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Jonathan Morgan (politician)

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Jonathan Morgan
Morgan in 2023
Shadow Minister for Local Government
In office
26 November 2010 – 5 May 2011
LeaderNick Bourne
Preceded byDarren Millar
Succeeded byWilliam Graham
Shadow Minister for Health and Social Services
In office
7 July 2007 – 26 February 2009
LeaderNick Bourne
Preceded byHelen Mary Jones
Succeeded byAndrew RT Davies
Welsh Conservative Spokesperson
2003-2007Health and Social Care Spokesperson
2000-2003Culture Spokesperson
1999-2003Education Spokesperson
Member of the Welsh Assembly for Cardiff North
In office
3 May 2007 – 5 May 2011
Preceded bySue Essex
Succeeded byJulie Morgan
Member of the Welsh Assembly for South Wales Central
In office
6 May 1999 – 3 May 2007
Preceded byNew Assembly
Succeeded byAndrew R. T. Davies
Personal details
Born (1974-11-12) 12 November 1974 (age 50)
Tongwynlais, Cardiff, Wales
Political partyConservative 1991 - 2023 [citation needed]
SpouseMarried
ChildrenTwo daughters
Alma materCardiff University

Jonathan Morgan, (born 12 November 1974) is a Welsh Conservative politician, who served as a Conservative Assembly Member (AM) for South Wales Central from 1999 to 2007 and AM for Cardiff North from 2007 to 2011. In the National Assembly elections in 2011 he was beaten by Labour's candidate Julie Morgan, wife of former First Minister Rhodri Morgan. He is currently chair of Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board and Chairman of the Welsh NHS Confederation.

Background

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Born in Tongwynlais, Rural North Cardiff, Morgan is the grandson of Winston Griffiths, who stood down after many years as a councillor in Cardiff, while his mother and uncle were elected in 2004 to serve on the same local authority.

Educated at the Bishop of Llandaff Church in Wales High School, Cardiff. Morgan gained a Bachelor's degree in Law and Politics, and a MSc in European Policy from the University of Wales, Cardiff.

Before election to the Welsh Assembly, Morgan was European Officer for Coleg Glan Hafren.[1] Morgan is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He has also been a Governor at two Cardiff Schools, and a Pupil Barrister, at 9 Park Place from September 2004.[2]

He married his partner Emily in September 2006.[3]

Political career

[edit]

In 1997 Morgan stood as the Conservative UK Parliament candidate for Merthyr Tydfil, at age 22.

In the 1999 and 2003 National Assembly for Wales elections, Morgan was elected as a regional list member for the South Wales Central constituency.[4][5] He ran unsuccessfully for the Cardiff North constituency at both of these elections,[6][7] but reduced the Labour majority to 540 votes in 2003. In 2007 he was successfully elected as the constituency member for Cardiff North, with a majority of 4,844 votes. He lost the seat at the next election to Welsh Labour's Julie Morgan, wife of former First Minister Rhodri Morgan.[8] He also contested Cardiff North for the UK Parliament in the 2005 general election, but came second, again to Julie Morgan.

Pre-Assembly

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Morgan was in favour of devolution and the creation of the Welsh assembly. He said to observer in August 1997 'What the Labour Party is talking about is administrative devolution, not power to legislate. The Conservative Party has backed that sort of devolution, so to oppose it now would make it easier for Labour to accuse us of hypocrisy. The talk of devolution destroying the union is just scare tactics.'[9]

Morgan was the manager of Nick Bourne's campaign to be the first leader of the Welsh Conservatives.[10][11] Bourne was not selected by the Welsh Conservatives, with Rod Richards being selected as the leader to contest the first assembly elections. He also chaired Conservative Future in Wales - the Welsh Youth Branch of the Conservative Party.[12]

First Assembly

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Morgan contested both the Cardiff North constituency, and the South Wales Central region. He was not elected in Cardiff North, receiving 9,894 votes to Sue Essex (Welsh Labour)'s 12,198.[13] He was however elected on the regional list.[4] Upon his election, Morgan was the youngest member of the First Assembly, at 24 years old.[14][2][11]

Morgan served as the Welsh Conservative's Education Spokesperson during the first assembly term.[15] His portfolio was expanded to also include culture, including broadcasting,[16] media, and sport[17] in November 2000.[18] He also sat on the Assembly's European Affairs Committee.[19]

