Rhun ap Iorwerth, the leader of Plaid Cymru, has been officially sworn in as the First Minister of Wales, declaring that there are no limits on his ambition for the nation. He was elected to the role by Members of the Senedd (MSs) on Tuesday, marking a historic moment as the first politician not from the Labour Party to hold this office.
Historic Transition of Power
Mr ap Iorwerth succeeds Baroness Eluned Morgan, who lost her seat in the Senedd election last week and subsequently stepped down as Welsh Labour leader following a devastating electoral performance for her party. The Plaid Cymru leader was sworn in at the Welsh Government headquarters in Cathays Park after the Senedd vote.
Speaking to reporters outside, Mr ap Iorwerth emphasised his government's determination to seek the best deal for Wales. He stated, "My loyalty in all my time as First Minister of Wales will be to the people of Wales, and I will endeavour in all I do to work constructively with the UK Government to get the best deal for Wales."
Priorities and Challenges
Despite being the largest party, Plaid Cymru fell short of a majority in the Welsh Parliament election, securing 43 out of 96 Senedd seats. Mr ap Iorwerth acknowledged this, expressing his preference for forming a minority government. He remarked, "We are in that position because of the very, very strong result that Plaid Cymru had in this election. I believe that, through that spirit of co-operation that I have spoken so regularly about, we can bring about that stability."
In the Senedd on Tuesday, Dan Thomas, leader of Reform Wales, pointed out that there remains a pro-union majority in the Welsh Parliament. Mr ap Iorwerth, who has previously indicated he would advocate for Welsh independence while in government, responded, "We have a pro-Wales message that I think has come through clearly in this election. People voted in greater numbers than ever before for a party that believes in the future of our nation, and yes, we have aspirations to genuinely unlock our potential."
Engagement with UK Government
Mr ap Iorwerth stated that speaking to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer would be a priority and expressed a desire for that conversation to happen "as early as possible." When asked whether the Prime Minister should resign following Labour's disastrous election result in Wales, Mr ap Iorwerth replied, "That's not a matter for me. My job now is to get to work immediately as the First Minister of Wales to build a better future for our nation."
The new First Minister underscored his commitment to addressing key issues such as health, education, job creation, and childcare, which were central to his party's election campaign. He concluded by reiterating his dedication to standing up for Wales and working tirelessly for its people.
