Morgan comes out swinging after bad week for Labour

Eluned Morgan told Darren Millar not to add "fire to the flames" of the political temperature

Health, immigration, questions over spending priorities and a simmering political temperature.

Tuesday's First Minister's Questions was a reflection of not just what's happening now, but also what sort of issues the Senedd election will be fought on next May.

Eluned Morgan needed to show some fight after a bad week for Labour with rows over the Trump banquet, the health secretary's decision to stand down, questions over the future of Keir Starmer and internal sniping within Labour.

She came out swinging when the Conservatives questioned the Welsh government's Nation of Sanctuary scheme – and swung against Reform's immigration plans - but was put on the back foot when Plaid Cymru asked for specific NHS figures.

Senedd Conservative leader Darren Millar said his party would scrap Nation of Sanctuary.

Amongst other things the initiative helps refugees find accommodation and jobs, and tries to stop people falling victim to modern slavery.

It has cost £55m since 2019, £45m of which has supported Ukrainian people following Russia's invasion.

The Conservatives think the scheme is unpopular, but were accused by the first minister of "dog-whistle" politics to "compete with Reform".

She urged Millar not to add "fire to the flames" of the political temperature.

Morgan also hit out at the first FMQs contribution from Reform's new MS Laura Anne Jones, who raised concerns about recruitment in Welsh care homes.

The first minister told her that Reform's plans to scrap Indefinite Leave to Remain, announced on Monday, would "decimate" the Welsh care sector.

Darren Millar said the Nation of Sanctuary policy should be ditched

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth tried to land blows of his own, on a subject that the party thinks has clout with voters: Labour's record on the NHS.

He asked Morgan for the number of Welsh patients who've been treated over the border in England since a plan to boost cross-border healthcare was announced at the Labour party conference last year.

At the time there was very quickly confusion over what the scheme actually involved – was it more patients travelling or was it sharing best practice?

Morgan parried the question, saying she would provide the numbers.

Ap Iorwerth has since formally written to her to make that request and concluded in the Siambr that the healthcare announcement had been "lots of fanfare, very little substance".

Rhun ap Iorwerth sough to put pressure on the first minister over cross-border healthcare

Labour has another conference looming this weekend in Liverpool, where Morgan, Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens and Keir Starmer will all be making speeches.

After last week's dire polling, and warnings that the prime minister's fate could hinge on the Senedd election and local elections in England, the pressure is on.

There are two types of political heat at the moment.

The bigger picture issues, especially immigration, but also within Labour as it looks to fightback and tries to persuade Welsh voters not to abandon it next May.