The Gething government was the
Labour-led government of Wales formed on 21 March 2024
following the appointment of
Vaughan Gething as
First Minister on 20 March 2024.
History
Following the resignation of
Mark Drakeford
Mark Drakeford (born 19 September 1954) is a Welsh politician serving as First Minister of Wales and Leader of Welsh Labour since 2018. He previously served in the Welsh Government as Cabinet Secretary for Finance from 2016 to 2018 and Minist ...
, Gething was elected Leader of the Labour party on 16 March 2024 and appointed First Minister on 20 March.
He became the first black leader of any European country.
Gething announced his cabinet on 21 March. Upon appointing his cabinet, Gething stated "this stellar ministerial team will answer the call of the generation in wanting to create a stronger, fairer, greener Wales". Senior ministers in the cabinet were once again named "cabinet secretaries" with junior ministers referred to as "ministers", as they were in
Carwyn Jones's
third government.
Formation
Rebecca Evans retained the Finance portfolio and was appointed
Cabinet Secretary for Finance,
Constitution and Cabinet Office,
assuming the responsibilities for Constitution from
Mick Antoniw who was reappointed the
Counsel General.
Julie Morgan
Julie Morgan (née Edwards; 2 November 1944) is a Welsh Labour Party politician, who has been a Member of the Senedd for Cardiff North seat in the Senedd since the 2011 election. She was previously Member of Parliament (MP) for Cardiff Nort ...
and
Deputy Minister for Climate Change Lee Waters both left their respective positions upon the formation of the new government, with
Dawn Bowden assuming the
Social Care brief.
retained the
Social Partnership portfolio.
returned to cabinet as
Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs.
Irranca-Davies replaced
Julie James
Julie James MS (born February 1958) is a Welsh Labour politician, serving as Minister for Climate Change since 2021. James has been the Member of the Senedd (MS) for Swansea West since 2011. She served as Minister for Housing and Local Go ...
in the Climate Change portfolio, who was appointed
Cabinet Secretary for Housing,
Local Government, and Planning. Irranca-Davies also replaced
Lesley Griffiths in the Rural Affairs portfolio, with Griffiths bring appointed
Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice.
Griffifths replaced
Jane Hutt in the Social Justice portfolio, and Hutt assumed Griffifths' former position as
Trefnydd of the Senedd, with Hutt also keeping her position as
Chief Whip
The Chief Whip is a political leader whose task is to enforce the whipping system, which aims to ensure that legislators who are members of a political party attend and vote on legislation as the party leadership prescribes.
United Kingdom
...
.
Ken Skates
Kenneth Christian Skates MS (born 2 April 1976) is a Welsh Labour politician. Skates has represented the constituency of Clwyd South in the Senedd since the election of 2011. He is an alumnus of the University of Cambridge, and worked as a ...
returned to Cabinet as
Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and
Transport, replacing Griffiths in the North Wales portfolio.
The
Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing Lynne Neagle was promoted to
Cabinet Secretary for Education, replacing
Jeremy Miles.
Miles, who was defeated by Gething in
the leadership contest, succeeded Gething in the Economy portfolio as
Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language.
Jayne Bryant
Jayne Bryant is a Welsh Labour Party politician. Since May 2016 she has represented Newport West in the Senedd.
Background
Bryant was born in the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport. She attended St Julian's Comprehensive School and completed ...
, who co-chaired Gething's campaign, joined the government as
Minister for Mental Health and Early Years.
Changes and Dissolution
On 16 May 2024, Gething announced that he had dismissed Blythyn from the government.
In his statement, Gething stated that he had "no alternative" after reviewing evidence regarding a "recent disclosure of communication to the media."
Blythyn denied the allegations.
was appointed to Blythyn's former role on 17 May 2024.
On 16 July 2024, four ministers resigned from the government. Counsel General Mick Antoniw, Cabinet Secretary for Economy Jeremy Miles, Cabinet Secretary for Housing Julie James and Cabinet Secretary for Culture Lesley Griffiths. Shortly after, Gething himself resigned as First Minister and Leader of Welsh Labour, and will remain in office until his successor is elected.
Gething also made tweaks to the remaining cabinet, replacing the 4 resigning ministers. He appointed
Jack Sargeant to the role of Minister for Social Partnership, with the previous holder
Sarah Murphy to take the role of Minister for Mental Health and Early Years.
Jayne Bryant
Jayne Bryant is a Welsh Labour Party politician. Since May 2016 she has represented Newport West in the Senedd.
Background
Bryant was born in the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport. She attended St Julian's Comprehensive School and completed ...
, the previous Mental Health and Early Years Minister, was made Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Housing, replacing Julie James. Responsibility for the Economy was given to
Ken Skates
Kenneth Christian Skates MS (born 2 April 1976) is a Welsh Labour politician. Skates has represented the constituency of Clwyd South in the Senedd since the election of 2011. He is an alumnus of the University of Cambridge, and worked as a ...
, responsibility for the Welsh Language was granted to
Eluned Morgan, and the brief for Culture and Social Justice was added to the roles of
Jane Hutt. Gething himself took the role of
Counsel General.
Cabinets
March - July 2024
Cabinet Secretaries
Ministers
Changes
*
Sarah Murphy replaced
Hannah Blythyn as Minister for Social Partnership in May 2024.
July 2024 -
Cabinet Secretaries
Ministers
See also
*
Shadow Cabinet (Wales)
*
Members of the 6th Senedd
Footnotes
References
{{Welsh Labour
Gething
Welsh governments
Cabinets established in 2024
2024 establishments in Wales
2024 disestablishments in Wales
Current governments
Welsh Labour