Shadow Cabinet of Dafydd Wigley

Last updated
Wigley Shadow Cabinet
Flag of Wales 2.svg
Shadow Cabinet of Wales
1999–2000
Official portrait of Dafydd Wigley AM.jpg
Date formed18 May 1999
Date dissolved4 August 2000
People and organisations
Monarch Elizabeth II
Leader of the Opposition and Shadow First Secretary Dafydd Wigley [lower-alpha 1]
Member party
  •   Plaid Cymru
Status in legislature Official Opposition
17 / 60 (28%)
History
Legislature term 1st National Assembly for Wales
PredecessorAssembly established
Successor Shadow Cabinet of Ieuan Wyn Jones

Dafydd Wigley became Leader of the Opposition and Shadow First Secretary of Wales after the creation of the National Assembly for Wales on 12 May 1999, following the first assembly election held on 6 May. Members of his shadow cabinet were elected by Plaid Cymru's assembly members and announced on 18 May.

Contents

In December 1999, Wigley temporarily delegated his responsibilities to Ieuan Wyn Jones due to ill health, who became acting leader of the opposition and Plaid Cymru. He resumed his responsibilities in February 2000 but later announced his resignation in May 2000 to focus on his health. In August 2000, Jones was elected to succeed him as Plaid Cymru's leader, becoming the new Leader of the Opposition and forming a new shadow cabinet.

Background

Dafydd Wigley was elected unopposed as President of Plaid Cymru in the 1991 Plaid Cymru presidential election, having previously served as the president of the party from 1981 to 1984. [1] Plaid Cymru, a party traditionally supportive of Welsh independence, campaigned for the establishment of a devolved Welsh legislature in the 1990s with the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats. [2] After UK Labour formed a government following the 1997 UK general election, it held a referendum in Wales on establishing a devolved Welsh assembly, which returned a narrow majority in favour of establishing an assembly. [3] [4] The first election to the National Assembly for Wales was held on 6 May 1999, and it met for the first time on 12 May 1999. [4]

At the election in May 1999, Plaid Cymru made gains against Labour, which had traditionally dominated Welsh politics, winning 17 seats and causing Labour to unexpectedly fall short of an overall majority. [5] [6] Labour became the largest party in the assembly with 28 assembly members (AMs) and formed a minority administration with its leader Alun Michael elected as the inaugural First Secretary of Wales at the first plenary session of the National Assembly on 12 May. [7] [8] Michael announced his cabinet at the same session, appointing nine Labour AMs to serve as ministers, officially known as assembly secretaries, in the devolved government of Wales. [9] [8]

As the second largest party in the assembly with 17 AMs, Plaid Cymru formed the official opposition to the Labour administration, [10] [11] [6] enabling it to act as a government-in-waiting in accordance with the Westminster system of government traditionally practiced across the United Kingdom. [12] [13] Wigley was elected as AM for Caernarfon and became the first Leader of the Opposition of Wales as the leader of Plaid Cymru in the assembly. [14] [15] As the official opposition in the assembly, Plaid Cymru was expected to scrutinise the policies and governance of the devolved administration, propose alternative policies and lead assembly debates. To fulfill these duties, Wigley was expected to form and lead a shadow cabinet made up of shadow ministers who would mirror the roles of devolved ministers in the Welsh Cabinet and lead the party in scrutinising the Labour administration and its ministers. [16] [17] The two other opposition parties, the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, announced their frontbench teams on 13 May 1999. [18] [17] Wigley said he would announce his shadow cabinet on 18 May, at the second plenary session of the National Assembly. [18] [17] He did not personally appoint the members of the shadow cabinet like other party leaders; members were instead elected to their positions by Plaid Cymru's seventeen AMs. [18]

