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Leader of Welsh Labour (2018–2024)
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Mark Drakeford (born 19 September 1954) is a Welsh politician who has served as Cabinet Secretary for Finance since September 2024, having previously held the position from 2016 to 2018. He previously served as First Minister of Wales and Leader of Welsh Labour from 2018 to 2024, and as Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care from 2013 to 2016,[c] and on an interim basis in 2024. He was first elected as the Member of the Senedd (MS) for Cardiff West in 2011 and is considered to be on the soft left of Labour.

Drakeford was born in Carmarthen in West Wales. He studied Latin at the University of Kent and the University of Exeter. He was a lecturer at the University College of Swansea from 1991 to 1995 and at Cardiff University from 1995 to 1999. He was a Professor of Social Policy and Applied Social Sciences at Cardiff University from 2003 to 2013. Drakeford was elected at the 2011 National Assembly for Wales election for Cardiff West. In 2013, First Minister Carwyn Jones appointed Drakeford to the Welsh Government as Minister for Health and Social Services. He served as Cabinet Secretary for Finance from 2016 to 2018 and as Minister for Brexit from 2017 to 2018. In 2018, he was elected to succeed Jones as Welsh Labour Leader and First Minister.

He led the Welsh Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the 2021 Senedd election, Drakeford led Welsh Labour to win 30 seats, a working majority, and was reappointed as First Minister. Drakeford resigned as Welsh Labour Leader and First Minister in March 2024 and was succeeded by his Health Minister Vaughan Gething. Drakeford spent the duration of Gething's premiership on the backbenches before making a return to government as Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care under First Minister Eluned Morgan in August 2024.

Early life and education

[edit]

Mark Drakeford was born on 19 September 1954[2] in Carmarthenshire, West Wales, where he was brought up. His formative years were spent in a politically engaged environment, with Drakeford later observing that politics was "part of the fabric of life in 1960s Carmarthenshire".[3] He has stated that he was "always Labour", developing the belief that "a person's ties to the economy are the great determining factor in their life chances".[3]

His political consciousness developed early, and by the age of 14, Drakeford had become a republican, a conviction that remained with him throughout his political career.[3] According to some sources, his parents were John Drakeford, a teacher, and Mary Drakeford, a nurse, whose care-based professions helped shape his social awareness and compassion.[4] He grew up bilingual, speaking both Welsh and English.[5]

He was educated at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, then an all-boys grammar school in Carmarthen.[6] He went on to study Latin at the University of Kent,[6] before gaining a B.Phil. from the University of Exeter and returning to Wales to complete a PhD.[7]

Early career and social work

[edit]

After university, Drakeford trained both as a teacher and as a social worker.[8] He moved to Cardiff in 1979 and worked as a probation officer and youth justice worker until 1991.[9]

Drakeford served as a Barnardo's project leader in the Ely and Caerau areas of Cardiff.[8] During the 1980s, Ely faced significant social deprivation, with unemployment exceeding 30% and high levels of crime. [citation needed]

His experiences working with homeless young people led him to help establish Llamau, a Welsh youth homelessness charity, in 1986.[9][10] The charity has since supported over 100,000 young people facing homelessness.[10]

Academic career

[edit]

From 1991 to 1995, Drakeford was a lecturer in applied social studies at the University College of Swansea (now Swansea University).[11] He then moved to the University of Wales, Cardiff, renamed as Cardiff University in 1999, as a lecturer in its School of Social and Administrative Studies.[11] He was promoted to senior lecturer in 1999 and appointed as Professor of Social Policy and Applied Social Sciences in 2003.[11] Drakeford continued in his academic posts until his appointment as a Welsh Government minister in 2013. He has published books and journal articles on various aspects of social policy.[12]

During his academic career, Drakeford authored and co-authored numerous publications on social welfare policy. Notable works included "Scandal, Social Work and Social Welfare" (2005) with Ian Butler, which examined how events become defined as scandals and their impact on social welfare policy,[13] and "Social Work and Social Policy under Austerity" (2012) with Bill Jordan.[14] He also contributed to "Children, Place and Identity: Nation and Locality in Middle Childhood" (2006), which explored how children understand local and national identities.[15]

Political career

[edit]

