Country first, party second, pledges Eluned Morgan

First Minister Eluned Morgan says she volition "undoubtedly autumn out" with the UK Labour authorities arsenic she tries to realise her ain plans for Wales.

She told BBC Politics Wales that arsenic archetypal curate she would person a "country first, enactment second" approach.

Asked whether she would beryllium prepared to person hard conversations with her Labour colleagues successful Westminster erstwhile it comes to asking for much backing for Wales, Morgan said she would beryllium "standing up for Wales".

The predetermination of a Labour authorities successful some Cardiff and London has been heralded arsenic a "restart" successful the narration betwixt the Welsh and UK governments pursuing hostilities with the Conservatives.

Morgan said determination had already been a "transformation successful presumption of our narration with the UK government".

The caller archetypal curate has already made wide tackling agelong waiting lists successful the NHS would instrumentality precedence implicit fixing semipermanent problems successful the wellness service.

She told BBC Politics Wales her ambition would not beryllium realised earlier the adjacent Senedd predetermination successful 2026.

However, she said she would effort to shingle things up by putting much unit connected well-paid NHS bosses to present and would bring successful a sheet of experts to item bully signifier and "shine a light" connected mediocre performance.

"Let's beryllium clear, we are not going to hole the NHS successful the adjacent 20 months," she said.

Morgan added "the things that substance astir to people, similar the longest waiters," volition beryllium brought down.

She said she wanted improvements to beryllium "faster" and to marque definite "people are focused connected delivery".

"I deliberation it's important that we enactment the unit connected those radical who are managing the NHS, who are paid important sums of money.

"The main executives of our wellness boards are paid a 4th of a cardinal pounds a year.

"Let's get them to beryllium much accountable for the wealth that the taxpayers are giving them."

She added: "There are examples wherever radical person truly brought down these numbers successful immoderate places and successful others they are simply not delivering the mode they should."

The NHS Confederation, which represents the wellness service, has been asked to comment.

Morgan talked a batch astir "delivery" and focusing connected the people's priorities, namely the NHS.

However, it is inevitable that prioritising backing and resources to 1 occupation means different nationalist services suffer out.

She said the nationalist would person to hold until she speaks successful the Senedd connected Tuesday to get a afloat representation of her plans for government.

However, she implied immoderate of those decisions could beryllium challenging.

And portion she would not beryllium drawn connected whether acquisition oregon the system would suffer retired nether her plans, determination was an accusation enactment connected clime alteration whitethorn beryllium scaled back.

In a week that supra inflation nationalist assemblage wage deals were announced for teachers, doctors and others, Morgan seemed to suggest simply paying workers much would pb to amended productivity.

She has a estimation for robust conversations, and she is hoping by confronting the problems successful the wellness work and different areas caput on, that she volition beryllium capable to crook the tide connected her party's popularity.

In May 2026, the Welsh nationalist volition spell to the polls successful the Senedd elections and existent projections spot Welsh Labour battling to clasp connected to their steadfast grip connected powerfulness successful Cardiff Bay.

Morgan's governmental calculation is that she needs to people her finite resources connected the issues that person the top governmental impact.

And to bash that she volition effort to tally the Welsh authorities much similar a business, with a absorption connected transportation and performance.

But, arsenic experts person warned it is improbable she volition win successful transforming the fortunes of the wellness work successful the clip she has, it is simply a immense governmental gamble.

Welsh Labour are hopeful that having their "Labour family" successful powerfulness successful Westminster volition marque that gamble easier to achieve.

But she said she would not fto her governmental allegiances get successful the mode of asking the premier curate and the chancellor for much funding.

She said she would "absolutely" enactment "country first, enactment second".

"There volition beryllium times erstwhile undoubtedly we volition autumn out.

"But we volition effort and bash that politely and cordially.

"I person to archer you that, truthful far, that narration is truly positive.

"There’s been a translation successful presumption of our narration with the UK government."

As UK Labour prepares for its enactment league this coming week, Welsh Labour volition beryllium pressing upon its colleagues that their show successful the Senedd elections volition beryllium a cardinal trial of Sir Keir Starmer's word successful office.

But the question is whether that governmental unit volition beryllium capable to crook connected the Treasury's taps.