FM's summer listening tour accused of being a PR stunt
The Welsh government has defended the first minister's summer “listening exercise” after it was accused by Plaid Cymru of being a public relations “stunt”.
Eluned Morgan has said that she spent the weeks following her appointment as first minister to listen the concerns of voters.
But she has declined to answer questions from Plaid Cymru about what the aims and objectives of the exercise were and how it would be evaluated.
The Welsh government said the first minister said her discussions will "be used to help her set the Welsh government's priorities", to be announced at the start of the Senedd term.
Ms Morgan told the BBC podcast Newscast last week that she spent the summer “getting out, listening to what people have to say all over Wales, getting a really unfiltered view of what they think we should be doing”.
“Part of the problem of being in power for so long as Labour has in Wales – 25 years governing Wales – is how do you reinvent yourself while you’re in office? For me the important thing is to make sure that you reflect on the priorities of the public.”
She listed challenges in the NHS and 20mph as things that had been brought up, admitting the way the 20mph zones had been brought in had caused problems.
Videos posted by the Welsh government to social media network X have showed Eluned Morgan speaking to the public in Ebbw Vale, Merthyr Tydfil and parts of North Wales. Welsh Labour has also run an online questionnaire.
But Ms Morgan's exercise - which Nation.Cymru has reported had no scheduled events - has raised questions from opposition parties about how it would work, and its substance.
'Priorities'
In August Plaid Cymru’s Rhun ap Iorwerth used a written question to ask what the aims and objectives were for the exercise, how it would be evaluated against them and how the data would be collected.
Ms Morgan declined to respond to the points, instead referring him him to a previous answer on the topic given to Conservative Sam Rowlands, who asked what form the exercise would take.
The answer said: “I am hearing about the issues that are important to people as part of my visits and engagements across Wales throughout the summer which will help me to shape the priorities and focus of the government to deliver for the people of Wales.”
Mr ap Iorwerth said: “Much like many Labour Welsh government ambitions, the first minister’s ‘listening exercise’ has no measurable outcomes or evaluation process.
“It has proved to be little more than a PR stunt to try and curry favour with the public after months of Labour infighting. What was really required this summer was a government getting to work to address the significant challenges facing our economy and public services.”
A Welsh government spokesman said: "Throughout the summer, the first minister has been to communities across Wales to listen to local people talking about their hopes and concerns.
“It has also given people the chance to speak directly to the first minister and offer their spontaneous and unfiltered opinions about what really matters to them.
“The first minister was keen that the conversations were not orchestrated and they will be used to help her set the Welsh government’s priorities. They will be announced at the start of the new Senedd term.”
Ms Morgan became first minister following the resignation of Vaughan Gething, who at the weekend announced he would be stepping down from the Senedd in 2026.
He said he would not seek a ministerial job under the new Welsh Labour leader. Ms Morgan is expected to announce her full cabinet soon.
