Jo Stevens leaves role as Welsh Secretary as Burnham begins Cabinet reshuffle
Nation.Cymru staff/agencies
Jo Stevens has confirmed she is no longer Secretary of State for Wales as Prime Minister Andy Burnham began reshaping his Cabinet following his victory in the Labour leadership contest.
The Cardiff East MP announced her departure on Monday, bringing to an end two years in the role after she was appointed by Sir Keir Starmer following Labour’s 2024 general election victory.
Stevens, who has represented Cardiff East since 2024 after previously serving as MP for Cardiff Central, was reappointed as Shadow Welsh Secretary by Starmer in 2021 before entering Cabinet after Labour won power.
Her departure comes as Burnham begins appointing his own ministerial team after succeeding Starmer as Prime Minister.
In a statement posted to X, she said: “Serving as the Labour Party’s first Secretary of State for Wales for the last two years has been a privilege and an honour.”
She added: “Wales has seen the biggest budget settlement for our public services in the history of devolution, our steel industry saved and transformed for the future, the largest public investment in Wales in history through new nuclear at Wylfa, a generational commitment of £14 billion for our Welsh railways, the best local growth fund settlement of any of the UK nations and so much more.”
The outgoing Cabinet minister later said: “I wish the new Prime Minister (Andy Burnham) and my successor the very best in their new roles and know that they will do a great job, alongside our new Welsh Labour leader Ken Skates, in delivering for the people of Wales.”
Ms Stevens said former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer “leaves with the country in a much better place than he found it”.
Among the first senior Cabinet ministers to leave government were Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy, Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Steve Reed, who had served as Environment Secretary and later Housing Secretary.
Lammy said on social media that he “would have been proud to continue serving in Cabinet”, but added that “a new Prime Minister is entitled to build his own team”.
Reeves described serving as Chancellor as “the privilege of my life”, saying the economy was “stronger, fairer and more resilient” than when Labour entered government in 2024. She wished Burnham and his new Cabinet well and pledged her support from the backbenches. Reports suggest she declined an offer of another senior government role.
Disappointed
Reed said he was “disappointed to be leaving Government now” and paid tribute to Starmer, adding: “Keir Starmer showed loyalty to me by appointing me to his Cabinet. I make no apology for returning that loyalty.”
Business Secretary Peter Kyle, former Technology Secretary Liz Kendall and Attorney General Lord Hermer also confirmed they were leaving government.
Earlier in the day, Prisons Minister Lord James Timpson and Science Minister Lord Patrick Vallance announced they had stepped down.
Burnham is expected to unveil further ministerial appointments as he completes the first major reshuffle of his premiership.
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Good riddance. She did not want the best for Wales, just for Westminsters hold over Wales.
Jo Stevens will not be missed in her capacity as Westminsters voice in Cymru, yes, that is what she was, and not our voice in Westminster. Arguably the worst performer in this office, on a par with John Redwood, the only word we heared from her regarding promises in the Labour manifesto of more devolution and a better relationship between both Govs, was no. HS2 funding no, devolve policing and justice, no, just No to anything and everything. This position, in view of this recent performance has rendered the post obsolete as far as any benefit to Cymru. With friends… Read more »
Oh dear how sad, never mind!!
Thank goodness she’s gone. The worst Welsh Secretary among a mega undistinguished bunch (Ron Davies excepted).
As they say, good riddance to bad rubbish.
Darren “be more grateful” Jones is out too, Good.
I’m glad she’s gone—a positive move by Andy Burnham. She was one of the worst Secretaries of State for Wales, on a par with the treacherous George Thomas.
That a former labour Welsh govt minister described Stevens as the most anti-devolution Welsh secretary since Viscount Tonypandy aka George Thomas speaks volumes. Stevens showed utter contempt not only for Welsh devolution but for her own Welsh labour govt. Indeed her obduracy contributed in no small part to labour’s annhilation in Wales on May 7th.
Gwynt teg ar ei hôl hi.
Great although i want Welsh independence this Woman when Liebour in Opposition she said Wales should have the billions for H S 2 when in Government no they are not entitled to it but the biggest insult was the Liebour M P for Bristol with Welsh surname Jones Wales should be grateful for what they get now that was a bloody big INSULT to the people of Wales
Good riddance to Stevens. I wonder how she will cope with having to work for a living.
No doubt she will slot into a cushy consultancy somewhere.
And just remember, she is still getting £98,599 basic, plus expenses and freebies, as an MP.
Jo Stevens, an actual MP in a Cardiff constituency and the latest in a long line of holding the post of Secretary of State for keeping Wales down, is out of her cabinet job. Good. In 27 years of the existence of our national Parliament, we have had five First Ministers, all Labour but only two who were worthy of any credit. Rhodri Morgan and Mark Drakeford. There is a rumour that Andy Burnham is going to appoint one of the other three to this post just because he is from these parts. Think on Andy or you will be… Read more »
Not sure I understand the point you’re making.
Good riddance to another in a long line of Dic Sion Dafydds.