Drakeford has always been interested in politics, which he says was part of the fabric of life in 1960s Carmarthenshire.[16] He has also stated that he was "always Labour", believing that a person's ties to the economy are the great determining factor in their life chances.[17] In addition to his membership of the Labour Party, he is a member of Unite the Union and UNISON, and a solidarity member of LGBT+ Labour.[18] He is a staunch opponent of Britain's Trident nuclear programme[19] and has called for its decommissioning.[20] Drakeford is considered to be part of the left wing of the Labour Party, and is supported by some members of Welsh Labour Grassroots and Momentum.[21] His views were described as soft left in 2018, in line with the views of former Labour leader Michael Foot.[22]

From 1985 to 1993, Drakeford represented the Pontcanna ward on South Glamorgan County Council, with fellow future Welsh Assembly members Jane Hutt and Jane Davidson as his ward colleagues.[23] He served as Chair of the Education Committee and took a particular interest in Welsh-medium education.[24]

Having been part of the successful Yes for Wales campaign in the 1997 Welsh devolution referendum, he was selected as the Labour candidate for Cardiff Central at the first Welsh Assembly election, as part of Labour's 'twinned seats' policy. The seat was won by the Liberal Democrats' Jenny Randerson.

Following Rhodri Morgan’s appointment as First Minister in 2000, Drakeford became the Welsh Government’s special adviser on health and social policy, and later served as the head of Morgan’s political office. He had been close with Morgan for a number of years, having been Morgan's election agent when he was elected to the UK Parliament. In his role as a special advisor, Drakeford was one of the principal architects of the Clear Red Water philosophy, which made a distinction between Labour Party policy under Morgan in Wales and under Tony Blair in Westminster.[25]

Drakeford succeeded Morgan as the Assembly Member for Cardiff West when the latter retired at the 2011 election. Soon after, he became Chair of the Assembly's Health and Social Care Committee and of the All-Wales Programme Monitoring Committee for European Funds.[24]

In 2013, he was invited by First Minister Carwyn Jones to join the Government, replacing Lesley Griffiths as Minister for Health and Social Services. His appointment was welcomed by the British Medical Association and the Royal College of Nursing. As Health Minister, he guided both the Human Transplantation Act and the Nurse Staffing Levels Act through the Senedd.

In a reshuffle after the 2016 election, he became Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government. His portfolio was later changed, as he assumed responsibility for the Welsh Government’s Brexit preparations and responsibility for local government was transferred to Alun Davies.

He was the only sitting Cabinet member in any part of the UK to support Jeremy Corbyn in his bid for the national leadership of the Labour Party in 2015, while he was Minister for Health and Social Services.[26]

At the UK Labour Party's conference in September 2022, Drakeford used his speech at conference to in part hail the benefits of electoral reform. He has been a long term advocate for using proportional representation at general elections.[27]

Welsh Labour leadership

[edit]
See also: 2018 Welsh Labour leadership election

Immediately following Carwyn Jones' resignation as party leader and First Minister on 21 April 2018, Drakeford told BBC Wales he was giving a leadership bid "serious consideration".[28] Two days later, he Declared himself a candidate in the ensuing leadership contest.[29] He immediately secured the public support of seven other Labour AMs, taking him beyond the threshold of nominations needed to get onto the ballot.[30] Prior to Jones giving written notice of his resignation on 26 September, a further nine Labour AMs nominated Drakeford, meaning a majority of the Labour Group in the Senedd would be supporting his candidacy.[31] He later received support from 10 MPs, eight trade unions and 24 Constituency Labour Parties.

At a special conference on 15 September 2018, it was decided that the voting system for Welsh Labour leadership elections would be changed to a variation of one member, one vote--a change for which Drakeford had been campaigning for over 20 years.

Early policy proposals from Drakeford's leadership campaign included a pilot for universal baby bundles and a push for the devolution of the Probation Service.[32][33] At the north Wales launch of his campaign, he set out plans for a Social Partnership Act to protect employment rights, and plans to establish a Community Bank for Wales.[34] During an interview, Drakeford said that he was a republican, and had been since the age of 14. According to ITV Wales, were he elected, Drakeford would have a "working relationship with the Royal Family", but did not feel that his views would be "an issue".[35]

On 6 December 2018, Drakeford emerged as leader of the Welsh Labour Party in succession to Carwyn Jones. He received 46.9% of the vote in the first round of the contest, and 53.9% in the second round compared to 41.4% for Vaughan Gething.[36]

On 13 December 2023, he stated his intention to resign as Leader of the Welsh Labour Party, although he would remain as First Minister until his successor was chosen.[37] On 16 March 2024 Vaughan Gething won the Welsh Labour leadership election against Jeremy Miles with 51.7% of the vote.[38]

