The newly-elected leader of Welsh Labour, Mark Drakeford, has been confirmed as First Minister.
Following a vote in the Senedd today, Mr Drakeford won the support of 30 Assembly Members, steering off challenges from the leaders of the Welsh Conservatives and Plaid Cymru, who received 12 and 9 votes respectively.
The Cardiff West AM succeeds Carwyn Jones as First Minister following his resignation after nine years in the role.
Mr Drakeford received the votes of the three AMs representing constituencies in Caerphilly County Borough – Hefin David, Rhianon Passmore and Dawn Bowden.
It was considered that Mr Drakeford’s appointment as First Minister would be a formality following his election last week.
But Plaid Cymru leader Mr Adam Price and Welsh Conservative leader Paul Davies, as expected, were nominated by their respective parties for the role of First Minister.
However, UKIP didn’t nominate a candidate and abstained in the vote.
Labour have 28 AMs out of a possible 60 in the Senedd, but are supported by Kirsty Williams of the Liberal Democrats and Dafydd Elis-Thomas, who is an independent having previously represented Plaid Cymru.
This meant it was always extremely unlikely that either Mr Price or Mr Davies would have gathered enough support to topple Mr Drakeford to become First Minister.