Minister for North Wales of the Welsh Government
Gweinidog Gogledd Cymru
Incumbent
Lesley Griffiths MS
since 13 May 2021 (2021-05-13)
Welsh Government
StyleWelsh Minister
StatusCabinet Minister
AbbreviationMinister
Member of
Reports tothe Senedd and the First Minister of Wales
SeatCardiff
NominatorFirst Minister of Wales
AppointerThe Crown
Term lengthFive years
Subject to elections to the Senedd which take place every five years
First holderKen Skates AM
Websitegov.wales/lesley-griffiths-ms

The minister for North Wales (Welsh: gweinidog Gogledd Cymru or Welsh: gweinidog y Gogledd; lit. 'minister for the north') is a member of the cabinet in the Welsh Government. The current officeholder is Lesley Griffiths since May 2021.

Ministers

Name Picture Entered office Left office Other offices held Political party Government Notes
Minister for North Wales
Ken Skates 14 December 2018 13 May 2021 Minister for Economy and Transport Labour First Drakeford government [1][2][3]
Lesley Griffiths 13 May 2021 Incumbent Minister for Rural Affairs

Trefnydd

 Labour Second Drakeford government [4][5]

Background and history

Earlier proposals and North Wales representation

In her leadership bid for the 2009 Welsh Labour leadership election, Edwina Hart, stated she would establish a "Minister for North Wales", if she won and set up the next Welsh Assembly Government.[6]

In 2010, the Welsh Assembly Government opened a local assembly office in Llandudno Junction, Conwy, to decentralise government and the civil service, as well as spread the "benefits [of] devolution" to North Wales.[7] Prior to the efforts to decentralised only 23% of Welsh Government posts were outside Cardiff.[7] The Llandudno Junction building later became very underused by 2011, for its purpose and was costing £1 million annually.[8]

On 19 July 2011, the opposition Welsh Conservatives, gave specific responsibilities to a shadow minister over "North Wales". The responsibilities were passed to Mark Isherwood, the Shadow Minister for Housing and Social Justice, who would have additional responsibilities concerning North Wales alongside his usual shadow ministerial responsibilities.[9]

On 27 July 2011, the Welsh Assembly Government held its first cabinet meeting in North Wales, with First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones, stating he plans his government to have a "significant presence" in North Wales.[10]

Establishment of post

In 2017, a Chief Regional Officer role for North Wales was established by the Welsh Government.[2]

In his campaign to become leader of Welsh Labour, for the 2018 Welsh Labour leadership election, Mark Drakeford announced that if he were to win the leadership contest, he would set up a ministerial post dedicated to the interests of North Wales.[1][11] Drakeford repeated the plans he head for a North Wales post, for his first cabinet, after winning the leadership contest.[12]

The post was established on 14 December 2018, with Ken Skates as the inaugural holder.[3] It is the first ministerial post in the Welsh Government dedicated to North Wales.[2]

Calls for a devolved post

Following the Welsh Government roads review, where all of the road projects in North Wales were cancelled in February 2023. There were calls to establish a "metro mayor", comparable to the directly elected mayors in England, for North Wales. Proposers argued that the area is being ignored as was an example of a North-South divide in Wales, and that the devolved post would be a "real Minister for North Wales", but would still be accountable to the Welsh Government. The Welsh Government responded to calls stating they already have a Minister for North Wales in their cabinet, which would "champion[...] the north and it’s many strengths and opportunities".[13][14][15]

Responsibilities

The minister would be responsible on overseeing issues relating to North Wales, and would be the chair of the Standing Committee for Cabinet on North Wales.[16]

As a Welsh Minister, the holder is to have an annual salary of £105,701 for 2020–2021.[17]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Bagnall, Steve (11 January 2019). "First Minister shares North Wales vision (and views on 'divide' with the south)". North Wales Live. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Hughes, Owen (17 December 2018). "The minister aiming to change perception North Wales has been shortchanged since devolution". North Wales Live. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  3. 1 2 Osborne, Rob (14 December 2018). "Mark Drakeford reveals his new Welsh Government". ITV News.
  4. ↑ This article contains OGL licensed text This article incorporates text published under the British Open Government Licence: "Lesley Griffiths MS: Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd | GOV.WALES". www.gov.wales. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  5. ↑ "Minister for North Wales to be 'strong voice in the cabinet'". Wrexham.com. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  6. ↑ Live, North Wales (28 October 2009). "Edwina Hart in 'Minister for North Wales' pledge". North Wales Live. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  7. 1 2 "Assembly government office opens in Llandudno Junction". BBC News. 22 September 2010. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  8. ↑ WalesOnline (30 November 2011). "Empty rooms at new Welsh Government office block cost taxpayers more than £1m a year". Wales Online. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  9. ↑ "Tory assembly leader Andrew RT Davies's shadow cabinet". BBC News. 19 July 2011. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  10. ↑ "First north Wales meeting for Welsh Government cabinet". BBC News. 26 July 2011. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  11. ↑ "AM promises to install a Minister for North Wales if he elected as new Welsh Labour leader". The Leader. 15 October 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  12. ↑ "Mark Drakeford plans 50-50 gender split cabinet". BBC News. 9 December 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  13. ↑ "Welsh Government says there is "already a Minister for North Wales" after calls for a Metro Mayor". Deeside.com. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  14. ↑ Price, Emily (28 March 2023). "Businessman launches campaign to devolve power to north Wales and appoint 'metro mayor'". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  15. ↑ Hughes, Owen (27 March 2023). "North Wales should have its own 'Metro Mayor' demand after roads schemes halted". North Wales Live. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  16. ↑ This article contains OGL licensed text This article incorporates text published under the British Open Government Licence: "Lesley Griffiths MS: Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd | GOV.WALES". www.gov.wales. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  17. ↑ "Determination on Members' Pay and Allowances: 2020-2021" (PDF). senedd.wales. Remuneration Board.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.