First Morgan government


The First Morgan government was formed on 5 October 2000 by Rhodri Morgan and a was a coalition government with the Liberal Democrats, it was officially referred to as the 'Coalition Partnership'. It was proceeded by the Interim Morgan Government, a Labour minority government headed by Rhodri Morgan between February and October 2000.

Background

Rhodri Morgan became First Secetary of Wales on 9 February 1999, between February and October 2000 and headed up a minority government with 28 of the Assembly's 60 seats. The unstable nature of the then minority government was of concern and was always viewed as temporary and Labour had mooted looking for a coalition partner following their persevered poor showing in the 1999 election.
Developments quickly occurred during the autumn of 2000 culminating in Tom Middlehurst resigning as Secretary for post-16 education on 9 October claiming he could not “contemplate sitting down at the Cabinet table with the Liberal Democrats”.
The six Liberal Democrat seats was an attractive offer to Labour and following a special conference by both parties a coalition was areed upon.
A new coalition government was officially announced on 5 October 2000 with policy details emerging the day later. Cabinet Ministers were then appointed on 16 October and Deputies on 17 October. That government lasted until the 2003 election.

Cabinet

Changes:

Junior ministers

Deputy Ministers prior to the enactment of the Government of Wales Act 2006 are not officially part of the Government, and not in Cabinet. From May 2007, Deputy Welsh Ministers are part of the Welsh Assembly Government, but not in Cabinet.