First Minister

[edit]
Mark Drakeford
Premiership of Mark Drakeford
13 December 2018 – 20 March 2024
Mark Drakeford
CabinetFirst Drakeford government
Second Drakeford government
PartyWelsh Labour
Election2021
Appointed byElizabeth II
SeatTŷ Hywel
Mark Drakeford at a COVID-19 press conference in January 2021

Mark Drakeford was nominated by AMs as First Minister designate on 12 December 2018 and his nomination was approved by Queen Elizabeth II. He named his government the following day. He was appointed as a Privy Counsellor on 10 January 2019.

COVID-19 pandemic

[edit]
Main article: COVID-19 pandemic in Wales

As First Minister, Drakeford responded to the COVID-19 pandemic in Wales. Many aspects of handling COVID-19 were the responsibility of the Welsh Government, including the setting of restrictions on everyday life designed to curtail the virus.[39]

On 23 March 2020, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, having the agreement of all devolved governments, issued a lockdown of the United Kingdom, with only essential services remaining open. First Minister Drakeford announced that the measures would also cover Wales and would come into effect from that evening.[40] The measures put in place restricted people from leaving their home for non-essential travel, with outside exercise limited to once a day. The measures that controlled exercise outside the home differed from those in England, where the measures in place did not stipulate a once-a-day restriction, whereas the Welsh version specifically limited exercise outside the home to once a day, with the maximum fine being £120, compared to £960 in England.[41] On 20 May, the Welsh Government increased the maximum fine to £1,920.[42]

On 25 March the Coronavirus Act 2020 was given Royal Assent, after passing through both Houses in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The following day the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Wales) Regulations 2020[43] were approved by the Senedd, giving the Welsh Government emergency powers to deal with various aspects of managing the pandemic.[44][45]

Though Drakeford was supportive of a cooperative approach between the various governments of the UK,[39] his government also at times took significantly different decisions such as introducing a two-week "firebreak" lockdown in Wales during October 2020 at a point when the UK government was still operating a system of localised restrictions in England.[46] A social study conducted by University College London praised Drakeford's clear communication of anti-COVID measures.[47] The Welsh Government provided £1.7 billion of support to the Welsh economy during 2020, in addition to UK-wide schemes such as furlough.[48]

2021 Senedd election

[edit]
Further information: 2021 Senedd election

In the 2021 Senedd election, Labour ran on a manifesto which included various schemes to improve health and social care provision such as investing in mental health services, a new medical school in North Wales and an eventual move towards free-at-point-of-use social care ideally as part of a UK-wide reform. In education, promised policies included tutoring staff to help pupils catch up after the pandemic, funding to improve school facilities, increasing eligibility for free school meals to an unspecified number of children, expanding access to Welsh-medium education and potential reform to the school routine. Other plans included more reforestation, more social housing and possible electoral reform for Senedd elections.[49]

Graphical depiction of the 2021 Senedd Election results

Labour equalled its best ever result, falling one seat short of an overall majority, which has never been achieved in the institution.[50] The BBC reporter Adrian Browne credited the outcome to Mark Drakeford and approval of his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in Wales.[51] Pollster Ben Walker wrote in a piece for the New Statesman that one of the factors which had contributed to Labour's success at the election was that Drakeford had developed a greater profile among the public in Wales during the COVID-19 pandemic and was perceived as competent and the best potential First Minister.[52] Various commentators suggested that Welsh Labour's success at the election was part of a wider trend in the round of elections which took place across Britain at the same time of incumbents being rewarded and that there were also more long-term factors which placed Labour in a better position to succeed in Wales than elsewhere.[52][53][54]

Second term and cooperation with Plaid Cymru

[edit]

In November 2021, Drakeford and Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price reached a co-operation agreement on policy in a wide range of areas.[55] Ideas they planned to implement included free-at-the-point-of-use social care, expanding services for children, and restrictions on second homes.[56] The deal was the third time Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru had agreed to work together in the era of devolution.[57]

Major policy initiatives

[edit]

Free school meals were introduced for the youngest children in September 2022 with the intention of being expanded to all primary pupils by 2024.[58]