In his role as Culture spokesperson he was critical of the handling of a bid for Cardiff to be European City of Culture in 2008, particularly of disagreements between Culture Minister Jenny Randerson and Cardiff Council leader Russell Goodway.[20] He was supportive of the Construction of the new Wales Millennium Centre.[21]

As Education spokesperson he campaigned for an end to GCSE-level Welsh Language learning being compulsory in Welsh Schools,[22] and of efforts to prevent religious schools from set admissions quotas for their own religious community.[23] He was also critical of the re-introduction of university tuition fees by the Blair government,[24] and campaigned for and was supportive of their re-abolition in Wales, and of the Welsh Government's scrapping of league tables for school exam results.[25] He further criticised the functioning and operation of Education and Learning Wales (ELWA), the quango responsible for large parts of Education in Wales at the time.[26]

In February 2001 he was criticised by members of the Welsh Government for going on a skiing holiday in Salt Lake City to celebrate his engagement one week prior to the Assembly's half term recess. In the time he was not present, a number of matters pertaining to his portfolio were to be discussed, including the Wales Millennium Centre and discussions about broadcasting and television.[16]

Morgan supported Ken Clarke in the 2001 Conservative Party leadership election.[27][28]

Second Assembly

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Morgan once again contested both Cardiff North and the South Wales Central list in the 2003 Welsh Assembly election. He was once again elected on the list, but reduced Sue Essex's majority in Cardiff North to 504 votes.[7] He was appointed as the Welsh Tories Health and Social Services spokesperson, as well as being their business manager in the Assembly.[29][30] He ceased being business manager within the first year of the term, saying that the Health brief was too significant to manage both roles.[31]

In the Health role he was critical of issues with the Welsh NHS, including growing waiting lists. He opposed the introduction of free prescriptions, citing the cost of the policy.[32] He was critical of proposals from the Welsh Government to introduce 24-hour alcohol licenses for pubs, due to risks of increased binge drinking, and general health risks.[33]

Morgan also continued to be critical of the attitude of his party towards Wales, calling for his party to stop campaigning on the position of abolishing the Welsh Assembly - saying it would be perceived by the Welsh electorate as "a refusal to accept what they have decided."[34]

In 2006 Jonathan was named Assembly Member of the Year in the ITV Wales/Wales Yearbook political awards. Judges said his work as health spokesman was "substantive, well thought-out and overwhelmingly constructive".[citation needed]

Third Assembly

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Morgan did not contest the South Wales Central list at the 2007 Welsh Assembly elections,[35] as running for both a constituency and a regional list had been banned by the Government of Wales Act 2006.[36] He was elected as the AM for Cardiff North, with a majority of 4.844 votes, defeating Welsh Labour's Sophie Howe.[35][37] The Welsh Conservatives became the second largest party on creation of the One Wales government, and as such formed the Shadow Cabinet. Morgan retained his previous portfolio, becoming Shadow Minister for Health and Social Services.[38]

In 2008 Morgan became the first non-government AM to put forward a Legislative Competence Order (LCO) seeking powers for the Assembly over mental health.[39] In 2009, he introduced the Mental Health Measure, reforming mental health law in Wales.

In February 2009, Morgan was not included in Nick Bourne's new Shadow Frontbench team, being replaced in the Health and Social Services role by Andrew RT Davies.[40][41] He was reportedly offered the role of Shadow Education Minister, but turned it down.[42][40] He was instead nominated as chairman of the Assembly audit committee.[41] Bourne would later say that Morgan had been in the role "too long".[43] Morgan was widely noted to be the primary candidate to succeed Bourne at this time.[41][43]

As Chair of the Audit Committee, Morgan put forward proposals for reform to AM's expenses.[44] The move was regarded as an attack on Nick Bourne's leadership, after Bourne had been revealed to claim, among other things, an IPod on assembly expenses.[44][45]

Morgan also advocated for placing female Conservative candidates at the top of the party's regional list positions, as well as advocating for a devolved Welsh Conservative Party with its own leader.[46] He also criticised that regional list AMs had to seek re-selection at every Assembly election, whereas constituency AMs did not.[46]

In November 2010 he re-entered the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Minister for Local Government,[47] as well as the Chairmanship of the Welsh Assembly's health committee. Morgan's replacement as Shadow Health Minister Andrew RT Davies resigned shortly after.[48]

