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Health secretary Eluned Morgan has announced she will be standing to be the new First Minister of Wales, and leader of Welsh Labour.

It comes after First Minister Vaughan Gething was forced to stand down just four months into the job, amid controversy over his campaign donations, a controversial ministerial sacking, and a lost confidence vote in the Senedd.

Baroness Morgan, who represents the Mid and West Wales region in the Senedd, could be appointed to the top job as soon as Wednesday, providing none of her Welsh Labour colleagues launch leadership tilts of their own.

Jeremy Miles, who was beaten to the leadership by Mr Gething in March, had been tipped to stand again following his resignation from the cabinet, but instead threw his support behind Baroness Morgan.

A former Member of European Parliament, Baroness Morgan would make history in becoming the first woman to serve as First Minister of Wales.

She previously campaigned for the party leadership in 2018, where she and Mr Gething were beaten by Mark Drakeford, who held the job until he stood down earlier this year.

Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney MS Dawn Bowden, who currently serves as minister for social care, is among a number of MSs to have voiced support for Baroness Morgan, alongside Caerphilly MS Hefin David.

Climate change and rural affairs secretary Huw Irranca-Davies, who represents the Ogmore constituency, would serve as deputy First Minister under Baroness Morgan’s leadership.

‘Political paralysis’

Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies called on the Senedd to be recalled from its summer recess in the event of Baroness Morgan becoming First Minister.

He hit out at her record as health minister, and said: “Wales has faced political paralysis and Labour infighting for too long, we need certainty and we need it fast.”

He added: “Wales should not be without a functioning government for months over the summer.”

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth accused Welsh Labour’s focus of being “squarely on party management rather than on a change of direction for Wales”.

He too hit out at Baroness Morgan’s record on the NHS, and said she would “prioritise healing Labour’s wounds rather than renewing the government’s sense of purpose”.