Mark Drakeford confirmed as First Minister at the Senedd

Mark Drakeford has been confirmed as the First Minister of Wales at the Senedd.

The confirmation took place at the Welsh Parliaments first meeting since the election, where Welsh Labour won 30 out of 60 seats.

He was the only person nominated for the post, but the appointment will still have to be approved by the Head of State, according to Senedd rules. He name was put forward by Labour colleague Rebecca Evans.

Mark Drakeford told the Senedd: “I will lead a Welsh Labour Government, but we will govern in a way that seeks consensus and will take account of new and bold ideas wherever those come from”.

Elin Jones was re-elected to the post of Llywydd earlier in the session, whilst David Rees was elected to serve as her deputy.

In line with Covid-19 restrictions, the meeting has been held in a hybrid format, with 20 members allowed to sit in the Senedd chamber in Cardiff Bay, with the remaining 40 taking part remotely from their offices in the adjoining building Ty Hywel.

At the election, the Welsh Conservatives won 16 seats – their highest ever tally. Plaid Cymru won 13 seats, which is one more than it did in the 2016 election, while the Liberal Democrats won one seat on the regional list.