The second Rhodri Morgan government (2003–2007) was a
Labour government in
Wales
Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...
.
Having won 30 out of the 60 seats available in the
2003 general election and with the non-voting
Presiding Officer and Deputy both coming from the opposition, the Labour party were able to form a majority government with 30 seats to the opposition's 28 with
Rhodri Morgan
Hywel Rhodri Morgan (29 September 1939 – 17 May 2017) was a Welsh Labour politician who was the First Minister of Wales and the Leader of Welsh Labour from 2000 to 2009. He was also the Senedd, Assembly Member for Cardiff West (Senedd constitu ...
continuing as
First Minister
A first minister is any of a variety of leaders of government cabinets. The term literally has the same meaning as "prime minister" but is typically chosen to distinguish the office-holder from a superior prime minister. Currently the title of ' ...
.
This majority continued until
Peter Law
Peter John Law (1 April 1948 – 25 April 2006) was a Welsh politician. For most of his career Law sat as a Labour councillor and subsequently Labour Co-operative Assembly member (AM) for Blaenau Gwent. Latterly he sat as an independent memb ...
left Labour in 2005 to sit as an independent on the opposition benches, giving the government 29 and the opposition (excluding the Presiding Officer and Deputy) 29.
Two members of the National Assembly were elected to the UK Parliament at the
2005 UK general election (
David Davies and
Peter Law
Peter John Law (1 April 1948 – 25 April 2006) was a Welsh politician. For most of his career Law sat as a Labour councillor and subsequently Labour Co-operative Assembly member (AM) for Blaenau Gwent. Latterly he sat as an independent memb ...
) reducing the collective strength of the opposition for day-to-day business. The final budget of this Assembly term passed following an agreement with Plaid during which their 11 voting members abstained.
Cabinet
Junior ministers
September 2005 Re-shuffle
Following a mid-term re-shuffle in September 2005
Jane Hutt
Jane Elizabeth Hutt (born 15 December 1949) is a Welsh Labour politician serving as Welsh Government Chief Whip since 2023, Trefnydd of the Senedd since March 2024 and Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice since July 2024. She has served as ...
was removed from her post as Health and Social Care Minister after controversy over long waiting lists and criticism from AMs
to
Minister for Assembly Business
The , or Leader of the House in English, and formerly Minister for Assembly Business, is a member of the Cabinet in the Welsh Government, who manages the government's business in the Senedd (the Welsh Parliament; ; formerly the ''National As ...
along with the additional responsibilities of Equalities & Children.
Karen Sinclair
Karen Sinclair (born 20 November 1952) is a Welsh Labour politician, who represented the constituency of Clwyd South from when the National Assembly for Wales was established in 1999, until she stood down, in 2011. Born and brought up in Wrexh ...
remained as
Chief Whip
The Chief Whip is a political leader whose task is to enforce the whipping system, which aims to ensure that legislators who are members of a political party attend and vote on legislation as the party leadership prescribes.
United Kingdom
I ...
to the Labour party allowing her to stay in the cabinet as an observer.
Further changes were the promotion of
Brian Gibbons from a junior minister to Minister for Health & Social Care, along with the promotion of
Tamsin Dunwoody
Moyra Tamsin Dunwoody (born 3 September 1958), sometimes known as Tamsin Dunwoody-Kneafsey, is a British Labour politician who served as the Member of the National Assembly for Wales for Preseli Pembrokeshire from 2003 to 2007. She served in t ...
&
Christine Chapman
Christine Chapman (born 7 April 1956) is a Welsh Labour Co-operative politician who was a Member of the National Assembly for Wales for Cynon Valley from 1999 to 2016.
Chapman has not held senior government posts and has been described in the ...
to Deputy Ministers and a few minor changes to existing members roles.
Cabinet
Junior ministers
See also
*
List of Welsh Assembly Governments
*
2003 National Assembly for Wales election
The 2003 National Assembly for Wales election was the second general election to the National Assembly for Wales. It was held on 1 May 2003. The election was characterised by a resurgence for the Labour Party, whilst Plaid Cymru saw a reduc ...
*
Members of the 2nd National Assembly for Wales
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Morgan ministry, 02
Welsh governments
Ministries of Elizabeth II
2003 establishments in Wales
2007 disestablishments in Wales
Cabinets established in 2003
Cabinets disestablished in 2007