Latest news with #ElunedMorganMS
ITV News
08-07-2025
- Politics
- ITV News
Labour taking Reform threat in Wales ‘seriously', says Eluned Morgan
Welsh Labour is taking the threat of Reform UK 'very seriously', the First Minister has said as polling suggests Nigel Farage's party could come first in Senedd elections next year. Eluned Morgan MS told Sky News voters in Wales needed to understand Reform as a 'threat', warning that 'things that they're used to' such as free prescriptions and free school meals for primary school children 'could be snatched away'. She said: 'We're taking it very seriously, and we think the threat from Reform is a very serious threat.' Her interview comes as polling by More In Common on behalf of Sky News found 28% of people in Wales would back Reform at the Senedd elections in 2026, putting the party in first place. Mr Farage's party is targeting the Senedd as it looks to build on its success at the English local elections earlier this year, and unveiled former Wales secretary David Jones as another ex-Tory defector on Monday as part of its push. The poll, published on Tuesday, showed Plaid Cymru in second place on 26% and Labour in third place on 23%, before a long drop to the Conservatives on 10% and the Liberal Democrats on 7%. If the results were replicated next year, it could mean the end of Labour's 26 years of domination in Wales, where it has held power since devolution. Ms Morgan acknowledged there was 'a possibility' that Reform could become the largest party in the Senedd, saying it was 'really concerning', but added it would be 'difficult for them to rule by themselves'. But she ruled out entering a coalition with the party, saying: 'I wouldn't touch Reform with a bargepole.' The First Minister also insisted that Labour would be able to win voters back by being 'authentic' and 'clear with people about what we stand for', rather than trying to 'out-Reform Reform'. She said: 'I think we've got to lead with our values. We're about bringing communities together, not dividing them, and I do think that what Reform is interested in is dividing people and people do need to make choices on things like that. 'So, what I won't be doing in Wales is chasing Reform down a path where we can try and out-Reform Reform. I'm not interested in that, because those aren't my values."
Leader Live
22-06-2025
- Business
- Leader Live
First Minister Eluned Morgan visits Wrexham University
Eluned Morgan MS toured the Enterprise Engineering and Optics Centre (EEOC) during her visit to the campus, meeting students and staff and learning more about the university's ambitions under its recently launched 2030 Vision and Strategy. The EEOC, which is expected to be completed soon, is the first construction project under the North Wales Growth Deal. Professor Joe Yates, vice-chancellor of Wrexham University, said: "We were delighted to welcome the First Minister to the University today and proudly showcase our incredible facilities – in particular, our Enterprise Engineering and Optics Centre, which is due to open at the start of the next academic year in September, as well as our cutting-edge Health Simulation Centre. "The visit also provided us with a welcome opportunity to highlight our newly launched 2030 Vision and Strategy, and also shine a light on how higher education institutions have a crucial role to play in helping to shape a more resilient and prosperous Wales. READ MORE: Celebrate the class of 2025 with your prom photos "Our work in building skills but also strengthening and developing a bilingual public sector workforce in North Wales, and our civic mission, in terms of providing systems leadership, demonstrates the positive impact our institution has on the communities we serve. "Thank you to the First Minister for her time and engagement with us today – it was a pleasure to welcome her, and showcase just some of our fantastic work." The First Minister toured the EEOC, which will serve as a centre for industry collaboration, research, and innovation, with the aim of supporting growth in renewables and manufacturing. Her visit came days before International Women in Engineering Day on June 23. During the tour, Ms Morgan spoke with Selina Thomas, a final-year aeronautical and mechanical engineering student, who shared her work with KnitMesh Technologies. She has been investigating the impact strength of composite materials for the North Wales-based company. The First Minister also visited the university's Health Simulation Centre, which provides immersive training environments for healthcare students and professionals. Staff highlighted the university's role in strengthening the public sector workforce in North Wales, with a focus on Welsh language provision. Since launching its Welsh Language Academic Strategy and Action Plan, 'Cyfle,' nearly three years ago, the university has introduced Welsh language modules across several degree programmes. These include speech and language therapy, professional policing, and education. Ms Morgan was also updated on the next phase of development within the university's Health and Education Innovation Quarter (HEIQ). This phase will introduce new teaching facilities, including virtual and augmented reality environments. It will also feature a new teaching and learning lab and a hydra simulation suite, developed in partnership with the Hydra Foundation. The suite will be designed to help students build decision-making skills by simulating emergency scenarios. Ms Morgan said: "I was pleased to see first-hand the facilities at Wrexham University, especially the EEOC, which will soon become a vital hub for industry collaboration and skills development across North Wales. "Through their civic work, our higher education institutions can serve as powerful anchors in their communities, supporting business and unlocking collective action to tackle inequality while preparing students for the jobs of tomorrow."