Morgan lost his seat at the 2011 Welsh Assembly election to Julie Morgan, by 1,782 votes.[49]

Post-Assembly

[edit]

He backed Nick Ramsay to replace Nick Bourne after Bourne also lost his seat at the 2011 elections.[50]

After losing his seat at the 2011 election, he established a consultancy business, consulting on how to influence the agenda of the Welsh Government.[51] Later that year, he was employed by the Royal College of Nursing to lobby for the Adult Support and Protection (Wales) Bill.[52]

In 2020, Morgan campaigned for selection as a Conservative candidate for the South Wales Central constituency in the 2021 Senedd Election, but was not shortlisted.[53][54] This decision was controversial, with Conservative MS for the South Wales East constituency Laura Anne Jones saying she was 'shocked and sorry' he was not selected, and Monmouthshire councillor Richard John saying "Anyone without an agenda would agree he has earned a place on the ballot paper."[55] Morgan said he was "bitterly disappointed" by his exclusion from the shortlist[54] Journalist Martin Shipton and outgoing MS David Melding later alleged that this was because Morgan said he would vote to keep the Senedd, and not abolish it.[56][57]

Morgan left the Conservative Party in 2023.[citation needed]

Post-political career

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Morgan was Head of the Association of Directors of Social Services Business Unit (2017–2020) and Chair of Hafod Housing Association (2020–2023).[58] He also Chaired the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee of the Public Services Ombudsman from 2016 to 2020, and sat on the Audit Risk and Assurance Committee for the first Future Generations Commissioner for Wales between 2017 and 2023[59]

In April 2023 Jonathan Morgan was appointed as Chair of Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board[60] for a period of 4 years. In 2024 he was appointed as Chair of the Welsh NHS Confederation, replacing Emma Woollett.[58]

Political views

[edit]

Devolution

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Morgan was a proponent of Welsh devolution during the 1997 Welsh devolution referendum campaign, though he was critical of the lack of legislative powers proposed for the new Assembly.[61][62] During his time in the Senedd he near-consistently advocated for the devolution of further powers.[63] However, he did oppose devolution of a few specific powers, including devolution of Housing, with regards to the right to buy council houses.[64] He further opposed, and campaigned against the inclusion of a referendum on scrapping the Assembly within the Conservatives' position.[65]

It has been widely alleged his exclusion from the Conservative party's South Wales Central shortlist was due to his support for devolution.[53][54][56][57]

The Welsh Conservative Party

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Morgan has supported greater autonomy for the Welsh Conservatives from the UK Conservative Party.[27][66] He has also supported the creation of a much more distinctly Welsh identity for the party.[63][67]

Europe

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Morgan has been supportive of the UK playing a much more active role in European Integration.[68] He urged conservative colleagues to not permanently rule out UK adoption of the Euro.[19]

