ELUNED MORGAN promised in an exclusive interview with the Morning Star yesterday that her government would deliver a positive change to people’s lives.

The First Minister insisted that the feedback she had received from the people of Wales this summer was to concentrate her government’s efforts on four priorities.

“They told me it's the health service, growing the economy, connecting communities and ensuring opportunities for all,” she said.

As part of that focus, Ms Morgan told the chairs of the Senedd’s scrutiny committee yesterday morning that the Welsh government would more often say no to the recommendations they make in their reports.

“It's about recognising you’ve only got a limited pot of money and a limited number of people to do things,” Ms Morgan said.

“Every time you ask to do other things, your ability to deliver on the things that are most important is watered down.”

The First Minister also had a blunt message to civil servants: “Don’t give me a new strategy until you’ve delivered on the last one.”

Ms Morgan said that the whole government machinery is now geared to delivery and this week’s budget was also directed towards the people’s priorities.

She claimed that she has repeatedly told Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to cough up the consequential financing for the England-only High-Speed 2 (HS2) rail project.

In a nod to the “clear red water” between the government of then first minister Rhodri Morgan and Tony Blair, she said: “I never want to go into somewhere spoiling for a fight, but I will make sure that I stand up for my country and will fight for HS2 money.

“I’m not going to be constantly explaining what the UK government is doing, because that is not my role. 


“My role is to be accountable for what happens here in Wales.”

The First Minister expressed confidence that concentrating on delivery would make a material difference to people’s lives and would help combat Reform UK, which has targeted the 2026 Senedd election. 

She told the Morning Star that the capital spending budget for building and infrastructure had received a huge injection of money.

“It’s been about cuts for years and now it’s going to be about growth,” she added.

“Last year, we had £1 million for the whole of government and now we’re talking about over £230 million, which is a staggering difference.”