The First Minister of Wales, Eluned Morgan, has announced the Welsh Government’s new cabinet after a period in which an interim cabinet was in place following her appointment at the start of August. The announcement comes after divisions formed within the Labour group in the Senedd following Vaughan Gething’s short period as First Minister.
There are several changes in the new cabinet with Julie James and Jermey Miles returning to the Government. Both previously resigned from the cabinet over their lack of confidence in Vaughan Gething as First Minister to force his resignation. Jeremy Miles is now the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and Julie James has been appointed Counsel General Designate and Minister for Delivery. Neither Mick Antoniw or Lesley Griffiths, the two other ministers who resigned from Vaughan Gething’s cabinet, have returned to Government.
Former First Minister Mark Drakeford, who returned to Government in the interim cabinet as Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, stays in the cabinet as the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language. This sees the Welsh language once again being added to another governmental portfolio.
Following Drakeford’s appointment, Rebecca Evans becomes the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning. Vikki Howells has joined the Government for the first time as Minister for Further and Higher Education
The full cabinet is as follows:
- Huw Irranca-Davies MS – Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs
- Jeremy Miles MS – Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
- Mark Drakeford MS – Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language
- Rebecca Evans MS – Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
- Jayne Bryant MS – Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government
- Lynne Neagle MS – Cabinet Secretary for Education
- Ken Skates MS – Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales
- Jane Hutt MS – Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip
- Jack Sargeant MS – Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership
- Vikki Howells MS – Minister for Further and Higher Education
- Sarah Murphy MS – Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing
- Dawn Bowden MS – Minister for Children and Social Care
- Julie James MS – Counsel General Designate and Minister for Delivery
In a statement Eluned Morgan said:
‘I am today pleased to announce the new Welsh Government Cabinet.
The changes I am announcing today offer stability, draw on experience, and bring our collective talents together. The new portfolios reflect modern Wales and are designed to address the key challenges that face us all.
I have spent the summer listening to the people of Wales, and my new Cabinet appointments will now focus relentlessly on the priorities I heard from them.
This is a team representing all of Wales to work on behalf of the whole nation. My team and I are dedicated to delivering positive change for the people of Wales on the issues that matter most to them.’
