Background
In his leadership election in 2018, and several times subsequently, Drakeford said he would leave the role midway through the Senedd term, sometimes specifically saying he expected to leave in 2024. [3] [4] [5]
On 9 August 2023, Drakeford said he will leave the Welsh parliament at the next election, but refused to be drawn on at what point before 2026 he would quit as first minister. [6] In October 2023 Drakeford confirmed he would stand down "...some time in the next calendar year" but again refused to be drawn on exactly when. [7]
On 13 December 2023, Drakeford announced his intention to resign as Welsh Labour Leader by March 2024, with the leadership election to begin shortly after his December announcement. [8] He denied that the timing was related to criticism he and his government had received for its expansion of 20 mph zones as a default for residential areas. [9]
Campaign
The race to succeed Mark Drakeford as First Minister of Wales has been overshadowed by controversy surrounding campaign finance. [14] The Institute of Welsh Affairs reported that campaign issues would include the Welsh NHS, the climate, constitutional and democratic reform, economic issues, and the party's relationship to the wider UK Labour Party. [15]
Various candidates were expected to put themselves forward in the election. Media speculation considered the economy minister Vaughan Gething, the education minister Jeremy Miles, the health minister Eluned Morgan, and deputy minister for social partnership Hannah Blythyn, to be the most likely candidates to stand. Morgan ruled out standing on 15 December, saying she wanted to focus on her ministerial work. [16] Blythyn ruled out standing on 15 December thanking the support that was extended to her from the Labour movement, before backing Miles. [17] Gething announced his candidacy on 14 December. Gething has served as an MS for Cardiff South and Penarth since 2011, as health minister from 2016 to 2021 and as economy minister since 2021. He previously stood for the leadership of Welsh Labour in 2018 against Drakeford. Gething would be the first black leader of a country in Europe. [18] Miles announced his candidacy on 18 December, with the support of more than half of Labour MSs. [19] [20] Miles has served as the MS for Neath since 2016, as counsel general from 2017 and Brexit minister from 2018, [21] both to 2021 and as education and Welsh language minister since 2021. [22]
On the economy, both candidates propose investing in sustainable industry to create jobs and growth. [23] Gething said he would create a "fair work fund" to support "better working practices". [24] Miles promised to establish an economic council to advise the Welsh Government and provide "financial incentives for recent graduates to stay in" Wales. [24] [25]
On healthcare, both candidates supported the establishment of a national care service. [23] Gething said he would maintain NHS spending in Wales to ensure it was the same or higher per person as in England and would consult patients, staff and trade unions about how to improve performance. [26] He said he would "establish a women's health plan". [24] Miles said he would increase Welsh government spending on health and education, with a focus on reducing NHS waiting times including by starting "dedicated orthopaedic centres for knee and hip replacements". [27] Gething said that specialist centres described by Miles were already being opened. [23] Miles pledged to improve accountability and "fast-track reform and rebuild trust" in Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. [24]
On education, Miles said he would increase Welsh government spending and provide "free Welsh lessons for parents whose children attend Welsh-medium school". [24] Plaid Cymru and the Conservatives criticised him for pledging to increase the education budget he cut as the minister responsible. [25] Gething said he wanted to increase provision of free childcare. [28]
On housing and the environment, both candidates proposed the establishment of an "environmental governance body". [24] Gething promised a housing retrofitting programme to reduce carbon emissions while Miles proposed a new rent-to-own housing scheme. [24] Miles expressed support for a Welsh government policy that would provide a subsidy to farmers who plant trees on 10% of their land and set aside 10% as habitats for wildlife, while Gething suggested that the requirements could be relaxed. [29]
Miles said he would immediately begin a review of the implementation of the expansion of 20 mph zones, but would not reverse the policy overall. [27] Gething said that the policy had not been communicated well but that he would not reverse it. [29] He said that public consultation would be part of the review of the policy. [30]
Miles also wanted powers over "crime, justice and benefits" to be devolved to Wales and promised to phase out greyhound racing and proposed a review of dog licences. [24] [23] [27]
On 21 February 2024, it was revealed that Gething took £200,000 for his campaign from a twice convicted businessman. [31] On 12 March, it was shown that Gething had lobbied regulators in support of the businessman's company, which has been prosecuted for waste crimes. [32] After the election, Gething has refused to return the £200,000 donation. [33]
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