History

On 18 May, the members of the Shadow Cabinet were announced. Wigley was elected as Shadow First Secretary and Shadow Assembly Secretary for Finance. [19] [20] Other elections to the Shadow Cabinet included Ynys Môn AM Ieuan Wyn Jones as Shadow Trefnydd/Business Manager and Opposition Chief Whip, Llanelli AM Helen Mary Jones as Shadow Assembly Secretary for Social Inclusion and Equal Opportunity, Mid and West Wales AM Cynog Dafis as Plaid Cymru Policy Co-ordinator in the Welsh Assembly, South Wales East AM Phil Williams as Shadow Assembly Secretary for Economic Development, Conwy AM Gareth Jones as Shadow Assembly Secretary for Education and Childcare, Ceredigion AM Elin Jones as Shadow Assembly Secretary for Education and Training, Carmarthen East and Dinefwr AM Rhodri Glyn Thomas as Shadow Assembly Secretary for Agriculture and Rural Development, North Wales AM Janet Ryder as Shadow Assembly Secretary for the Environment, Local Government and Planning, and South Wales West AM Dai Lloyd as Shadow Assembly Secretary for Health and Social Services. [21] [19] [22] Unlike the nine-member Labour cabinet led by First Secretary Alun Michael, the Shadow Cabinet had ten members; Helen Mary Jones took on a shadow portfolio for social inclusion and equal opportunity, which did not have an equivalent in Michael's administration. [19]

In December 1999, Wigley had to undergo a minor heart surgery operation due to a heart condition [23] and ill health. [24] [14] In response, he introduced a new deputy leadership role, although an officeholder was never appointed to actually fill the position. [25] [26] He temporarily resigned from his duties while he recovered, delegating his responsibilities to Ieuan Wyn Jones, who was elected unopposed by the Plaid Cymru assembly group to serve as the acting leader of the party during his absence. [27] [24] [14] Wigley returned to his duties in February 2000 after being granted permission to return to work from his doctors, leading his party into the premiership of Labour's Rhodri Morgan. [28] [29] In May 2000, Wigley announced his decision to resign as President of Plaid Cymru after recovering slower than he had expected and being told to reduce his workload by medical advisers. [20] [23] Jones was elected to succeed him in a leadership election held in August, becoming the new Leader of the Opposition and forming a new shadow cabinet. [30] Jones offered Wigley a place in the new shadow cabinet, but Wigley refused so he could continue to focus on his recovering health. [20] [31]

Members

PortfolioShadow MinisterConstituencyTerm
Leader of the Opposition
President of Plaid Cymru
Shadow First Secretary
Shadow Assembly Secretary for Finance 		Official portrait of Dafydd Wigley AM.jpg Dafydd Wigley AM [lower-alpha 1] Caernarfon May 1999–August 2000
Shadow Trefnydd/Business Manager
Opposition Chief Whip 		Official portrait of Ieuan Wyn Jones AM.jpg Ieuan Wyn Jones AM [lower-alpha 2] Ynys Môn May 1999–August 2000
Shadow Assembly Secretary for Social Inclusion and Equal Opportunity Official portrait of Helen Mary Jones AM.jpg Helen Mary Jones AM Llanelli May 1999–August 2000
Plaid Cymru Policy Co-ordinator in the Welsh Assembly Cynog Dafis yn annerch y dorf Climate Strike, Aberystwyth (cropped 2).jpg Cynog Dafis AM Mid and West Wales May 1999–August 2000
Shadow Assembly Secretary for Economic Development Phil Williams.png Phil Williams AM South Wales East May 1999–August 2000
Shadow Assembly Secretary for Education and Childcare Official portrait of Gareth Jones AM.jpg Gareth Jones AM Conwy May 1999–August 2000
Shadow Assembly Secretary for Education and Training Official portrait of Elin Jones AM.jpg Elin Jones AM Ceredigion May 1999–August 2000
Shadow Assembly Secretary for Agriculture and Rural Development Official portrait of Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM.jpg Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM Carmarthen East and Dinefwr May 1999–August 2000
Shadow Assembly Secretary for the Environment, Local Government and Planning Official portrait of Janet Ryder AM.jpg Janet Ryder AM North Wales May 1999–August 2000
Shadow Assembly Secretary for Health and Social Services Official portrait of Dai Lloyd AM.jpg Dai Lloyd AM South Wales West May 1999–August 2000

See also

Notes and references

Notes

  1. 1 2 Wigley delegated his responsibilities to Ieuan Wyn Jones from December 1999 to February 2000 due to ill health.
  2. ↑ Jones also temporarily served in Wigley's portfolios from December 1999 to February 2000 in an acting capacity while Wigley withdrew from his duties due to ill health.

