Getty ImagesVaughan Gething’s former leadership rival Jeremy Miles has returned to the Welsh government as Eluned Morgan’s health secretary in her first cabinet reshuffle.
Former first minister Mark Drakeford – who had been interim health secretary since the summer – has also been given a permanent job as finance secretary.
Morgan said her reshuffle offered stability and that Drakeford would be an “anchor” for her government at a time when finances were tight.
But the Tories said the first minister’s new cabinet was “still the same old Labour” while Plaid Cymru criticised the “third Welsh government cabinet this year after months of internal Labour party chaos”.
Miles was one of four cabinet members who forced Gething to resign in the summer by quitting his cabinet.
Julie James, who had left her job as housing secretary, will also return to government to become counsel general.
But two of the four – Lesley Griffiths and Mick Antoniw – were not given ministerial jobs.
Vaughan Gething, who was ousted after months of rows rocked Welsh Labour, had already ruled himself out of serving in the government.
The first minister said: “The changes I am announcing today offer stability, draw on experience, and bring our collective talents together.
“The new portfolios reflect modern Wales and are designed to address the key challenges that face us all.”
She told BBC Wales Today that former first minister Drakeford had “vast experience” and that “bringing that anchor to government is really helpful at a time when finances are still really, really tight”.
Morgan had made no secret when she was health secretary of how tough the role was.
She said Miles “was happy to take the job. I think he relishes the challenge”.
The first minister said she was confident that she could hold the party together after the difficult months of 2024: “There was a really good atmosphere in the cabinet today.”
Welsh governmentDrakeford, whose resignation triggered the Welsh Labour leadership contest of early 2024, had previously been finance minister under Carwyn Jones before becoming first minister in 2018.
Rebecca Evans, who was finance secretary prior to the reshuffle, has moved to the economy brief.
But Lynne Neagle, Ken Skates, Jayne Bryant, Huw-Irranca Davies have all retained their previous jobs in education, transport, local government and rural affairs respectively.
Jane Hutt will also stay on as chief whip, although her culture portfolio – previously held by Lesley Griffiths – will move to junior minister Jack Sargeant.
He is also responsible for skills and social partnership.
Meanwhile Vikki Howells, MS for Cynon Valley, has been promoted to government as a junior minister for the first time, responsible for further and higher education.
Sarah Murphy and Dawn Bowden have also retained junior government jobs.
Jeremy Miles lost to Vaughan Gething in the Welsh Labour leadership contest in March.
Following months of rows over Gething’s campaign donations and the sacking of a minister, Miles, James, Antoniw and Griffiths all quit at the same time, forcing Gething from office.
Prior to resigning Lesley Griffiths had been in government since 2009.
The health job is arguably the most important ministerial position below first minister – with the NHS and social services taking up more than half of the Welsh government’s budget.
Who is who in the new Welsh government cabinet?
- Huw Irranca-Davies – Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs
- Jeremy Miles – Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
- Mark Drakeford – Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language
- Rebecca Evans – Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
- Jayne Bryant – Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government
- Lynne Neagle – Cabinet Secretary for Education
- Ken Skates – Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales
- Jane Hutt – Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip
- Jack Sargeant – Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership
- Vikki Howells – Minister for Further and Higher Education
- Sarah Murphy – Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing
- Dawn Bowden – Minister for Children and Social Care
- Julie James – Counsel General Designate and Minister for Delivery
‘This government continues to fail’
Andrew RT Davies, Welsh Conservative Senedd leader, said: “While there may be a new first minister, it’s still the same old Labour.
“We know that this Labour Welsh government will continue to fail in the key areas that matter to Wales while they focus time and energy on pointless pet projects.”
Rhun ap Iorwerth, Plaid Cymru leader, said: “This is the third Welsh government cabinet this year after months of internal Labour party chaos.
“Wales deserves better than this tired and divided Labour government that delivers nothing but delay and distractions.”
Analysis
By Daniel Davies, political correspondent
Jeremy Miles inherits a massive budget and a daunting task.
It’s three years since the Welsh government declared that reducing the backlog of treatments from Covid was “our highest priority”.
But hospital waiting times have proved stubbornly high and last month hit a new record, having risen for the fifth month in a row.
Eluned Morgan, Vaughan Gething and Mark Drakeford all did stints in charge of the behemoth health department before ascending to the top job.
Now it’s the turn of the politician who helped end Gething’s reign by resigning from his cabinet.