References

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  1. ^ Richards, Huw (23 April 1999). "Assembly to poach college stalwarts". The Times Educational Supplement. p. 31 – via Nexis.
  2. ^ a b "UK: Wales: AMs: Jonathan Morgan". BBC. 1 September 1999. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  3. ^ Nifiled, Philip (19 July 2006). "It's Mwnt, Barry and Majorca for our politicians". South Wales Echo. p. 16 – via Nexis.
  4. ^ a b "BBC News | Elections | Wales 99 | Regions | South Wales Central". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  5. ^ "BBC NEWS | VOTE 2003". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  6. ^ "BBC News | Elections | Wales 99 | Constituencies | Cardiff North". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  7. ^ a b "BBC NEWS | VOTE 2003 | Cardiff North". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  8. ^ "BBC News - Election 2011 - Wales - Cardiff North". BBC News. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  9. ^ Heath, Tony (31 August 1997). "...and the welsh party fails to assembly a united front". The Observer. p. 18. Retrieved 2 December 2024 – via Nexis.
  10. ^ Walters, Brian (30 October 1998). "William's man on grass roots trail". South Wales Evening Post. p. 26. Retrieved 2 December 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ a b "People in the Assembly". BBC News. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  12. ^ "Mystery of book covering the film". South Wales Evening Post. 14 June 2000. p. 12 – via Nexis.
  13. ^ "BBC News | Elections | Wales 99 | Constituencies | Cardiff North". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  14. ^ Percival, Jenny (8 May 1999). "Labour wilts in the valleys as Plaid Cymru takes root". The Scotman. p. 9 – via Nexis.
  15. ^ "Bourne is given job". South Wales Evening Post. 14 May 1999. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ a b Hazlewood, Richard (10 February 2001). "AM misses assembly business for skiing trip". South Wales Echo. p. 2. Retrieved 2 December 2024 – via Nexis.
  17. ^ Nifield, Phillip (8 March 2001). "Assembly's pounds 500,000 for stadium matches". South Wales Echo. p. 9. Retrieved 2 December 2024 – via Nexis.
  18. ^ "High-flying Glyn left on the shelf". South Wales Evening Post. 2 November 2000. p. 10 – via Nexis.
  19. ^ a b Hazlewood, Richard (22 May 2002). "Tories urged not to rule out joining Euro". South Wales Echo. p. 18. Retrieved 2 December 2024 – via Nexis.
  20. ^ "Fraught relations 'hindering bid'". Western Mail. 7 February 2001. p. 2. Retrieved 2 December 2024 – via Nexis.
  21. ^ Hazlewood, Richard (4 April 2001). "Counting the cost of new arts centre". South Wales Echo. p. 17 – via Nexis.
  22. ^ "Tories pledge to give pupils a choice over studying Welsh". South Wales Echo. 21 May 2001. p. 4. Retrieved 2 December 2024 – via Nexis.
  23. ^ Hazlewood, Richard (16 December 2002). "POLITICALFOCUS: TORY AMS PLANNING TO DISRUPT LEGISLATION". South Wales Echo. p. 23.
  24. ^ Noah, Sherna (5 June 2001). "Blair urged to scrap tuition fees". Press Association. Retrieved 2 December 2024 – via Nexis.
  25. ^ Walters, Brian (24 July 2001). "School league tables must be kept - AM". South Wales Evening Post. p. 14. Retrieved 2 December 2024 – via Nexis.
  26. ^ Shipton, Martin; Barry, Sion (15 March 2003). "OPPOSITION PARTIES CALL FOR INQUIRY INTO CONTROVERSIAL ELWA CONTRACTS". Western Mail. p. 7.
  27. ^ a b Hazlewood, Richard (9 July 2001). "Broaden your appeal, AM urges tory chiefs". South Wales Echo. p. 15. Retrieved 2 December 2024 – via Nexis.
  28. ^ "Bourne seeks 'X factor' in leader". Wales Online. 22 October 2005. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  29. ^ "AM leaves Tory front bench to back more Assembly powers". Western Mail. 14 May 2003. Archived from the original on 23 July 2024. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  30. ^ "Tory breaks ranks on assembly power". BBC News. 14 May 2003. Archived from the original on 26 June 2024. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  31. ^ "NOW IN CHARGE OF THE HEALTH BRIEF". South Wales Echo. 11 November 2004. p. 39.
  32. ^ "Welsh Assembly defends free prescriptions". Chemist & Druggist. 23 July 2005. p. 6.
  33. ^ Bodden, Tom (31 August 2005). "Wales should call time on new drink law". Daily Post (North Wales). p. 21.
  34. ^ Nifield, Phillip (19 July 2005). "Accept the assembly, says tory". South Wales Echo. p. 4 – via Nexis.
  35. ^ a b Beacham, Rhiannon (4 May 2007). "Jonathan Morgan triumphs in Cardiff North". Press Association Newswire: Wales.
  36. ^ Shipton, Martin (9 December 2005). "Assembly could lose best politicians". Wales Online. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  37. ^ "BBC NEWS | Election 2007 | Welsh Assembly | Election Result: Cardiff North". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  38. ^ "Bourne names his front benchers". Western Mail. 5 June 2007. p. 5.
