Education minister Jeremy Miles confirms Welsh Labour leadership bid

Education minister Jeremy Miles has confirmed he is standing to become Wales’ next First Minister.

After days of speculation, Mr Miles finally announced his Welsh Labour leadership bid on Monday December 18.

It comes after Mark Drakeford announced on Wednesday December 13 – exactly five years to the day he was elected Welsh Labour leader – that he would step down from the role.

Mr Miles, who represents the Neath constituency, is joined on the ballot by economy minister Vaughan Gething, who announced his leadership bid last week.

Both candidates would make history if they were elected. Mr Miles would be the first openly gay First Minister, while Mr Gething would be the first black First Minister.

Announcing his candidacy, Mr Miles, 52, said: “If I think back to when I was growing up, wondering about my place in the world as a young gay man from a working class family in Pontarddulais, I would never have imagined that one day I would be putting myself forward to lead our great party and our nation.”

He thanked colleagues and party members for their support in recent days and continued: “I am determined to build on Mark [Drakeford]’s legacy and his unquestionable commitment to public service.”

He criticised the Conservatives’ “attacks on public services, austerity and their mismanagement of our economy” and said a Welsh Labour Government led by him would “always stand up for Wales”.

He added: “I will be setting out a bold, ambitious, exciting vision for Wales’ future.”

Among those supporting Mr Miles’ campaign is Islwyn MS Rhianon Passmore, as well as climate change minister Julie James, rural affairs minister Lesley Griffiths, and deputy ministers Julie Morgan and Lee Waters.

Delyn MS Hannah Blythyn, who was tipped to run in the contest, announced over the weekend she would instead be supporting Mr Miles.

Health minister Eluned Morgan also ruled herself out of the contest but is yet to announce who she will support.