Rhodri Morgan: A Political Life in Wales and Westminster

2017 | Biography

This is an entertaining and candid account of the sometimes turbulent political life of Rhodri Morgan. The former First Minister of Wales and Welsh Labour leader gives new insight into the early influences that led him to Westminster - but not necessarily to the opportunities and ministerial posts he had hoped to find there! He recounts his relationship with Tony Blair and those running the 'New Labour' project, and the party establishment's campaign to prevent him becoming Labour leader in Wales, despite being the choice of party members and union members. In his own words, he details the two leadership contests he fought and how 'the people's choice' eventually prevailed. He also offers insight to the workings of the Welsh Government, to the challenges of dealing with coalition government arrangements, and to how the stress of trying to sell one of those coalition agreements to party members landed him in hospital having heart surgery.

With plenty to appeal to both political anoraks and the general public alike, this fast-paced and highly amusing inside story of the decade leading up to the creation of the Welsh Assembly and the first ten years of that institution's history will surely delight anyone interested in Wales and Welsh politics.

Rhodri Morgan (Author)