First Minister received multiple packs of Caerphilly after his love for cheese went viral on social media

The First Minister received more Caerphilly than even he could probably eat after his declaration of love for cheese went viral on social media.

A newly published list of gifts received by Mark Drakeford reveals that he received at least 13 packs of Caerphilly after his comments in a live Q&A session with members of the public. He also received another unidentified hamper of Welsh cheese.

The cheese was sent by Josh and Kally of Capital FM, the National Farmers Union, and the ‘Michaelston-y-fedw and Rudry (BMMR) Parish Trust’s CARE Project’.

The list of gifts was revealed after an FOI request asking for “a summary of any and all donations and ‘gifts in kind’ given to the First Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford, since 2019”.

The First Minister also received cheese from Merched y Wawr, but two months before he declared his love of cheese online.

Mark Drakeford went viral on social media after Joe Bangles asked “a fun question” on what was his favourite type of cheese.

He said: “That’s probably the hardest question I’ve had so far because I really like cheese, and always have since I was a tiny child and I used to walk up to my grandparents in their farm.

“One of the things I used to look forward to when I got there was the fact my grandmother would pass me a piece of cheese to eat.”

He later explained that he had visibly perked up because he hadn’t eaten all day and was hungry.

Rugby

Other noteworthy gifts given to the First Minister included an “inedible” pack of M&Ms from US Ambassador, Robert Wood Johnson, who also gifted wine and a notebook. A £230 Mondaine desk clock was gifted by the Swiss Ambassador, Mr Alexandre Fasel.

The most expensive gifts included tickets to sport matches, including a ticket to the Wales v Australia world cup game in Tokyo by the Rugby World Cup, a £150 hospitality and ticket for Wales v England by S4C, and a £100 ticket for Wales v Ireland by the Welsh Rugby Union.

He was also given a £100 ticket to watch England v Pakistan by Glamorgan Cricket .

He also received a £129 Clogau Gold Prince of Wales Feathers lapel pin to mark the 50th Anniversary of Prince Charles’ Investiture.

A full list of gifts can be found here.