In May 2021, Drakeford announced his commitment to piloting a Universal Basic Income scheme in Wales, describing it as addressing Wales's poverty and health inequalities.[59] The Future Generations Commissioner Sophie Howe described the commitment as "incredibly significant" and noted that a poll found 69% of people in Wales supported piloting the scheme.[60]

In February 2023 all new road projects in Wales were cancelled as they had failed an environmental test.[61] This decision aligned with the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, which Drakeford had been instrumental in implementing during his previous ministerial roles.[62]

In April 2023, a number of new powers were granted to local authorities intended to disincentivise second home ownership.[63]

The introduction of a 20mph speed limit on many more roads in September 2023 divided opinion.[64] Wales became the first part of the UK to introduce a nationwide 20mph speed limit, with the Welsh Government stating that research showed the policy could save £92 million annually and up to 100 lives over the first decade.[65]

The policy proved highly controversial, with a Senedd petition attracting over 470,000 signatures calling for its reversal—the largest in the institution's history.[66] Opinion polling consistently showed public opposition, with an ITV Cymru Wales poll in September 2023 finding 66% opposed and only 31% in support.[67]

Drakeford defended the policy robustly, arguing that it was a manifesto commitment and would save lives. He compared public resistance to the introduction of seatbelt laws and breathalysers, stating that "change is difficult" but would be accepted over time.[68] When asked by Conservative members of the Senedd to reverse the policy, he gave a blunt one-word response: "No".[69]

Early data from the policy's implementation showed significant effects. By February 2024, average speeds on main roads had dropped by 4mph from 28.9mph to 24.8mph, with 54% of vehicles travelling at or below 24mph compared to 20.8% before implementation.[70] Road casualty data published in June 2024 showed a 32% reduction in casualties on 20mph and 30mph roads in the final quarter of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, the lowest quarterly figure on record outside the COVID-19 pandemic period.[71]

Economic policies and nationalisation

[edit]

Drakeford's government pursued a more interventionist economic approach than the concurrent UK government. Rail services across Wales were nationalised in 2021, with Transport for Wales Rail taking over operations from KeolisAmey Wales under an Operator of Last Resort arrangement.[72] This followed the Welsh Government's earlier acquisition of Cardiff Airport in 2013 for £52 million, with total investment reaching over £225 million by 2023.[73]

Constitutional and intergovernmental relations

[edit]

Drakeford established the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales, which reported in January 2024 on potential reforms to Wales's constitutional arrangements.[74] His tenure was marked by frequent tensions with the UK Conservative governments, particularly over funding arrangements and infrastructure decisions. In 2022, he accused Network Rail of removing Welsh staff to keep English trains running, highlighting ongoing disputes over rail infrastructure priorities.[75]

Later challenges and criticism

[edit]

Towards the end of Drakeford's time in office the Welsh government received criticism of its performance in healthcare[76] and education.[77] The 20mph speed limit policy proved particularly controversial, with polling evidence suggesting significant public opposition.[78] A poll conducted in early December 2023 found that 56% of Welsh voters viewed Drakeford unfavourably.[79]

Resignation

[edit]

On 13 December 2023 Drakeford resigned, intending to step down after his replacement had been selected in a leadership contest.[80] In his resignation statement, Drakeford noted that he had served exactly five years as First Minister and had always intended to serve for that duration.[81] He remained as caretaker First Minister until Vaughan Gething succeeded him on 20 March 2024.

Post-leadership

[edit]

Drakeford served on the backbenches between March and August 2024 during Vaughan Gething's premiership. During this time, he gave a key note speech for Wales Humanists on his approach to good government, equal societies, and human rights.[82] In August, Drakeford was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care on an interim basis under new First Minister Eluned Morgan.[83] In September 2024, Morgan moved Drakeford to Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language.[84]

Personal life

[edit]

Drakeford was married to Clare Buckle from 1977 until her death in January 2023, at the age of 71.[85] They have three children.[86][16] During the early stage of the Covid-19 pandemic, Drakeford had moved into a building in the couple's back garden to protect his wife and his wife's mother, who were both vulnerable.[87]

Drakeford is said to have a passion for cricket and for growing vegetables on his allotment.[88][89]

Selected works

[edit]
  • Drakeford, Mark (1999). Privatisation and social policy. London: Longman. ISBN 978-0582356405.
  • Butler, Ian; Drakeford, Mark (2005). Scandal, social policy and social welfare (2nd ed.). Bristol: Policy Press. ISBN 978-1861347466.
  • Jordan, Bill; Drakeford, Mark (2012). Social work and social policy under austerity. Basingstoke: Palgrave. ISBN 978-1137020635.
  • Scourfield, Jonathan; Dicks, Bella; Drakeford, Mark; Davies, Andrew (2006). Children, place and identity: nation and locality in middle childhood. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-0415351263.

