First Minister Vaughan Gething announces new Welsh Government cabinet

New First Minister Vaughan Gething has announced his first Welsh Government cabinet since taking the top job this week.

The reshuffle sees ministers renamed as cabinet secretaries once again, while deputy ministers have been rebranded as ministers.

Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney MS Dawn Bowden, who served as the deputy minister for arts, sport, and tourism in Mark Drakeford’s government, has been appointed the new social care minister.

Mr Gething’s leadership rival Jeremy Miles, who was Mr Drakeford’s education minister, has been appointed economy, energy, and Welsh language secretary, with Lynne Neagle replacing him as education secretary.

Elsewhere, Eluned Morgan remains in charge of health, while Ken Skates returns to the cabinet as the new new North Wales and transport secretary.

Vaughan Gething’s cabinet

• Vaughan Gething – First Minister.
• Mick Antoniw – Counsel general-designate.
• Jeremy Miles – Economy, energy, and Welsh language secretary.
• Eluned Morgan – Health and social care secretary.
• Rebecca Evans – Finance, constitution, and cabinet office secretary.
• Julie James – Housing, local government and planning secretary.
• Lynne Neagle – education secretary.
• Ken Skates – North Wales and transport secretary.
• Huw Irranca-Davies – Climate change and rural affairs secretary.
• Lesley Griffiths – Culture and social justice secretary.
• Jane Hutt – Chief whip and Trefnydd.
• Hannah Blythyn – Social partnership minister.
• Jayne Bryant – Mental health and early years minister.
• Dawn Bowden – Social care minister.

“Answer the call of the generation in waiting”

Announcing his new cabinet, Mr Gething said he was “incredibly proud to bring together a government drawn from all parts of Wales to serve the whole of our nation, with progressive politics at its heart”

He continued: “In particular, I am pleased to appoint a minister for mental health and early years to ensure we deliver in the first 1,000 days of the life of every child.”

Mr Gething said his new ministerial team will “answer the call of the generation in waiting, to create a stronger, fairer, greener Wales”.

The former health and economy minister promised to strengthen Wales’ economy by “providing opportunities for everyone and being steadfast in our commitment to a just transition to net zero”.

“Our goal to deliver green prosperity is reflected by the creation of a new cabinet secretary for economy, energy and Welsh Language,” Mr Gething explained.

He added: “I believe in a Wales that recognises that we can celebrate our differences and take pride in all those things that draw us together and make us who we are.

“While there will be many challenges ahead, there are even greater opportunities. I am ambitious about the work this team will do to make Wales an even better place.”

“Significant challenges”

Responding to the new cabinet announcement, Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth called for “fresh thinking and fast action”.

He wished the new cabinet luck as it tackles “significant challenges across all portfolios” and called for “fresh thinking and fast action” to deal with “the scourge of child poverty, growing waiting lists, falling educational standards and a faltering economy”.

The Plaid Cymru leader added: “Today must also be a turning point in the government’s approach to scrutiny. Ministers who are willing to open themselves up to critical challenge and the ideas of others will ensure better government for the people of Wales.”

The Conservatives meanwhile branded it a “continuity cabinet” and used the opportunity to again attack plans to expand the Senedd.

Party leader Andrew RT Davies said: “We had hoped that Vaughan would use the chance of a clean slate to scrap Labour’s vanity projects and focus on fixing our broken public services, but it’s clear that he has no intention of doing that.”