Mark Drakeford: Welsh Labour leader reappointed First Minister of Wales

First Minister Mark Drakeford during a Welsh Government coronavirus press conference

Mark Drakeford has been confirmed as the First Minister of Wales following the Senedd Elections last week.

Welsh Labour leader Mr Drakeford, who replaced Carwyn Jones as First Minister in 2018, was officially announced as First Minister once again during a Senedd meeting on Wednesday.

At the start of a new Senedd term following an election, parties typically put their leaders forward to be the new First MInister, with Senedd Members then voting to decide.

In 2016, Conservative and UKIP MSs joined with Plaid Cymru to vote for Leanne Wood to become First Minister, resulting in 29 votes for Ms Wood and 29 for then-Welsh Labour leader Mr Jones. However, the deadlock was soon resolved and Mr Jones continued in the top job, with his party having the most seats in the Senedd.

There was no such drama this time though, with Mr Drakeford the only candidate put forward to be First Minister – and was therefore re-appointed to the role, having led his party to its joint-best ever performance in a devolved election in Wales, winning 30 of the 60 seats on offer last week.

Hefin David, Rhianon Passmore and Dawn Bowden were all re-elected to serve a second term

Meanwhile, Senedd Members voted to reappoint Plaid Cymru MS Elin Jones as Presiding Officer (Llywydd), beating Conservative MS Russell George by 35 votes to 25 in a secret ballot.

Labour MS David Rees was appointed as the Deputy Presiding Officer, beating Caerphilly MS Hefin David by 35 votes to 24.

Mr David, who was re-elected to represent the Caerphilly constituency with 13,289 votes last week, was nominated by Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney’s Labour MS Dawn Bowden. His nomination was seconded by Conservative MS Laura Anne Jones, who represents the South Wales East region.

Senedd