Related Research Articles

Plaid Cymru is a centre-left to left-wing, Welsh nationalist political party in Wales, committed to Welsh independence from the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Secretary of State for Wales</span> Member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom

The secretary of state for Wales, also referred to as the Welsh secretary, is a secretary of state in the Government of the United Kingdom, with responsibility for the Wales Office. The incumbent is a member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Senedd</span> Devolved parliament of Wales

The Senedd, officially known as the Welsh Parliament in English and Senedd Cymru in Welsh, is the devolved, unicameral legislature of Wales. A democratically elected body, it makes laws for Wales, agrees to certain taxes, and scrutinises the Welsh Government. It is a bilingual institution, with both Welsh and English being the official languages of its business. From its creation in May 1999 until May 2020, the Senedd was officially known as the National Assembly for Wales and was often simply called the Welsh Assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ron Davies (Welsh politician)</span> Welsh politician

Ronald Davies is a retired Welsh politician, former Secretary of State for Wales, former Member of Parliament and former member of the Welsh Assembly. He describes himself as a politician belonging to the "traditional left" who had "spent his life looking for a socialist progressive party". He was a member of the Labour Party, and then of Forward Wales (2004–2009); he was subsequently an independent candidate and eventually joined Plaid Cymru in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ieuan Wyn Jones</span> Welsh politician

Ieuan Wyn Jones is a Welsh politician who was the Deputy First Minister in the Welsh Government from 2007 to 2011. He was the Member of the National Assembly for Wales for the Ynys Môn constituency from 1999 to 2013, and he was also leader of Plaid Cymru from 2000 to 2012. Jones served as Member of Parliament for Ynys Môn constituency from 1987 to 2001, when he retired to focus on his work in the Welsh Assembly. In 2007, Jones was named Wales' "Politician of the Year" by the BBC Wales am.pm programme. He resigned from the Welsh Assembly on 20 June 2013. In 2017 he unsuccessfully sought to return to the House of Commons for his former constituency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1997 Welsh devolution referendum</span> Pre-legislative referendum in Wales

The Welsh devolution referendum of 1997 was a pre-legislative referendum held in Wales on 18 September 1997 over whether there was support for the creation of a National Assembly for Wales, and therefore a degree of self-government. The referendum was a Labour manifesto commitment and was held in their first term after the 1997 election under the provisions of the Referendums Act 1997. This was the second referendum held in Wales over the question of devolution: the first referendum was held in 1979 and was defeated by a large majority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike German, Baron German</span> Former Deputy First Minister of Wales

Michael James German, Baron German is a Welsh politician who was Deputy First Minister of Wales from 2000 to 2001 and 2002 to 2003 and Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats from 1998 to 2008, first as its de facto leader until 2007 and then as its official leader from 2007. The first-ever deputy first minister of Wales, he was also Minister for Economic Development from 2000 to 2001 and Minister for Rural Affairs and Wales Abroad from 2002 to 2003. He was elected to the National Assembly for Wales in 1999 where he was Assembly Member (AM) for South Wales East until 2010 and led his party group until 2008. In 2010, he was granted a life peerage and has since served in the House of Lords as a working peer for the Liberal Democrats. Ideologically, he is on the more liberal wing of his party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Welsh independence</span> Welsh political philosophy

Welsh independence is the political movement advocating for Wales to become a sovereign state, independent from the United Kingdom.

The Welsh Conservatives, also known as the Welsh Conservative Party, is the branch of the United Kingdom Conservative Party that operates in Wales. At Westminster elections, it is the second-most popular political party in Wales by vote share, having obtained the second-largest share of the vote at every general election since 1931. In Senedd elections, the Conservatives are currently the second-most supported party but have at times been third. As of 2024, they hold none of the 32 Welsh seats in the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and 16 of the 60 seats in the Senedd.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Delyth Evans</span> Welsh politician (born 1958)

Margaret Delyth Evans is a Welsh former politician who served as Deputy Minister for Rural Affairs, Culture and Environment in the National Assembly for Wales from 2000 to 2003. A member of the Labour Party, she was Assembly Member (AM) for Mid and West Wales from 2000 until her retirement from the National Assembly in 2003. Since 2019, she has sat on the board of Sport Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Plaid Cymru</span> Aspect of Welsh political history

Plaid Cymru originated in 1925 after a meeting held at that year's National Eisteddfod in Pwllheli, Caernarfonshire. Representatives from two Welsh nationalist groups founded the previous year, Byddin Ymreolwyr Cymru and Y Mudiad Cymreig, agreed to meet and discuss the need for a "Welsh party". The party was founded as Plaid Genedlaethol Cymru, the National Party of Wales, and attracted members from the left, right and centre of the political spectrum, including both monarchists and republicans. Its principal aims include the promotion of the Welsh language and the political independence of the Welsh nation.

The Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language is a member of the Cabinet in the Welsh Government. The office has been vacant since July 2024.

The Welsh Shadow Cabinet is formed from members of the official opposition in the Senedd, the largest party not part of the Welsh Government, to scrutinise ministers in the Welsh Cabinet. It is led by the Leader of the Opposition, who typically appoints members of the Senedd (MSs) from their party as shadow ministers with portfolios which mirror ministerial posts in the Cabinet who scrutinise ministers and can propose their own alternative policies. Other opposition parties in the Senedd also appoint frontbench teams of spokespeople who perform the same function. These are also sometimes styled as "shadow cabinets" by their parties, though unlike the Shadow Cabinet they have no official recognition. Since 2021, the Shadow Cabinet has been formed from members of the Welsh Conservatives led by Andrew RT Davies, who have alternated with Plaid Cymru as the official opposition in the Senedd since its establishment as the National Assembly for Wales in 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhun ap Iorwerth</span> Welsh journalist and politician

Rhun ap Iorwerth is a Welsh journalist and politician who has served as the Leader of Plaid Cymru since June 2023. He has been the Member of the Senedd (MS) for Ynys Môn since 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leader of the Opposition (Wales)</span> Parliamentary position in Wales

In the Senedd, the Leader of the Opposition is the leader of the Official Opposition, the largest political party that is not in the Welsh Government. The Leader of the Opposition leads and appoints members of the Shadow Cabinet and as such is sometimes styled as the Shadow First Minister of Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shadow Cabinet of Ieuan Wyn Jones</span>

Ieuan Wyn Jones became Leader of the Opposition in Wales after being elected as President of Plaid Cymru, the Official Opposition in the National Assembly for Wales, on 3 August 2000. Jones had previously served in these roles in an acting capacity on the behalf of his predecessor Dafydd Wigley from December 1999 to February 2000. He formed his shadow cabinet on 9 August and, like his predecessor, appointed himself Shadow First Secretary of Wales and Shadow Assembly Secretary for Finance. Members of his shadow cabinet were initially known as shadow assembly secretaries until October 2000. From that month, members were known as shadow ministers, with Jones's titles also changing to Shadow First Minister of Wales and Shadow Minister for Finance, after a similar change was made to the names of ministerial posts in Rhodri Morgan's coalition government between Labour and the Liberal Democrats. Jones's shadow cabinet was dissolved after the formation of a coalition government between Plaid Cymru and Morgan's Labour Party on 19 July 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frontbench Team of Rod Richards</span> Welsh Conservatives frontbench team (1999)

Rod Richards, the leader of the Welsh Conservative Group in the National Assembly for Wales, formed his frontbench team of party spokespeople on 13 May 1998. Richards had led his party into the 1999 National Assembly for Wales election after being elected as leader of the Welsh Conservative Group in 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Second Frontbench Team of Mike German</span> Welsh Liberal Democrats frontbench team (2003–2008)

Mike German, the leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrat Group in the National Assembly for Wales, formed his second frontbench team of party spokespeople on 8 May 2003 after the dissolution of his party's coalition government with Rhodri Morgan's Welsh Labour following the 2003 National Assembly for Wales election. Richards had already formed a frontbench team before entering coalition, when his party became an opposition party after the 1999 National Assembly for Wales election before forming the coalition with Labour in October 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frontbench Team of Ieuan Wyn Jones</span> Plaid Cymru frontbench team in the National Assembly for Wales (2011–2012)

Ieuan Wyn Jones, the leader of Plaid Cymru, formed his frontbench team of party spokespeople in the National Assembly for Wales on 25 May 2011 after the dissolution of his party's coalition government with Rhodri Morgan and Carwyn Jones' Welsh Labour following the 2011 National Assembly for Wales election. Jones had previously led a shadow cabinet before entering coalition from 2000 to 2007, when his party had served as the Official Opposition since the 1999 National Assembly for Wales election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shadow Cabinet of Leanne Wood</span>

Leanne Wood became Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly for Wales after Plaid Cymru became the largest party not in government after the 2016 National Assembly for Wales election. 12 Plaid Cymru AMs were elected, as opposed to 11 Welsh Conservative AMs.

