Eluned Morgan rejects claims she is letting Wales down as FM

The Welsh Tories called a Senedd debate to mark the 100th day of Eluned Morgan’s time as first minister, which is Thursday.

Senedd Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies said: “We in Wales, regrettably, have a higher proportion of the population on a waiting list than any part of the United Kingdom.”

He said that while fewer than 150 people are waiting two years or more for English NHS treatment, the figure in Wales is 24,000 “and rising”.

Mr Davies said it was a “damning indictment of government failure here in Wales”.

He accused Eluned Morgan of being “silent” on the withdrawal of universal winter fuel payments and reductions to agricultural property relief from inheritance tax.

“The first minister has in her first 100 days failed to stand up for the people of Wales,” he argued.

Rhun ap Iorwerth, Plaid Cymru leader, said nothing had “fundamentally changed” in the last 100 days.

While he said the first ministers’ priorities were “admirable,” he added: “100 days in the truth is there’s no plan and no sign of a plan.”

Ap Iorwerth accused the first minister of failing to “move the dial” on funding for Wales, the winter fuel allowance and the two child benefit cap.

“I am afraid that what we have seen is Labour in Welsh government under the new first minister shifting into the mode of defending their masters at Westminster.”