Mark Drakeford confirms he will quit Senedd at next election
Wales’ First Minister Mark Drakeford has confirmed he will leave the Senedd at the next election.
Mr Drakeford has previously said he will stand down as First Minister before the end of the Senedd term in 2026, although no firm date has yet been set to choose his successor.
But the First Minister has now confirmed he plans to leave the Senedd, where he currently represents the Cardiff West constituency, at the next election.
Speaking at the National Eisteddfod in Boduan, north west Wales, Mr Drakeford said it was “important to have a refresh”.
“It’s important to have a refresh. I think it is difficult for those who will be doing the work in the future to have people like me sitting behind them,” he said.
“I don’t want to do that. I think of it like Tony Benn – when he decided to leave the House of Commons, he said ‘I’m going to stop being an MP in order to spend more time in politics’.”
Question and answer session
In a question and answer session with Elin Jones, the presiding officer of the Senedd, Mr Drakeford added: “I’m not going to be a Member of the Senedd after 2026 but I am not going to step back from the debate or stop thinking about Wales’ future.”
Mr Drakeford was first elected to the Senedd in 2011 as the Member for Cardiff West.
He served in various ministerial roles from 2013 under the leadership of Carwyn Jones, before succeeding him as First Minister and Welsh Labour leader in 2018.
Mr Drakeford’s televised appearances throughout the Covid pandemic to share details of Wales-specific public health measures are often credited with widening public awareness of the role of the Welsh Parliament and Government.
He indicated in December that he would end his premiership before the next Senedd elections take place.
Support our Nation today
For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.
Expected but still a loss. Academic and evidence led he has great ideas and of course supported language issues during a time when it was not the thing to do in the Wales Branch of Labour. His leadership style often over depended on others less able but his moral scolding during Covid caught the moment well. Along with my friend the late Hag Harries of Lampeter, Mark was part of a group of very young county councillors across Wales elected in the early 80s….and was always impressive on issues he spoke on. Andy Howell who led Birminghams LEA ( the… Read more »
Just read your comment I respect your views but sadly we don’t agree BIGTIME . He’s delusional forcing his beliefs on the Welsh public
Mark I think 🤔 has never changed his direction and has always had a core set of beliefs that his fan base in the ‘ cymdeithas rhodri morgan ‘ share. From Val Feld through to Jane Hutt to the Davisons and the real Andrew Davies plus the academics / intellectuals of Cardiff North hold. It is seen by ‘ valleys Labour ‘ as pro Welsh , neo Plaid and far too green and community focused. Yes I think your right that his occasional scolding does reflect a “ my beliefs first “ view and definitely a ‘ mother knows best… Read more »
After a quarter of a century of Devolution and Welsh Labour, Wales has sadly regressed as a nation in most aspects. I am sure that Drakeford was a congenial, decent, well meaning man no doubt,
But after 25 years of the Send and Welsh Labour – what is the legacy and where is the direction of travel leading us ? I am not optimistic.
I feel that your reading the wrong literature my friend.
Edrych ymlaen at y dyfodol – heb yr hanes – fel rhân o ‘ Byd 🌎 Brydaineg’
I am probably more widely read, more wordy wise, and better travelled than you are. And another thing….. Does dim eisiau gwastarffu dy Saesneg arno fi gwas bach. Rwyn gweld ymhelach na ti paid a poeni. Drych ar dy ardal / filltir sqwarl dy hun, sharada gyda boble lleol sydd wedi treulpi oes yna, Mae Llambed wedi mynd ‘nol dros yr ugain blynedd a fi, fel pop ardall gwledig arall yn Sir Gar / Ceredigio, a dros Gymru. Un Peth gallon gytuno Arno o leiaf : Roedd Hag yn dyn da a går bonheddug, roeddwn yn hoff Iwan o dreilio… Read more »
🍼 💤 amser cysgu dwi’n meddwl
A windows cleaner and second hand record shop owner and a third grade lecturer. If those are your idols then, no wonder Wales is known as being the graveyard of ambition. Nos Da.
You don’t really seem to have caught the mood of contributors my friend. Pob lwc y tro nesa.
Its not devolution its just Labour. You can vote them out come 2026.
‘All political careers end in failure.’ This statement is attributed to the late and former 20th century MP Enoch Powell. Very true re MD
I was lucky enough not lose family members, during covid, never forgive this bloke, for refusing families, who lost loved ones, a Welsh only enquiry. Heartless.
You did your job Mr.Drakeford, yet another Labour politician that enjoys playing second fiddle which allows for his country to be taken advantage of. Not only in resource stripping, but cultural appropriation too.
Thank Christ he is going
He should have been put out to grass years ago. Coat-tailed the UK Govt. on Covid, defended his health minister who could not be bothered to read key documents. Welsh NHS in Crisis (despite being allocated £1.15 per head compared to £1.00 in Eng., Welsh ambulance service is a total shambles. The economy is in a mess, GDP is flat Flat, Unemployment rising, companies leaving Wales or choosing not to invest here due to no investment in basic infrastructure tourism numbers down, the young leaving Wales. Yet we continue to have a dozen or so Welsh Government offices being heated,… Read more »