| Cabinet name | Gething government |
|---|---|
| Former members number | 5 |
| Previous | Second Drakeford government |
| Successor | Eluned Morgan government |
| Legislature term | 6th Senedd |
| Opposition leader | Andrew R. T. Davies |
| Opposition party | |
| Opposition cabinet | Fourth Shadow Cabinet of Andrew RT Davies |
| Legislature status | Minority in co-operation with Plaid Cymru[1] until May 2024[2] |
| Political parties | |
| Cabinet number | 12th |
| State head | Charles III |
| Monarch | Charles III |
| Government head | Vaughan Gething |
| First Minister | Vaughan Gething |
| Date dissolved | 5 August 2024 |
| Date formed | 21 March 2024 |
| Incumbent | 2024 |
| Jurisdiction | Wales |
| devolved administration | Gething government |
The Gething government was the Labour-led government of Wales formed on 21 March 2024[3] following the appointment of Vaughan Gething as First Minister on 20 March 2024.[4][5]
History
Following the resignation of Mark Drakeford,[6][7] Gething was elected Leader of the Labour party on 16 March 2024[8][9] and appointed First Minister on 20 March.[4] He became the first black leader of any European country.[10]
Gething announced his cabinet on 21 March. Upon appointing his cabinet, Gething stated "this stellar ministerial team will answer the call of the generation in wanting to create a stronger, fairer, greener Wales".[11] Senior ministers in the cabinet were once again named "cabinet secretaries" with junior ministers referred to as "ministers", as they were in Carwyn Jones's third government.[3]
Formation
Rebecca Evans retained the Finance portfolio and was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office,[4] assuming the responsibilities for Constitution from Mick Antoniw who was reappointed the Counsel General.[3]
Deputy Minister for Social Services Julie Morgan and Deputy Minister for Climate Change Lee Waters both left their respective positions upon the formation of the new government, with Dawn Bowden assuming the Social Care brief.[3] Hannah Blythyn retained the Social Partnership portfolio.[3]
Huw Irranca-Davies returned to cabinet as Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs.[3] Irranca-Davies replaced Julie James in the Climate Change portfolio, who was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Local Government, and Planning. Irranca-Davies also replaced Lesley Griffiths in the Rural Affairs portfolio, with Griffiths bring appointed Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice.[3] Griffifths replaced Jane Hutt in the Social Justice portfolio, and Hutt assumed Griffifths' former position as Trefnydd of the Senedd, with Hutt also keeping her position as Chief Whip.[3] Ken Skates returned to Cabinet as Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport, replacing Griffiths in the North Wales portfolio.[3]
The Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing Lynne Neagle was promoted to Cabinet Secretary for Education, replacing Jeremy Miles.[3] Miles, who Gething defeated in the leadership contest, succeeded Gething in the Economy portfolio as Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language.[4] Jayne Bryant, who co-chaired Gething's campaign, joined the government as Minister for Mental Health and Early Years.[3]
Changes and Dissolution
On 16 May 2024, Gething announced that he had dismissed Blythyn from the government.[12] In his statement, Gething stated that he had "no alternative" after reviewing evidence regarding a "recent disclosure of communication to the media."[12] Blythyn denied the allegations.[12] Sarah Murphy was appointed to Blythyn's former role on 17 May 2024.[13]
On 16 July 2024, four ministers resigned from the government. Counsel General Mick Antoniw, Cabinet Secretary for Economy Jeremy Miles, Cabinet Secretary for Housing Julie James and Cabinet Secretary for Culture Lesley Griffiths.[14] Shortly after, Gething himself resigned as First Minister and Leader of Welsh Labour, and will remain in office until his successor is elected.[15]
Gething also made tweaks to the remaining cabinet, replacing the 4 resigning ministers. He appointed Jack Sargeant to the role of Minister for Social Partnership, with the previous holder Sarah Murphy to take the role of Minister for Mental Health and Early Years. Jayne Bryant, the previous Mental Health and Early Years Minister, was made Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Housing, replacing Julie James. Responsibility for the Economy was given to Ken Skates, responsibility for the Welsh Language was granted to Eluned Morgan, and the brief for Culture and Social Justice was added to the roles of Jane Hutt. Gething himself took the role of Counsel General.[16][17]
Cabinets
March - July 2024
Cabinet Secretaries
| Portfolio | Name | Constituency | Party | Term | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Minister of Wales | Vaughan Gething MS | Cardiff South and Penarth | Labour | March 2024 -[a] | ||
| Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office | Rebecca Evans MS | Gower | Labour | March 2024 – | ||
| Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Local Government, and Planning | Julie James MS | Swansea West | Labour | March 2024 - July 2024 | ||
| Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care | The Baroness Morgan of Ely MS | Mid & West Wales | Labour | March 2024 - | ||
| Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language | Jeremy Miles MS | Neath | Labour | March 2024 - July 2024 | ||
| Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport | Ken Skates MS | Clwyd South | Labour | March 2024 – | ||
| Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs | Huw Irranca-Davies MS | Ogmore | Labour | March 2024 – | ||
| Trefnydd (House Leader) and Chief Whip | Jane Hutt MS | Vale of Glamorgan | Labour | March 2024 – | ||
| Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice | Lesley Griffiths MS | Wrexham | Labour | March 2024 – July 2024 | ||
| Cabinet Secretary for Education | Lynne Neagle MS | Torfaen | Labour | March 2024 – | ||
Ministers
| Portfolio | Name | Constituency | Party | Term | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Counsel General | Mick Antoniw MS | Pontypridd | Labour | 2021– July 2024 | ||
| Minister for Mental Health and Early Years | Jayne Bryant MS | Newport West | Labour | March 2024 - July 2024 | ||
| Minister for Social Care | Dawn Bowden MS | Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney | Labour | March 2024 - July 2024 | ||
| Minister for Social Partnership | Hannah Blythyn MS | Delyn | Labour | March – May 2024 | ||
| Sarah Murphy MS | Bridgend | Labour | May 2024 – July 2024 | |||
Changes
- Sarah Murphy replaced Hannah Blythyn as Minister for Social Partnership in May 2024.[13]
July 2024 -
Cabinet Secretaries
| Portfolio | Name | Constituency | Party | Term | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Minister of Wales | Vaughan Gething MS | Cardiff South and Penarth | Labour | March 2024 - | ||
| Counsel General | July 2024 - | |||||
| Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office | Rebecca Evans MS | Gower | Labour | March 2024– | ||
| Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Local Government, and Planning | Jayne Bryant MS | Newport West | Labour | July 2024 - | ||
| Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and the Welsh Language | The Baroness Morgan of Ely MS | Mid & West Wales | Labour | March 2024 – | ||
| Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Transport and North Wales | Ken Skates MS | Clwyd South | Labour | July 2024 – | ||
| Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs | Huw Irranca-Davies MS | Ogmore | Labour | March 2024 - | ||
| Trefnydd (House Leader) and Chief Whip | Jane Hutt MS | Vale of Glamorgan | Labour | March 2024 - | ||
| Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice | July 2024 - | |||||
| Cabinet Secretary for Education | Lynne Neagle MS | Torfaen | Labour | March 2024 – | ||
Ministers
| Portfolio | Name | Constituency | Party | Term | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minister for Mental Health and Early Years | Sarah Murphy MS | Bridgend | Labour | July 2024 – | ||
| Minister for Social Care | Dawn Bowden MS | Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney | Labour | March 2024 – | ||
| Minister for Social Partnership | Jack Sargeant MS | Alyn and Deeside | Labour | May 2024 – | ||
See also
Footnotes
- ^ Gething has resigned but will remain in the role until a new First Minister has been appointed
References
- ^ "What's next for Vaughan Gething after winning leadership race to become Wales' next first minister". ITV News. 19 March 2024.
- ^ "Pressure piles on Wales' FM as Plaid ends deal". BBC News. 17 May 2024.
- ^ Mosalski, Ruth (21 March 2024). "Live updates as Vaughan Gething confirms his cabinet appointments in first full day in Wales' top job". WalesOnline. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
- ^ "Vaughan Gething appointed Wales' first minister". BBC News. 20 March 2024. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
- ^ "Watch live: Welsh first minister Vaughan Gething officially sworn in by Senedd". The Independent. 2024-03-20. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
- ^ "Mark Drakeford emotional as he bows out as first minister". BBC News. 2024-03-18. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
- ^ "Mark Drakeford officially steps down as Wales's first minister". Sky News. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
- ^ Morris, Steven (2024-03-16). "Vaughan Gething to become Welsh first minister after Labour leadership win". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
- ^ "Vaughan Gething to become Wales' first black leader". BBC News. 2024-03-15. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
- ^ "Vaughan Gething to be sworn in as Wales' first minister". BBC News. 20 March 2024. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
- ^ "New First Minister Vaughan Gething announces cabinet". BBC News. 2024-03-21. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
- ^ "Vaughan Gething sacks minister Hannah Blythyn from his government". BBC News. 2024-05-16. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
- ^ Price, Emily (2024-05-17). "Sarah Murphy replaces sacked junior minister Hannah Blythyn". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
- ^ Price, Emily (16 July 2024). "Four ministers quit Gething government". Nation.Cymru. Archived 16 July 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cleyl8ln66et?post=asset%3A077bb0d7-31e7-4e1d-ad9b-0b10949f9b62#post
- ^ McKeon, Christopher (17 July 2024). "Vaughan Gething reshuffles Welsh Labour top team after resignations". The Independent. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
- ^ "Vaughan Gething: Jeremy Miles likely to bid to be Wales first minister". BBC News. 2024-07-16. Retrieved 2024-07-22.