| Chief Whip of the Welsh Government | |
|---|---|
| Prif Chwip Lywodraeth Cymru (Welsh) | |
 | |
| Welsh Government | |
| Member of | |
| Reports to | the Senedd and the First Minister of Wales |
| Seat | Cardiff |
| Nominator | First Minister of Wales |
| Appointer | The Crown |
| Term length | Subject to elections to the Senedd which take place every five years |
| First holder | Andrew Davies AM |
| Website | gov |
The Chief Whip (Welsh : Prif Chwip) is a member of the cabinet in the Welsh Government. [1] The current officeholder is Jane Hutt since May 2023. [2]
| Name | Picture | Entered office | Left office | Other offices held | Political party | Government | Refs. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karen Sinclair |  | 2000 | 2005 | Minister for Assembly Business | Labour | First Morgan government | [3] [4] | |
| Jane Hutt |  | 2005 | 2007 | Minister for the Assembly Business | Labour | Second Morgan government | [2] [5] | |
| Carl Sargeant |  | 31 May 2007 | 10 December 2009 | Labour | Fourth Morgan government | [6] | ||
| Janice Gregory |  | 10 December 2009 | 19 May 2016 | Labour | First Jones government | [7] [8] | ||
| Jane Hutt |  | 19 May 2016 | 3 November 2017 | Leader of the House | Labour | Third Jones government | [2] | |
| Julie James |  | 3 November 2017 | 13 December 2018 | Leader of the House | Labour | Third Jones government | [9] | |
| Jane Hutt | | 13 December 2018 | 13 May 2021 | Deputy minister | Labour | First Drakeford government | [2] [10] | |
| Dawn Bowden |  | 13 May 2021 | 3 May 2023 | Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport Accountable to Minister for Economy | Labour | Second Drakeford government | [2] [11] [12] | |
| Jane Hutt |  | 3 May 2023 | Incumbent | Minister for Social Justice (2018–2024) Trefnydd (2024–) | Labour | Second Drakeford government | [2] | |
The main responsibility of Chief Whip is to ensure the Welsh Government's business can go through the Senedd, in particular securing the majority of votes the government holds to vote on its legislative and policy programmes. The chief whip attends the cabinet, and works with the business minister to timetable and secure passage of legislative competence orders and acts) (formerly measures). They also have the role to successfully complete the government's programme of legislation. [13]
To maintain their responsibilities, whips use various methods. They manage the attendance of members in Senedd votes, and persuade them to vote with the government. The chief whip is also an important link not only between the government and the parliamentary (majority) party, but also between the government and opposition parties or the Assembly Parliamentary Service (now Senedd Commission) and presiding office. The chief whip would attends regular weekly meetings with key figures to discuss the Senedd's business arrangements, as well as cabinet meetings. They have daily contact with these key figures to deal with ongoing matters, timetabling and agenda issues. When legislation is to be passed, or for some other government business, discussions may arise between the chief whip and opposition whips, the minister overseeing Senedd business, or the whips' designated "shadow" counterpart, to resolve difficulties arising with amendments, the timing of a vote, and to resolve such issues a deal may be reached. [13]
The chief whip also has contact with other whips concerning various matters, such as "pairing" and the intermittent filling of committee vacancies. The chief whip also manages the membership of committees and sub-committees. Discussions may follow these channels for other matters, such as changes coming from or presented to the Business Committee. [13]
The chief whip also ensures that backbenchers use their electronic votes correctly. The whip (document) is circulated each week by whips of each party to their members and sets out the list of business for the following week, as well as the party's expectations for when Senedd members are to vote. To minimise the persuasion required for backbenchers to support the government, the Chief Whip advises the cabinet over the likely acceptability of any of its legislative proposals. [13]
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