Who is Eluned Morgan? The outgoing First Minister of Wales

Eluned Morgan, the outgoing First Minister of Wales, lost her seat in the Senedd election, marking the first time a Welsh leader has lost their seat in an election. Morgan, who became the first woman to lead the Welsh Government in 2024, has spent 30 years in politics, beginning as the youngest MEP from Wales in 1994 at age 27. Born and raised in Ely, Cardiff, in 1967, Morgan’s political roots run deep, with both parents active in local government. Her father, Reverend Canon Bob Morgan, was a Labour politician and leader of South Glamorgan Council. She entered politics early, delivering leaflets at age six, and later worked as a researcher for S4C and the BBC. Morgan was a key figure in the Yes for Wales campaign, which successfully pushed for the establishment of the Welsh Assembly, later the Senedd. She served as an MEP for 15 years before becoming a life peer in the House of Lords in 2011. In 2016, she was elected to the Senedd and became a Welsh Government minister the following year. Her leadership bid in 2024 succeeded after former First Minister Carwyn Jones backed her candidacy, ensuring she became the first woman to lead Wales. She previously served as health secretary under Mark Drakeford and Vaughan Gething. Her tenure included a 2022 driving disqualification for speeding and public apologies for using blunt language in Covid-related communications.