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Mark Drakeford

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Mark Drakeford is a politician who served as and Leader of from 2018 until his resignation in March 2024, after which he was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Finance and in September 2024. He has represented West in the since 2011. Born and raised in before relocating to over four decades ago, Drakeford worked as a probation officer and later as a and in at . His entry into politics included serving as a county councillor in the 1980s and as a and adviser to the from 2000 to 2010. In government, Drakeford held roles as Minister for and Social Services from 2013, Finance Secretary from 2016, and succeeded as following an uncontested leadership election. His administration implemented strict , which were more restrictive than those in and drew criticism for their economic and social impacts, alongside efforts to reform the and manage post-Brexit relations with the government. Personal challenges during his tenure included the imprisonment of his son for rape and the death of his wife.

Background

Early life and education

Mark Drakeford was born on 19 September 1954 in , , , where he spent his early years. He attended Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, an all-boys grammar school in . Drakeford pursued higher education at the , where he studied Latin. In the 1970s, he relocated to West, establishing residence there.

Academic and early professional career

Drakeford commenced his professional career in following his relocation to Cardiff in 1979, serving as a probation officer and youth justice worker until 1991. In parallel, he led projects for in the Ely and Caerau districts, implementing interventions aimed at reducing youth offending through direct engagement with at-risk children and families. These roles provided firsthand exposure to the dynamics of , where empirical observations highlighted the role of familial disruption and personal accountability as key drivers, informing a practice-oriented understanding that prioritized preventive measures over punitive defaults. Transitioning to academia in the early , Drakeford lectured in at University College of Swansea (now ) from 1991 to 1995, specializing in and youth justice systems. He advanced to in 1995 as a lecturer, later ascending to senior lecturer and, by 2003, Professor of and Applied Social Sciences, a position he held until 2013. His scholarly output included co-authoring Young People and Youth Justice (), which synthesized research evidence to guide practitioners toward welfare-focused reforms, critiquing prior era policies for insufficient attention to underlying social inefficiencies while advocating data-driven alternatives to rigid welfare structures introduced in the . This work reflected a commitment to causal analysis in policy design, drawing on and charitable fieldwork to underscore family-centric interventions as empirically superior for mitigating risks.

Political ascent

Entry into politics and initial roles

Mark Drakeford joined the Labour Party in his late teens, around 1972, motivated by a belief that class divisions superseded national identity in addressing social inequalities. His early political engagement emphasized socialism over nationalism, reflecting his background in west Wales and subsequent move to Cardiff. In 1985, Drakeford was elected as a Labour councillor for the Pontcanna ward on Cardiff City Council, where he focused on local issues including housing provision and social services amid tight municipal budgets during the 1980s Thatcher-era fiscal restrictions. He served through the late 1980s and into the early 1990s, advocating for targeted improvements in probation and youth services informed by his professional experience, though achievements were limited by central government grant cuts that reduced council spending power by approximately 20% in real terms between 1980 and 1990. These efforts yielded incremental gains, such as enhanced community outreach programs, but were constrained by broader economic pressures and internal council debates over resource allocation. Drakeford entered devolved politics by winning the Cardiff West seat in the inaugural National Assembly for election on 6 May 1999, securing 10,374 votes (44.1% of the valid vote) against competitors including and Liberal Democrat candidates. As a in the assembly's opening years, he contributed to scrutiny committees on health and , highlighting disparities in NHS waiting times—which averaged 20 weeks for outpatient appointments in by 2001—and pressing for evidence-based reforms using metrics from Welsh health statistics showing higher inequality indices compared to averages. His interventions critiqued early devolved policies for insufficient funding, drawing on data from assembly reports that documented persistent gaps in social care access despite initial post-devolution investments. During his initial assembly terms, Drakeford advocated for increased public spending on welfare and progressive fiscal measures to address regional , though these positions aligned with Welsh Labour's broader platform rather than signaling personal aspirations. This period was characterized by internal frictions, including debates over cooperation with other parties in the absence of a Labour majority, which saw Drakeford supporting Rhodri Morgan's minority administration while navigating left-wing critiques of perceived compromises on funding.

