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 non-Labour politician to hold the office.
Historic Election and Swearing-In Ceremony
Mr ap Iorwerth succeeds Baroness Eluned Morgan, who lost her seat in the Senedd election last week and subsequently resigned as Welsh Labour leader after a devastating set of results for the party. Following the vote in the Senedd, the Plaid Cymru leader was sworn in at the Welsh Government's headquarters in Cathays Park.
Speaking to reporters outside, Mr ap Iorwerth emphasised that his government will be "determined" in "seeking 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 in working constructively with the UK Government to get the best deal for Wales."
Core Messages and Government Priorities
He highlighted that standing up for Wales was a core message in the election, along with addressing key issues such as health, education, job creation, and childcare. Despite being the largest party, Plaid Cymru fell short of a majority in the Welsh Parliament election, securing 43 MSs out of a total 96.
Mr ap Iorwerth expressed his desire to form a minority government, stating: "I made it known that my wish was to be in a position where we could form a minority government. 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."
Reactions and Future Plans
In the Senedd on Tuesday, Dan Thomas, leader of Reform Wales, noted that there remains a "pro-union majority" in the Welsh Parliament. Mr ap Iorwerth, who has previously indicated he would make the case for Welsh independence while in government, told reporters: "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. I don't have limits on my ambition for Wales, as do other parties."
He also stated that speaking to Sir Keir Starmer would be a "priority" and that he wanted a conversation to "happen as early as possible." When asked if the Prime Minister should resign after 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."
