First Minister of Wales Eluned Morgan (third from left, bottom row) with all the members of the Senedd Labour group at the Senedd in Cardiff, after being elected as the first female leader of Wales following the resignation of Vaughan Gething, August 6, 2024
NEW First Minister Eluned Morgan announced her cabinet today with a shock return of Mark Drakeford to government.
The former first minister has been brought back into government on an interim basis into his old job as cabinet secretary for health and social care. Mr Drakeford is standing down as a Senedd member in 2026.
The big surprise was no job for Jeremy Miles who was favourite to replace Vaughan Gething as FM, but instead stood aside and nominated Ms Morgan on a unity ticket.
There were no jobs for the four senior ministers who resigned to bring down Mr Gething, which is seen as a sop to the former FM whose team of advisers had promised retribution if Mr Miles had become leader.
Huw Irranca-Davies was confirmed as deputy first minister in addition to his ministerial role on climate change and rural affairs.
Ms Morgan has said this is an interim cabinet and a reshuffle is expected in September after her summer listening period.