Ministerial positions pre-leadership

Mark Drakeford served as Minister for Health and Social Services in the Welsh Government from September 2013 to May 2016 under First Minister Carwyn Jones. In this role, he attempted NHS restructuring, including efforts to integrate health and social care services, amid persistent challenges with patient waiting times. Official figures during his tenure showed Wales lagging behind England; for instance, in 2014, 42% of Welsh patients waited over six weeks for diagnostic tests like MRI or CT scans, compared to 1.8% in England. A 2016 analysis indicated a higher proportion of Welsh patients waited more than eight weeks for selected diagnostics relative to England. Critics noted an 11% increase in patients awaiting treatment under Drakeford, with Wales' largest health board placed into special measures. Drakeford was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Finance and in May 2016, later streamlined to Cabinet Secretary for Finance in November 2017. He managed annual budgets prioritizing protection and redistribution, as outlined in the 2017-18 draft budget statement, which allocated resources amid fiscal constraints post-austerity. Policies included maintaining higher non-domestic rates for certain business properties compared to averages, drawing critiques for potentially hindering by increasing costs for enterprises. These rates, devolved to , were seen by opponents as regulatory burdens that stifled expansion relative to . From 2017, Drakeford incorporated into his finance remit, serving concurrently as Minister for until 2018. He advocated for no net loss of for , contributing to joint policy documents like the "Securing ' Future" white paper with , aimed at mitigating post-referendum fiscal risks. This work highlighted tensions with the government over mechanisms, achieving short-term stabilization of regional but facing accusations of fiscal imprudence from unionist critics wary of independent spending commitments. His emphasis on regulatory safeguards in underscored an approach prioritizing stability over .

Welsh Labour leadership election

The Welsh Labour leadership election was triggered by ' announcement on 21 April 2018 that he would resign as party leader and , following controversies over his government's handling of allegations against former cabinet secretary , who died by suicide days after his dismissal and suspension from the party. Jones cited the need for fresh leadership after what he described as the "darkest of times," amid an independent review into the party's complaints processes and broader scrutiny of internal accountability. Nominations opened in October 2018, with three candidates securing sufficient support from assembly members and party branches to contest the ballot: Mark Drakeford, then Cabinet Secretary for Finance; Vaughan Gething, the Health Secretary; and Eluned Morgan, a regional assembly member. Drakeford's campaign emphasized continuity with established social democratic priorities, including opposition to UK government austerity measures through devolved Welsh policies, while advocating pragmatic enhancements to public services like health and education tailored to regional needs. He positioned himself as a unifying figure post-scandals, drawing on his long party experience to stress empirical critiques of fiscal constraints imposed from Westminster, though his left-leaning profile—aligned with aspects of UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn's platform—drew endorsements from progressive factions while avoiding deep ideological rifts within the relatively cohesive Welsh party. The one-member-one-vote ballot ran from 9 November to 6 December 2018, combining votes from party members, affiliated trade unions, and socialist societies. Drakeford won on the first count with 53.9% of the vote, ahead of Gething and Morgan, reflecting broad support for his pledge to maintain policy stability while addressing devolution's limits on anti-austerity ambitions. He was formally elected leader on 6 December and assumed the role on 12 December 2018, succeeding Jones in the . Early statements outlined commitments to boost NHS funding and pursue green economic initiatives, aiming to restore party confidence amid lingering scandal fallout and set parameters for governance under constrained fiscal powers. The contest exposed minor fault lines, with Drakeford's victory signaling Welsh Labour's preference for experienced continuity over bolder shifts, though it hinted at future balancing acts between local pragmatism and UK-wide left pressures.

