person or remotely via Zoom on Tuesday 6th August.

To formally elect a new First Minister, a roll call vote must be held in the Siambr (Chamber) before the winning candidate takes up the role.

Opposition parties could force a deadlock if they were all to back a single candidate as Labour holds 30 of the sixty seats in the Senedd. But that's unlikely to happen as Welsh Liberal Democrats leader Jane Dodds has pledged to abstain.

Speaking after a Labour group meeting on Wednesday, Rhondda MS Buffy Williams said: "There was a real excitement around Eluned being the first woman Welsh Labour leader, and an immense sense of pride that she is set to be the first woman First Minister of Wales."

"The message was clear from members, we need to move on from recent events. There's a real determination in our group to turn our focus towards the needs of the people of Wales. We understand how important it is that we deliver for our communities, it's what we're elected to do and what we are enthusiastic about cracking on with."

“Over the summer, we will be listening to residents across our constituencies and regions to get a real feel for the priorities of our communities beyond what, at times, has looked like a distracting Senedd bubble."

Earlier this week, the Welsh Conservatives called for the Senedd to be reconvened when it appeared that a second Welsh Labour leadership contest was looking increasingly unlikely.

But the party's leader has questioned why the recall could not be held straight away.

Andrew RT Davies said: “I am grateful to the First Minister for heeding Welsh Conservative calls to recall the Senedd to give Wales some much-needed stability.

“Considering the chaos that has engulfed the Labour government in Cardiff Bay, you would have thought they would have brought this decision forward by bringing in an earlier recall to give Wales that stability."

“Given that Eluned Morgan’s delivery as Health Minister was questionable, you would have also thought that she would want to get going straight away by being elected by the Senedd as First Minister."

Vaughan Gething, whose resignation was triggered by the departure of four cabinet members from the Welsh Government, has previously pledged to stay on until his successor is appointed.

The Cardiff South and Penarth MS, who preceded Ms Morgan as health minister when the Covid pandemic began, was expected to stay until September and face a final First Minister's Questions in the Senedd.

But it's understood Mr Gething made a formal request to allow the recall to take place and allow an earlier end to his brief tenure as Welsh Labour leader and First Minister.

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