Eluned Morgan promises conversations about FM vote date

On Wednesday, Ms Morgan was backed by 26 of the 30-strong Labour group in the Welsh parliament.

Before she can take her post, current First Minister Vaughan Gething must formally quit.

Her election was triggered after Mr Gething was forced from his job by the resignations of four senior members of his government.

His time in office was dogged by controversy over a £200,000 donation from a company owned by David Neal, convicted of illegally dumping waste.

Mr Gething lost a vote of no confidence after two MSs failed to back him.

His sacking of minister Hannah Blythyn for allegedly leaking texts led to more drama when she denied speaking to the press.

The MS for Cardiff South and Penarth quit after 118 days in the job.

Ms Morgan has promised to unify Welsh Labour and said the party owed Wales an apology for weeks of difficulties.

The Welsh government, she said, had not made “a good fist” of things recently.

Ms Morgan said she had thanked Mr Gething for his work, but the timetable for her to take over was out of her control.

“It’s the current first minister who determines that, in co-ordination with the presiding officer,” she said.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer congratulated her, saying she was “already making history”.

The Welsh Conservatives said Ms Morgan had been crowned, while Plaid Cymru said the election showed turmoil in Labour.

Both parties have criticised the performance of the Welsh NHS under her leadership.

Ms Morgan – a former MEP and member of the House of Lords – has the formal title Baroness Morgan of Ely.

She was brought up in Cardiff and has been an MS for Mid and West Wales since 2016.