First Morgan government

The first Morgan government was formed on 16 October 2000[1] 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.

First Morgan government
3rd devolved government of Wales
2000–2003
Date formed	16 October 2000
Date dissolved	1 May 2003
People and organisations
Monarch	Elizabeth II
First Minister	Rhodri Morgan
Deputy First Minister	Michael German (2000-2001), (2002-2003) Acting Deputy First Minister: Jenny Randerson (2002-2003)
Member parties	Labour   Liberal Democrats
Status in legislature	Majority (coalition) 34 / 60 (57%)
Opposition party	Plaid Cymru
Opposition leader	Ieuan Wyn Jones
History
Outgoing election	2003 general election
Legislature term(s)	1st National Assembly for Wales
Predecessor	Interim Morgan Government
Successor	Second Morgan government

Background

Rhodri Morgan became First Secretary of Wales on 15 February 2000,[2] 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.[3]

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”.[4]

The six Liberal Democrat seats was an attractive offer to Labour and following a special conference by both parties a coalition was agreed upon.

A new coalition government (officially referred to as the Coalition Partnership) 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

Office	Name		Term	Party
First Minister		Rhodri Morgan	2000–2003	Labour
Deputy First Minister Minister for Economic Development		Michael German	2000–2003	Liberal Democrats
Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development		Carwyn Jones	2000–2003	Labour
Minister for Assembly Business		Andrew Davies	2000–2003	Labour
Minister for Culture		Jenny Randerson	2000–2003	Liberal Democrats
Minister for Education		Jane Davidson	2000–2003	Labour
Minister for Environment, Transport and Planning		Sue Essex	2000–2003	Labour
Minister for Finance and Local Government		Edwina Hart	2000–2003	Labour
Minister for Health & Social Care		Jane Hutt	2000–2003	Labour
Office holders given special provisions to attend Cabinet
Chief Whip		Karen Sinclair	2000–2003	Labour

Changes:

• Andrew Davies, Minister for Economic Development and Transport from 2002.
• Carwyn Jones, Minister for Assembly Business from 2002-03 in addition to the agriculture portfolio.
• Jenny Randerson, Acting Deputy First Minister from July 2001 to June 2002 in addition to the culture portfolio.
• Michael German, Deputy First Minister and Minister for Rural Affairs and Wales Abroad June 2002 to May 2003.

Junior ministers

Deputy Ministers prior to the enactment of the Government of Wales Act 2006 (enactment and legal separation takes place on appointment of the First Minister, post-May 2007) 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.

Office	Name		Term	Party
Deputy Minister for Economic Development		Alun Pugh	2000–2003	Labour
Deputy Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning		Huw Lewis	2000–2003	Labour
Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services		Brian Gibbons	2000–2003	Labour
Deputy Minister for Local Government		Peter Black	2000–2003	Liberal Democrats
Deputy Minister for Rural Affairs, Culture and the Environment		Delyth Evans	2000–2003	Labour

References

1. Wintour, Patrick (2000-10-06). "Surprise Lib-Lab coalition in Wales". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2018-12-19.
2. "The National Assembly for Wales (The Official Record)" (PDF). Senedd. Senedd Cymru. p. 3. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
3. "Labour seeking Welsh partner". BBC Wales. 7 May 1999. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
4. "Welsh cabinet member resigns". The Times. 10 October 2000. Retrieved 13 December 2018.