Mark Drakeford to address Senedd for final time as Wales First Minister

Mark Drakeford will take his last First Minister's Questions in the Senedd this afternoon.

Wales outgoing First Minister Mark Drakeford
Author: Lauren JonesPublished 19th Mar 2024

Mark Drakeford will hold his final First Minister's Questions at the Senedd later.

He's then expected to formally tender his resignation to the King - making way for Vaughan Gething to take over.

He was the successful candidate following the Welsh Labour leadership contest over the weekend. You can read more on that here.

First Minister is a role Mark Drakeford has held since 2018.

He has this advice for his successor. He said: "Sometimes when you're leading an organisation and a government you need to try and put a counterweight into that.

"Use the opportunity you have, do the radical and challenging things while you have that opportunity in your hands."

In taking over the role, the current economy Minister Vaughan Gething will become the first black leader of any European country.

Mark Drakeford tells us its an important change. He said: "He will bring the perspective that brings - understanding the nature of contemporary Wales and the way in which we need to capture the contribution of that great diversity of the people we are lucky enough to have in our midst to help us to shape a future together".

Vaughan Gething previously held the role of Health Minister - steering Wales through the Covid pandemic.

The outgoing FM tells us his successor has the right experience for the top job. He said: "Vaughan will bring enormous experience. He has had the hardest jobs in the Welsh government and he did them at the hardest times.

"He has absolutely proven himself. He has that record of being able to deal with the most challenging decisions".

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