First Minister of Wales
First Minister of Wales | |
---|---|
Prif Weinidog Cymru ( Alun Michael AM | |
Salary | £148,575 per annum (2022)[1] (including £67,920 MS salary) |
Website | www |
This article is part of a series within the Politics of the United Kingdom on the |
Politics of Wales |
---|
The First Minister of Wales (
The first minister is a Member of the Senedd, and is nominated by the Senedd (Welsh Parliament; Welsh: Senedd Cymru)—before being officially appointed by the Monarch. Members of the Welsh Cabinet and junior ministers of the Welsh Government, as well as law officers, are appointed by the first minister. As head of the Welsh Government, the first minister is directly accountable to the Senedd for their actions and the actions of the Welsh Government. The main office of the first minister is in Tŷ Hywel, which is adjacent to the Senedd building in Cardiff Bay.[2] An additional office is also kept at the Crown Buildings, Cathays Park, Cardiff which is the headquarters of the Welsh Government.
In December 2023, Drakeford announced his intention to stand down, and remained in the position until he was replaced by Vaughan Gething on 20 March 2024, as a result of the Welsh Labour leadership election.[3][4][5]
Terminology
Where initially established under the
On 22 October 2021, Mark Drakeford, the incumbent First Minister, changed his
Nomination and appointment
Candidates for the position of First Minister are nominated by the
Once this process has occurred the
List of contested elections
Party key | Welsh Labour | |
---|---|---|
Plaid Cymru | ||
Welsh Conservatives |
First minister nominative elections | |||
---|---|---|---|
Parliamentary term | Date | Candidates | Votes received |
5th Assembly | 11 May 2016[13] | Carwyn Jones | 29 |
Leanne Wood | 29 | ||
12 December 2018[14] | Mark Drakeford | 30 | |
Paul Davies | 12 | ||
Adam Price | 9 | ||
6th Senedd | 20 March 2024[15] | Vaughan Gething | 27 |
Andrew RT Davies | 13 | ||
Rhun ap Iorwerth | 11 |
Role
Under the arrangements in the Government of Wales Act 1998, executive functions are conferred on the Senedd and then separately delegated to the first minister and to other Cabinet Ministers and staff as appropriate.[6]
Until the Government of Wales Act 2006, these were delegated powers of the
The first minister appoints the Welsh Ministers, Deputy Welsh Ministers and the Counsel General for Wales (collectively known as the Welsh Government), with the approval of The British sovereign.[7]
Following separation between the legislative and the executive on the enactment of the Government of Wales Act 2006 (upon appointment of the first minister, 25 May 2007), the Welsh Ministers exercise functions in their own right. Any further transfers of executive functions from the UK Government will be made directly to the Welsh Ministers (with their consent) by an Order in Council approved by Parliament.
The first minister is accountable and responsible for:
- Exercise of functions by the Cabinet of the Welsh Government
- Policy development and coordination of policy
- The relationships with the rest of the United Kingdom, Europe and Wales Abroad
- Staffing/Civil Service.
See also
- List of First Ministers of Wales
- List of current heads of government in the United Kingdom and dependencies
- Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
- Deputy First Minister for Wales
- Welsh Government
References
- ^ "Determination on Members' Pay and Allowances: 2022-2023" (PDF). Senedd Cymru. 9 April 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
- ^ "Tŷ Hywel". senedd.wales. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
- ^ "Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford resigns". BBC News. 13 December 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
- ^ "Vaughan Gething to become next first minister of Wales after winning Welsh Labour leadership race". Sky News. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ https://record.senedd.wales/Plenary/13746
- ^ a b "The Constitution – The First Minister and Welsh Ministers: Quick guide" (PDF). Welsh Parliament. April 2007. p. 1. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
- ^ a b c "Welsh Government | Law Wales". law.gov.wales. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
- ^ "The Welsh Seal of the National Assembly for Wales" (PDF). Welsh Parliament. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
- ^ "First Minister changes his Twitter handle to Welsh language 'Prif Weinidog'". Nation.Cymru. 22 October 2021. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ^ "Appointing a new First Minister". senedd.wales. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
- ^ "How is the First Minister of Wales nominated?". senedd.wales. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
- ^ "Appointing a new First Minister". National Assembly for Wales. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ^ "Deadlock in vote for first minister". BBC. 11 May 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
- ^ "Mark Drakeford confirmed as new Welsh first minister". BBC. 12 December 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
- ^ "Vaughan Gething confirmed as Wales's new first minister". Sky News. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
Sources
- Dates are from World Statesmen and various BBC News Online articles from 1999 to 2003.
External links
- Roles and Responsibilities – Archived 4 June 2020 at the Wayback Machine
- Welsh Government: Cabinet and ministers