Crisis sparks call for health minister to be sacked
PLAID Cymru is calling for Welsh Labour Health Minister Eluned Morgan to be sacked.
Following prominent issues in Betsi Cadwaladr health board and the ongoing NHS crisis, Plaid Cymru health spokesperson, Rhun ap Iorwerth, yesterday said Ms Morgan has “no authority” and that it’s up to the First Minister to bring in new leadership. He was speaking ahead of his speech to Plaid Cymru’s Spring Conference in Llanelli.
“The people of Wales have lost faith in the Health Minister,” said Mr ap Iorwerth. “Time and again, she’s evaded scrutiny and shifted blame onto others when challenged with the disastrous outcomes of her own policies. This is particularly true in the north. The patients and staff of Betsi Cadwaladr deserve better from their government. The least they deserve is an apology, but what we all need is the government to step up and take responsibility for this mess.”
“In a democracy, the authority to govern flows from the people. It’s clear Eluned Morgan no longer has that authority. If she’s not willing to take responsibility now, the First Minister should do the right thing on behalf of the people of Wales, and remove his Health Minister.”
Our sister website, WalesOnline, recently conducted an investigation into Welsh NHS waiting lists and found that thousands of people in Wales had died while waiting years for operations.
Mr ap Iorwerth added there was wider significance to the unwillingness on the Labour Minister’s part to accept responsibility: “We fought for devolution so we could design a politics that was different to the elitist politics of Westminster. Conservative ministers – and prime ministers – have been rightly derided for their shameful arrogance towards the public. But here we see Labour ministers also acting as if they are beyond reproach, shielded from scrutiny.
“Soon, the people of Ynys Mon will have a chance to give a verdict on both the Conservatives’ record and Labour’s actions. Electing a Plaid Cymru MP is the best way to turn our disillusionment into positive action for the people of Ynys Mon.”