  39. ^ Williamson, David (19 February 2008). "Health order makes history at Senedd; First backbench request for the transfer of powers from London". Western Mail. p. 12.
  40. ^ a b "Two tories reject Bourne offers". BBC News. 27 February 2009. Archived from the original on 7 May 2024. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  41. ^ a b c Davies, Daniel (26 February 2009). "Morgan leaves tory frontbench in reshuffle". Press Association Newswire: Wales. Retrieved 2 December 2024 – via Nexis.
  42. ^ Davies, Daniel (27 February 2009). "Bourne disappointed to lose Morgan in re-shuffle". Press Association Newswire: Wales. Retrieved 2 December 2024 – via Nexis.
  43. ^ a b "Former Tory leader Rod Richards attacks Bourne over jibe that his party rival had been in shadow post 'too long'". The Times. 4 March 2009. pp. 4–5.
  44. ^ a b Williamson, David (29 May 2009). "Conservative AM Jonathan Morgan calls for checks on AMs' expenses". WalesOnline.
  45. ^ Williamson, David (29 May 2009). "'HERE'S HOW ASSEMBLY COULD BE CLEANED UP'". South Wales Echo. p. 6.
  46. ^ a b Shipton, Martin (29 August 2009). "Conservative Party 'must address lack of female AMs with positive discrimination'". The Western Mail. p. 10. Retrieved 2 December 2024 – via Nexis.
  47. ^ Davies, Daniel (26 November 2010). "Tories appoint Morgan to shadow cabinet". Press Association. Retrieved 2 December 2024 – via Nexis.
  48. ^ Williamson, David (30 November 2010). "Bourne shocked by shadow health minister's resignation". The Western Mail.
  49. ^ "BBC News - Election 2011 - Wales - Cardiff North". BBC News. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  50. ^ Wright, Benjamin (16 May 2011). "MILLAR RULES OUT BID FOR TORY CROWN". Press Association Newswire: Wales.
  51. ^ "Former AM sets up as advisory consultant". The Western Mail. 27 September 2011. p. 10.
  52. ^ "AMs back Bill for adults at risk". The Western Mail. 17 October 2011. p. 14.
  53. ^ a b "Tory election candidates quizzed on abolishing Senedd". BBC News. 12 December 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  54. ^ a b c Shipton, Martin (12 December 2020). "Ex-Tory AM excluded from list of potential Senedd candidates". The Western Mail. p. 18. Retrieved 2 December 2024 – via Pressreader.
  55. ^ John, Richard [@RichardJohnRJ] (10 December 2020). "Really sorry to see this 😢 Jonathan is one of the most talented Assembly Members we've ever had. Anyone without an agenda would agree he has earned a place on the ballot paper" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  56. ^ a b Shipton, Martin (5 April 2021). "Abolish bid serious as England is riding roughshod over Wales". The Western Mail. p. 21 – via Pressreader.
  57. ^ a b "Tory MS expresses 'puzzlement' at abolish the Senedd question in candidate selection process". Nation.Cymru. 12 December 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  58. ^ a b "Change is afoot at the helm of Welsh NHS Confederation". Western Telegraph. 30 April 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  59. ^ "Our Team". Future Generations Commissioner for Wales. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  60. ^ "Board Members". Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  61. ^ "Defeated MPs ring for a job!". South Wales Echo. 14 October 1997. p. 8. Retrieved 2 December 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  62. ^ Kitchen, Clare (19 August 1997). "Concern over cost raised at debate". South Wales Echo. p. 2. Retrieved 2 December 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  63. ^ a b Williamson, David (6 November 2009). "Pro-devolution tories scent victory with Cameron set to say yes to referendum". Western Mail. p. 6. Retrieved 2 December 2024 – via Nexis.
  64. ^ Williamson, David (25 February 2010). "Tories' stand on council homes raises fears for future". The Western Mail. p. 6. Retrieved 2 December 2024 – via Nexis.
  65. ^ "Call on tories to scrap abolition". Daily Post (North Wales). 19 July 2005. p. 7. Retrieved 2 December 2024 – via Nexis.
  66. ^ Hazlewood, Richard (10 October 2001). "Tory members told to adapt to change or die". South Wales Echo. p. 17. Retrieved 2 December 2024 – via Nexis.
  67. ^ Livingstone, Tomos (7 October 2010). "Real politik". The Western Mail. p. 27. Retrieved 2 December 2024 – via Nexis.
  68. ^ Hazlewood, Richard (20 March 2002). "Thatcher's views come under fire". South Wales Echo. p. 22. Retrieved 2 December 2024 – via Nexis.
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Offices held

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Senedd
Preceded by
(new post)
 Assembly Member for South Wales Central
1999 – 2007 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Assembly Member for Cardiff North
2007–2011 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
(new unofficial post)
 Baby of the House
1999–2003 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Shadow Minister for Health and Social Services
2007–2011 		Succeeded by
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