One year into her leadership, Eluned Morgan under pressure has become a defining theme. Wales’ first female First Minister admits feeling the strain as polls suggest Labour could lose its century-long dominance in the Senedd. Since taking office in August 2023, Eluned Morgan under pressure has faced NHS backlogs, political infighting, and a skeptical public. Recent data shows two-year hospital waits rose by 6.5% in July, with Morgan conceding she’s “pulling [her] hair out” over north Wales’ Betsi Cadwaladr health board.
Therefore, her predecessor Vaughan Gething’s scandal-plagued exit left scars. Morgan, installed unopposed, inherited a party bruised by internal divisions. “I hated the briefing against colleagues,” she said, vowing to focus on “what matters to voters, not internal nonsense.” May’s “Red Welsh Way” speech marked a turning point. Moreover, Morgan openly criticized Starmer’s government, demanding fairer funding. While she claims relations have improved since, opposition leaders accuse her of failing to stand up for Wales.
“She promised strong leadership but delivers drift,” said Reform’s Senedd team. Plaid Cymru’s Heledd Fychan cited “record failure” on NHS waits and education. Even Liberal Democrat Jane Dodds, praising Morgan’s milestone as first woman leader, said she “hasn’t challenged Starmer enough.” With polls showing Labour’s lead shrinking, Morgan knows the stakes. “Every election gets harder,” she admitted, citing her “historic responsibility” as both leader and trailblazer. Her strategy? Remind voters of Labour’s legacy: free prescriptions, school meals, and bus passes.
Yet, critics see empty promises. The Welsh Conservatives’ Darren Millar slammed “the same old problems,” from 20mph speed limits to a controversial £120m Senedd expansion. Morgan insists her team is “all over” NHS delays, outsourcing some treatments and opening new clinics. She defends slow candidate selections as “due diligence,” not dithering.
But with May’s election looming, Eluned Morgan under pressure must convert words into results. “I knew it’d be tough,” she said. The question is whether Wales still believes she’s the solution.
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