MS says new First Minister must listen

Montgomeryshire's Senedd Member, Russell George, has said the new First Minister of Wales announced today must listen to the people of the area.

Labour MS, Eluned Morgan, who represents the Mid and West Wales regional seat, was elected to the top job by Welsh Parliament members today following the resignation of Vaughan Gethin.

Conservative Mr George congratulated her but said he hoped her attitude would be different to her predecessors.

“I congratulate Eluned Morgan on her election as First Minister of Wales," he said.

"Eluned Morgan will need to focus on getting NHS waiting times down, which are currently the longest in the UK, but having been the cabinet secretary who has presided over the NHS, I worry about this priority.

"The new First Minister will need to also improve education standards, improve the economy and take-home pay in Wales. Trust also needs to be re-built with farmers and rural communities.

"But above all, my hopes for the new First Minister are that she will have a different attitude and a different approach to past Welsh Governments and First Ministers.

"We need an end to the ‘Do as I say’ and ‘I know best’ attitude. Our new First Minister needs to listen to the views of people from across Wales and understand the different needs of rural and Mid Wales.”