Business News Wales
21-06-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
First Minister Visits Wrexham University to Tour Trail-Blazing Facilities and Discuss Civic Impact
First Minister of Wales Eluned Morgan MS paid a visit to Wrexham University to view some of the institution's ground-breaking facilities, including the soon-to-be complete Enterprise Engineering and Optics Centre (EEOC) building – North Wales Growth Deal's first construction project. The First Minister met students and staff from a range of subject areas to hear all about the university's newly launched 2030 Vision and Strategy and its overarching ambition to become a world-leading, modern civic university. During the visit, the First Minister toured the trail-blazing EEOC development, which will become a specialist centre for industry engagement, research, and innovation, and will provide North Wales with a centre for collaboration and skills development in sustainability, renewables, and high value manufacturing. The First Minister's tour of the EEOC came just days before International Women in Engineering Day. She spent time speaking with Selina Thomas, a final-year Aeronautical and Mechanical Engineering student, who highlighted her work in supporting North Wales-based firm KnitMesh Technologies by investigating the impact strength of composites. She was also given the opportunity to view the university's Health Simulation Centre, where staff highlighted the institution's work in strengthening and developing the public sector workforce in North Wales, with Welsh language provision at the core of that. The First Minister heard how since launching 'Cyfle', the institution's Welsh Language Academic Strategy and Action Plan just under three years ago, Welsh language modules have been introduced to a number of degree courses including Speech and Language Therapy, Professional Policing, Education and more. Staff also updated the First Minister on progress relating to current works taking place on campus on the next phase of enhancing the University's Health and Education Innovation Quarter (HEIQ). She heard how the next phase will take the university's facilities to even further heights – ensuring that industry-leading technology is available to students' by creating a new immersive teaching environment, which will allow for a combination of both virtual and augmented reality. It will also include a Teaching and Learning Lab and a Hydrasimulation Suite – which is being developed in conjunction with the Hydra Foundation – that will help students with their critical decision-making skills, through simulation of emergency situations. The visit concluded with a positive discussion on the university's Civic Mission work, with a focus on how the institution is at the forefront of driving systemic change in the region through connecting partner organisations, sharing knowledge and unlocking collective action, all with the aim of helping to put an end to social inequality across North Wales by 2030. Professor Joe Yates, Vice-Chancellor of Wrexham University, said: 'We were delighted to welcome the First Minister to the university and proudly showcase our incredible facilities – in particular, our Enterprise Engineering and Optics Centre, which is due to open at the start of the next academic year in September, as well as our cutting-edge Health Simulation Centre. 'The visit also provided us with a welcome opportunity to highlight our newly launched 2030 Vision and Strategy, and also shine a light on how higher education institutions have a crucial role to play in helping to shape a more resilient and prosperous Wales. Our work in building skills but also strengthening and developing a bilingual public sector workforce in North Wales, and our Civic Mission, in terms of providing systems leadership, demonstrates the positive impact our institution has on the communities we serve. 'Thank you to the First Minister for her time and engagement with us – it was a pleasure to welcome her, and showcase just some of our fantastic work.' First Minister Eluned Morgan MS added: 'I was pleased to see first-hand the facilities at Wrexham University, especially the EEOC, which will soon become a vital hub for industry collaboration and skills development across North Wales. 'Through their civic work, our higher education institutions can serve as powerful anchors in their communities, supporting business and unlocking collective action to tackle inequality while preparing students for the jobs of tomorrow.'