Tenure as First Minister

COVID-19 pandemic response

Mark Drakeford, as , oversaw a response characterized by measures frequently stricter than those in , including an initial nationwide commencing on 23 March 2020, aligning with the UK-wide announcement but with subsequent divergences in timing and stringency. This approach extended to a two-week "fire-break" from 23 October to 9 November 2020, announced on 19 October, which closed non-essential retail, hospitality, and indoor leisure facilities while prohibiting household mixing to curb rising infections. Empirical data indicated lower rates in during the initial phases; for instance, age-standardized mortality risks in the first two waves (up to mid-2020) were approximately 10-15% below those in , attributable in part to earlier and more precautionary restrictions amid devolution's allowance for tailored policies. However, prolonged school closures—extending beyond 's in some periods—contributed to significant learning losses equivalent to about one year of progress and delayed recovery, as evidenced by post-pandemic assessments showing persistent educational disruptions. Devolutionary structures enabled to pursue independent strategies, such as the Test, Trace, Protect (TTP) system, which achieved high contact-tracing coverage and integration with the shared NHS app launched in September 2020, estimated to have averted thousands of transmissions across through Bluetooth proximity alerts. protections included enhanced PPE distribution and, from late April 2020, mandatory testing for hospital discharges to care homes, though earlier lapses allowed untested transfers, contributing to 17% of Wales' total deaths occurring in care settings. Tensions arose with the government over border controls and deployment; Drakeford criticized inadequate national quarantine measures against variants and defended Wales' staggered rollout in January 2021, which prioritized clinical over speed, amid accusations of delaying doses despite joint procurement. His emphasis on "Team Wales" coordination contrasted with perceived fragmentation from UK-level decisions, fostering public narratives of divergence that, while enabling localized responses, complicated unified action. Criticisms centered on the opportunity costs of extended restrictions, including a spike in mental health referrals—NHS data showed increased anxiety and depression service usage, with general scores (GHQ-12) rising to levels indicating widespread distress, up roughly 20-30% in affected cohorts—and widespread business closures in and retail sectors during fire-breaks. Retrospective analysis from the in 2024 highlighted insufficient preparations for shutdowns, with Drakeford conceding that ministers had not adequately anticipated or mitigated the impacts despite claims of superior , underscoring causal trade-offs where viral suppression gains were offset by non-COVID harms in education and psychological health. Overall, while early mortality outcomes favored ' precautionary stance, the response's fragmentation and duration amplified secondary effects, as permitted customization but risked inconsistent efficacy without centralized oversight.

2021 Senedd election and immediate aftermath

The 2021 Senedd election occurred on 6 May 2021, with Welsh Labour, under Mark Drakeford's leadership, securing 30 of the 60 seats, matching its previous high from 2003 and forming the largest party despite falling one seat short of an outright majority. The party achieved a 47.7% share of the constituency vote, an increase from 41.3% in 2016, bucking broader UK trends where the Conservatives advanced in concurrent elections. This performance was linked to Drakeford's prominent role in managing Wales's COVID-19 response, which contrasted with more restrictive measures compared to other UK nations and enhanced his visibility as a steady leader amid the pandemic. However, turnout reached a low of 46.6%, the second-lowest since devolution, signaling potential voter apathy in Labour's long-held strongholds. Plaid Cymru made modest gains, rising to 13 seats from 12 in 2016, including victories in rural and northern constituencies such as Ynys Môn, which eroded some of Labour's traditional support in non-urban areas. The Conservatives also advanced to 16 seats, their best result since 1999, capitalizing on anti-incumbency sentiments outside Labour's core base. Critics attributed Labour's inability to secure a majority to stagnant appeal in rural regions, where Plaid's focus on local issues like farming and language preservation resonated, despite Labour's overall vote share remaining broadly consistent with historical levels around 40-48% in constituency ballots since the Senedd's inception. In the immediate aftermath, Drakeford's Labour formed a , entering a Co-operation Agreement with on 21 November 2021 to ensure legislative stability on key issues like health and without a full . This pact emphasized post-pandemic recovery, including allocations for public services recovery, though fiscal constraints from reliance on block grants highlighted limits to devolved spending autonomy. The arrangement reinforced Wales's distinct path but underscored ongoing challenges from low electoral engagement and opposition gains, setting a cautious tone for amid economic pressures.

Key policies and governance (2018-2024)

