Statement by Mark Drakeford and reaction to the news of him standing down

Mark Drakeford said: I have today formally notified the chair of the Welsh Executive Committee of my intention to stand down as Leader of Welsh Labour in March 2024.

When I stood for the leadership, I said that, if elected, I would serve for five years.

Exactly five years have passed since I was confirmed as First Minister in 2018.

Nominations for my successor as Welsh Labour Leader will open shortly. 

The process will be concluded by the end of the Spring term, to enable the name of the winner to be put to the Senedd before the Easter recess.

In the meantime, I remain your First Minister.

We have a busy few months ahead of us – full of major events and challenges, which I will be fully focused on:

• A child poverty strategy
• The final report of the independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales
• The future of steel-making in Wales
• The conclusion of consultations about making council tax fairer and the reform of the school year
• Module 2B of the Covid-19 UK Inquiry
• Co-operation Agreement commitments to deliver
• And a Budget to pass.

There will be plenty of time for political obituaries and retrospection once I cease to be First Minister.

But not before.

In a five-year period, which has seen Wales deal with austerity, Brexit, the covid pandemic, the climate crisis, wars in Ukraine and the Middle East and four different Prime Ministers – so far – there will be lots to reflect on.

For now, I will continue to deliver on the promises we made to people across Wales.

The next Welsh Labour Leader and First Minister will, I hope, have the opportunity, which has not come my way, to work with a newly-elected Labour Government in London.

I will work as hard as I can to see that Labour Government elected.

It has been a huge privilege to lead both the Welsh Labour party and the Welsh Government.

I have also had the enormous fortune to have played a part in Welsh politics during the first quarter century of devolution.

None of that would have been possible without the consistent support and enormous hard work of my talented Cabinet colleagues and successive Labour groups.

Now it is time to look forward to the next five years across the UK and to the next 25 years of devolution in Wales.

That journey begins today.

Commenting on the news that Mark Drakeford has announced his timetable for leaving his role as First Minister of Wales, Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies MS said:

“I wish Mark well as he stands down from the helm.

“While we may have different visions for Wales, I know I'm joined by colleagues in holding a huge amount of respect for his dedication to the job of First Minister.

“It’s important, however, with this announcement that there is no distraction from the really important job of delivering for the people of Wales.

“Labour politicians jockeying for the role of First Minister must not detract from this.”

Leader of Welsh Lib Dems pays tribute to outgoing First Minister

Today (13^th December) the leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Jane Dodds MS has paid tribute to the First Minister Mark Drakeford, following his announcement that he will be retiring from the role in (BLANK).

Mr Drakeford was first elected to the role in 2018, succeeding former FM Carwyn Jones, before being elected for a second term in 2021.

Commenting, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Jane Dodds MS said:

“I’d like to personally thank the First Minister for his leadership and dedication to Wales throughout his five years in the role.

Whether you disagree or not with the First Minister and his government’s decisions, it would be untrue to say that Mark has lacked any passion for his job.

Throughout his time in office, he was provided consistent and clear leadership that has steered this country through some difficult times and for that we owe him a debt of gratitude.

On a personal level, Mark has shown nothing but kindness and support to me throughout my time in the Senedd and for that I will forever be grateful.

I wish him all the very best in his future endeavours.

My message to the new First Minister is a simple one, set a new vision for Wales.

We as a nation are facing multiple crises, in our NHS, our schools, our economy and with the cost of living.

We desperately need fresh ideas and a real drive to radically change the future of our country for the better.”

Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth responds to Mark Drakeford FM announcement

Responding to Mark Drakeford’s announcement that he will step down as First Minister and Leader of Welsh Labour, Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth MS said:

Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth MS:

“As he announces his departure I recognise and pay tribute to the First Minister’s dedication to public life and in particular the tone of his leadership through the pandemic.

“We have been able to build a constructive relationship in delivering transformative policies through the Co-Operation agreement between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru. Be it with Mark Drakeford or his successor, our priority has been and will be to deliver for Wales. That will continue to be our guiding principle.

“When he took office, the First Minister spoke of the opportunities that came with the position of Leading the Welsh Government. Regrettably, those opportunities have been squandered, resulting in longer waiting lists, falling educational standards and a stagnant economy.

“The First Minister told me in the Senedd yesterday that the question of his successor was “nothing to do” with me. But who can become First Minister through an internal Labour party election matters to all of us.

“However, whoever is in charge of Labour in Wales, there’s no taking away from the fact that they take their orders from Keir Starmer, who has a blind spot to Wales’ and offers nothing to address our needs and aspirations.

“Unlike other parties, Plaid Cymru will always prioritise fairness and ambition for Wales.