Watch: Mark Drakeford goes viral after sassy response to Tory’s Swansea City jibe
An exchange between Mark Drakeford and a Conservative Senedd member has gone viral after the First Minister delivered a sassy response to a jibe about Swansea City’s two derby wins over Cardiff this season.
Speaking to the Senedd over a video link, South Wales West member Tom Giffard, who was born and raised in Swansea, called on Mark Drakeford to join him in congratulating the Swans on their historic league double.
The First Minister’s response saw him congratulated as a “Cardiff City ultra” online.
Tom Giffard told the Senedd: “I think that it would be a wasted opportunity if I didn’t congratulate Swansea City on beating Cardiff City twice this season, which is the first time that either club has achieved that feat.
“So, perhaps, as the constituency Member for Cardiff West, the First Minister would like to join me in congratulating the Swans too.”
Mark Drakeford responded: “Well, I think the Member was wise to make his final remarks from the safety of his own office.”
The exchange happened last week but went viral after being posted to the ‘Welsh Politics Out of Context’ Twitter account.
“say that to my face” – Mark Drakeford pic.twitter.com/JNX9OkSwc5
— Welsh politics out of context (@NoContextSenedd) May 9, 2022
The comment caused mirth on social media, with Philip Davies noting that Mark Drakeford’s priorities were: “Bluebirds. Cheese. Socialism. In that order.”
“Drakeford is a Bluebird,” said Tomas Taylor.
“I must give credit to Mark Drakeford, that’s great patter,” said another.
Some Swansea fans were however unimpressed, telling Drakeford to “swim away” – a reference to an incident in 1988 in which a group of Cardiff fans were allegedly chased into the sea after a match.
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Perhaps we should change the name of the Senedd to the Terrace, I’m a little shocked by the aggressive stance of the First Minister but his attitude toward Plaid two days before the election also gave me cause for concern…I blame his recent proximity to Fat Shanks.
What aggeesion?
Drakeford is from Carmarthen, where people support the Swans.
I can only assume that his support for Cardiff City links to his political ambitions in that city. Not that he knows anything about football.
Carmarthen always used to be a Cardiff supporting hotspot.
Not in my day it wasn’t. Carmarthen tended to be a hot bed of “Carmarthen first” adherents with intense disdain for anything more than a mile or two from the town !
Where Tory antagonist Tom Giffard used his FMQ to have a dig at Cardiff City defeat to Swansea was unwise for Mark Drakeford to take sides regarding his support because as First Minister he should be impartial as you’ll likely alienate especially seeing how tribal Welsh club football is.
Oh, come on boys, surely a bit of humour shouldn’t be such a big deal! I, being a Swans fan, was not offended by Mark Drakeford’s humourous remark. In fact, it serves to remind us all that it is only a game after all and the world has much more serious issues to deal with.
Well said, I can’t believe people are taking this so seriously, the man has a sense of humour
Swansea certainly “won” in the local elections by pretty much wiping out the Tories
Very quick response, witty and light.
Extremely rare for a to get anything right or elicit my support but also well done for getting the ‘double’ mentioned.
“swim away” – a reference to an incident in 1988 in which a group of Cardiff fans were allegedly chased into the sea after a match. No “allegedly” about it, as I and many others witnessed it.