References

  1. ↑ "Wigley set for Assembly comeback". WalesOnline. 3 December 2005. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  2. ↑ Schrijver, Frans (2006). Regionalism After Regionalisation: Spain, France and the United Kingdom. Amsterdam University Press. p. 295. ISBN   978-90-5629-428-1 . Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  3. ↑ "The man who would have been leader". BBC News. 27 October 1998. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  4. 1 2 "Welsh devolution at 25: Reflecting on 25 years since the first Senedd election". ITV News. 6 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  5. ↑ Hassan, Gerry; Shaw, Eric (7 May 2019). The People's Flag and the Union Jack: An Alternative History of Britain and the Labour Party. Biteback Publishing. p. 133. ISBN   978-1-78590-387-8 . Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  6. 1 2 "Michael rules out coalition". BBC News. 11 May 1999. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  7. ↑ "A cloudy dawn". The Economist. 13 May 1999. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  8. 1 2 Rawlings, Richard (2003). Delineating Wales: Constitutional, Legal and Administrative Aspects of National Devolution. University of Wales Press. pp. 92–94, 124. ISBN   978-0-7083-1739-6 . Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  9. ↑ "No place in Welsh Cabinet for Ron Davies". The Guardian. 12 May 1999. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  10. ↑ Rees, Huw; Kilcoyne, Sian (20 October 2022). Wales on This Day. University of Wales Press. p. 154. ISBN   978-1-915279-12-5 . Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  11. ↑ "Four years of Welsh devolution (page 2)". BBC News. 15 April 2003. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  12. ↑ Colin, Copus; Richard, Kerley; Alistair, Jones (4 February 2022). A Modern Guide to Local and Regional Politics. Edward Elgar Publishing. p. 240. ISBN   978-1-83910-345-2 . Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  13. ↑ Vlahos, Nick (29 June 2020). The Political Economy of Devolution in Britain from the Postwar Era to Brexit. Springer Nature. p. 208. ISBN   978-3-030-48729-4 . Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  14. 1 2 3 "A passion for politics". BBC News. 31 May 2000. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  15. ↑ "Former Plaid Cymru MP to celebrate 50 years since election". Nation.Cymru. 31 August 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  16. ↑ Deacon, Russell (20 December 2017). Government and Politics of Wales. Edinburgh University Press. pp. 99–100. ISBN   978-0-7486-9974-2 . Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  17. 1 2 3 Lyons, Jamie (18 May 1999). "Assembly code of conduct drawn up". South Wales Echo. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  18. 1 2 3 "How the opposition cabinets line up". South Wales Echo. 13 May 1999. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  19. 1 2 3 "Plaid is 'ready to take reigns'". South Wales Echo. 19 May 1999. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  20. 1 2 3 "People in the Assembly: Dafydd Wigley". BBC News. 1 September 1999. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  21. ↑ Walters, Brian (20 May 1999). "Wigley names dream team – 'ready to govern Wales'". South Wales Evening Post. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  22. ↑ "Assembly spokespeople". Vacher's Parliamentary Companion (1, 097). A.S. Kerswill Limited: 236. 2000. ISBN   9780953066469 . Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  23. 1 2 "Plaid Cymru leader steps down". BBC News. 31 May 2000. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  24. 1 2 "Plaid choose stop-gap leader". BBC News. 8 December 1999. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  25. ↑ Hannan, Patrick (2006). When Arthur Met Maggie. Seren. pp. 156–159. ISBN   978-1-85411-422-8 . Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  26. ↑ "Plaid appoints its first deputy chief". North Wales Live. 14 May 2003. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  27. ↑ "Wigley illness leaves Plaid power gap". BBC News. 7 December 1999. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  28. ↑ "Wigley back at helm of Plaid Cymru". BBC News. 11 February 2000. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  29. ↑ "Plaid's 'consensus' policy hope". BBC News. 14 February 2000. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  30. ↑ "Devolution: Wales" (PDF). Monitor: The Constitution Unit Bulletin (12). The Constitution Unit, University College London. September 2000. ISSN   1465-4377 . Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  31. ↑ "Plaid leader reshuffles cabinet". BBC News. 9 August 2000. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.