First Minister honored

Sir Emyr Jones Parry presents the Rt Hon Rhodri Morgan, First Minister of Wales as an Honorary Fellow of Aberystwyth University.

Anrhydeddus Is-Ganghellor,

It is my particular pleasure this afternoon to introduce and for the university to recognise a true and distinguished son of Wales, the Rt. Hon. Rhodri Morgan.

Rhodri comes from an eminent academic family, and indeed has an impressive personal academic performance as a graduate of the universities of Oxford and Harvard. I am not sure that his family has quite forgiven him for forsaking academia and turning to politics.

Indeed I am sure that it crossed his mind at certain moments in his political career that an academic life had many attractions. He has modestly been heard to wonder whether political life deserves the enduring recognition due a true academic, despite his being First Minister of Wales and entitled to have the car number TAFF 1.

The award of a fellowship is the University's conviction that his magnificent contribution to Welsh public life will be long remembered after he steps down in due course.

Mae Rhodri Morgan yn llawn haeddu'r fraint o fod yn Gymrawd ym Mhrifysgol Aberystwyth.

After spells with the Workers Education Association and in local government, Rhodri Morgan became Head of the European Commission Office in Wales in 1980. He maintains a close interest in European affairs. In 1987 he was elected to parliament as the Labour MP for Cardiff West where he remained until 2001. He was Chair of the House of Commons Select Committee on Public Administration (1997-1999), and before that, a Front Bench Spokesman for nine years. ac wedyn daeth Tony Blair yn Brif Weinidog.

Rhodri’s particular love was Wales, and as devolution arrived, he opted to become a member of the Welsh National Assembly. Elected as the assembly member for Cardiff West in 1999, he was promptly appointed as the Assembly Secretary for Economic Development and European affairs.

You may recall a certain amount of confusion and uncertainty in the early days of devolution to Wales. O Rif  10, Stryd Downing, daeth ymdrechion i ddylanwadu, yn ormodol braidd, ar faterion mewnol y Blaid Lafur yng Nghymru; sydd bob amser yn rhywbeth dewr iawn i’w geisio gwneud.

Stability and leadership were introduced in February 2000 when Rhodri Morgan became the First Secretary of the National Assembly. In May 2007, he was transformed into the first, First Minister of Wales, as the Government of Wales Act 2006 created the Welsh Assembly Government, answerable to the National Assembly for Wales. Mae’n Prif Weinidog Cymru, which always sounds even more impressive in Welsh– Prime Minister and First Minister are equally translated as Prif Weinidog.

Devolution in Wales is now firmly established and accepted. Polls consistently show some 72% of the Welsh people support the present arrangements or greater powers for the Assembly. Why?

Bu Rhodri Morgan yno yn y dechreuad, y mae yno nawr, ac fe fydd ei ddylanwad yn parhau.

Much credit is due to Rhodri Morgan. He has genuinely led his Party, the Government and sometimes in coalition, and the Welsh nation. He has done so with dignity, with integrity, and with ability. Despite the temptations of office, Rhodri has stood firmly on the Welsh soil and retained a commitment to the betterment of Wales and its people, and kept in close touch with the people he represents.

A lady in Aberystwyth recently told me that she had been queuing for lunch in the Assembly cafeteria to find Rhodri standing next to her. She could not get over the natural conversation that she then had with the First Minister. Imagine Gordon Brown. Rydych yr un mor debygol o weld Rhodri yn padlo ar lan y môr yn Nhresaith. That’s one of the secrets of his high popularity in Wales, all the more surprising given the public’s lack of appreciation of politicians generally.

Rhodri has a mischievous sense of humour. In his first formal meeting with church leaders, he asked the Catholic Archbishop and others what they could do to help increase the birth rate in Wales. 

The First Minister is also a man with a keen sense of curiosity, hence his special interest in Science policy, a portfolio which he has retained as First Minister. The Welsh Assembly Government is about to have its first Chief Scientist, better to ensure scientific inputs into difficult challenges and to press forward the development of high technologies in Wales.

We in Aberystwyth owe a particular debt to the Welsh Assembly Government for supporting our Institute of Biological, Environmental, and Rural Studies, an exciting venture addressing food security, climate change, and energy security.  Dyna rai o’r prif heriau sy’n wynebu’r unfed ganrif ar hugain, ac Aberystwyth fydd ar flaen y gad yn gwneud gwaith ymchwil o safon fyd-eang.

Nothing could therefore be more appropriate than that Aberystwyth should award an honorary fellowship to Rhodri Morgan, a true servant of Wales who has contributed so much to our nation. But at the same time he identifies with a vision of an internationally competitive Wales, offering the best of Wales, and bringing the best to Wales. In short the vision which this university shares.

Cyflwynaf i chi, y Gwir Anrhydeddus  Rhodri Morgan.