Former first minister Mark Drakeford has returned to the Welsh Government as health secretary.

He was appointed by Eluned Morgan, who was sworn in as First Minister of Wales on Tuesday, becoming the country’s first female leader.

Baroness Morgan said Mr Drakeford, MS for Cardiff West, would join her ministerial team as cabinet secretary for health and social care “on an interim basis”.

She said: “I have asked Mark Drakeford, Member for Cardiff West, to join the Ministerial team as Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care on an interim basis.

“Mark will bring his significant knowledge and experience to bear to continue our work to improve transparency and delivery.”

Baroness Morgan was health secretary from 2021 until she succeeded Vaughan Gething – himself a former health secretary – as leader of Welsh Labour on July 24.

Mr Gething, who served as first minister for less than 140 days, resigned following a turbulent period in Welsh politics that saw political rows over donations he accepted for his leadership campaign.

The Welsh Parliament, which is on summer break, was recalled on Tuesday to allow Baroness Morgan to take over as leader of the Welsh Government.

The politician is the first woman to lead the Welsh Government in its 25-year history and told the Senedd she would serve with a “vibrant splash of colour – the grey suits are out”.

Priorities

Speaking to BBC Breakfast on Wednesday, Baroness Morgan said the first priority on her “very long list” of things to do was to avoid, if possible, the disorder seen across England in recent days.

“We’re not complacent about that,” she told the BBC, adding that she had asked for a meeting with police and community leaders.

In an interview with the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, Baroness Morgan acknowledged that the “longest waiting lists” in Wales had to “come down”.

She also told Today that she was “very much in favour” of the Welsh Government’s 20mph scheme being applied to areas around “schools, hospitals and built-up areas”.

Baroness Morgan said local authorities would now determine which roads should be increased to 30mph.

‘Continuity’

In a statement on August 7, Baroness Morgan confirmed her cabinet will be as follows:

  • Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: Huw Irranca-Davies
  • Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and the Cabinet Office: Rebecca Evans
  • Cabinet Secretary for Education: Lynne Neagle
  • Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Local Government and Planning: Jayne Bryant
  • Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care: Mark Drakeford
  • Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Transport and North Wales: Ken Skates
  • Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip: Jane Hutt
  • Minister for Social Care: Dawn Bowden
  • Minister for Social Partnership: Jack Sargeant
  • Minister for Mental Health and Early Years: Sarah Murphy
  • Counsel General-Designate: Elisabeth Jones

‘Same problems’

Responding to the news his old foe Mark Drakeford has been named as health secretary, Tory group leader Andrew RT Davies said the new cabinet will face the same old problems.

“The show-business of a reshuffle lasts for a day and this new government will be judged on their results,” he said.

“What Wales needs is a government that can be a voice for all of Wales and can deliver the NHS and the public services Wales deserves.

“After months of chaos in the Welsh Government, Wales will be watching.”

Mr Davies added: “What we can be sure of is that the return of Mark Drakeford to cabinet –  the architect of 20mph – means that 20mph is here to stay in Wales, which will disappoint motorists and businesses across Wales.”