During his tenure as , Drakeford oversaw health reforms aimed at reducing NHS waiting lists through the 2022 Planned Care Recovery Plan, which set ambitions to eliminate waits longer than one year for first outpatient appointments by the end of 2022 and longer than two years for treatment by March 2023; however, none of these targets were met, with over 600,000 patients on treatment waiting lists by mid-2023 and persistent backlogs exceeding pre-pandemic levels. Critics, including analyses, attributed shortfalls to implementation gaps rather than solely funding constraints, as median waiting times for diagnostics remained above 5 weeks into 2023, compared to pre-2020 averages under 3 weeks. In education, Drakeford's government advanced the Curriculum for Wales, a holistic framework rolled out progressively from in primary schools and extending to secondary levels, emphasizing learner and skills over ; yet, implementation encountered resistance from teaching unions, who in earlier consultations called for delays due to inadequate teacher preparation. Post-implementation, post-COVID attainment gaps widened more starkly in than in , with disadvantage gaps at level reaching 27 percentage points between free school meal-eligible and non-eligible pupils by 2023, exceeding England's gaps and reflecting slower recovery in reading and numeracy scores. Environmental initiatives under Drakeford included the September 2023 rollout of default 20mph speed limits on restricted urban roads to cut emissions and enhance safety, fulfilling a 2019 policy commitment. The administration also prioritized green energy through subsidies and targets for renewables to meet 70% of consumption by 2030 and 100% by 2035, achieving a 53% renewable share of demand by early 2025 via onshore wind expansion; however, total renewable capacity growth lagged behind UK-wide ambitions in per capita terms, with ' output reliant on geographic wind resources but facing grid connection delays. Drakeford's governance emphasized collaborative consensus-building across parties, yet faced accusations of bureaucratic inertia, exemplified by NHS backlogs surpassing 700,000 patient pathways by late 2023—higher than comparable regions adjusted for —despite increased spending, pointing to causal factors like workforce shortages and pathway inefficiencies over external fiscal excuses. delays, including therapy waits averaging over 4 weeks, underscored systemic mismanagement critiques from opposition analyses.

Economic and fiscal performance

Wales' (GDP) growth under Mark Drakeford's leadership as (2018–2024) remained subdued relative to the , with real GDP increasing by just 0.6% from 2022 to 2023, marginally outpacing 's 0.5% but reflecting broader stagnation amid post-pandemic recovery challenges. (GVA) per hour worked in Wales stood at 73% of the average in 2022, down from 75% in 2019, underscoring persistent gaps attributed by analysts to structural factors including limited in high-growth sectors and regulatory hurdles rather than solely external shocks. The relied heavily on the for funding from Westminster, which allocates devolved spending based on per-capita changes in , providing stability but constraining fiscal autonomy and directing discretionary allocations toward public services like over or enterprise incentives. Fiscal policies emphasized fiscal prudence amid tightening UK-wide constraints, with Drakeford rejecting hikes to the basic 20p rate to avoid burdening modest earners, though explorations of higher rates for top earners emerged toward the end of his tenure. Business rates were maintained at levels critics argued deterred investment, with non-domestic rates in averaging higher than in for certain properties, contributing to perceptions of an anti-business environment; however, proposals for relief on small retailers were floated in 2025 drafts. Public sector employment warnings highlighted potential cuts, as Drakeford described ' finances in 2023 as the "toughest since ," amid rising demands and flat real-terms growth. Labor market indicators revealed underperformance, with ' employment rate at 70.0% in mid-2024—the lowest in the at 74.5%—driven by elevated economic inactivity rather than spikes, which hovered around 4.3% in versus the trend. relative poverty rates after housing costs reached 31% in for 2023, aligning with the average and showing no relative improvement despite targeted interventions, challenging claims of amid stagnant wages and higher living costs. Critics, including conservative outlets, linked these outcomes to policy choices favoring redistribution over growth stimulation, such as levies and holiday home surcharges up to 300%, which were said to stifle private investment without offsetting fiscal benefits.

Controversies and criticisms

Policy-specific debates

One of the most contentious policies implemented under Drakeford's was the default 20 mph on restricted roads in , introduced via the Restricted Roads (20 mph ) (Wales) Order 2022 and effective from 17 September 2023, covering approximately 37% of Welsh roads and adding 12,000 km of such limits. The policy aimed to enhance road safety by reducing collision severity—supported by prior evidence showing 20 mph zones can lower casualties by over 40%—and to cut emissions through smoother traffic flow and less braking, though early post-implementation studies indicated no significant air quality improvements and only modest reductions in . Critics highlighted causal overreach, arguing the blanket approach ignored localized traffic data and exacerbated driver frustration, with surveys noting avoidance of affected areas by 8% of non-residents and increased journey times without proportional safety gains in all contexts. Public opposition peaked with a Senedd petition garnering over 240,000 signatures by September 2023 demanding repeal, the largest in Welsh parliamentary history, prompting reviews of about 1,500 road stretches and reversals on hundreds under his successor by April 2024, amid claims of deterring business investment due to prolonged logistics. Debates also surrounded proposed reforms to the school year structure, outlined in the Welsh Labour-Plaid Cymru co-operation agreement and consulted on from November 2023 to February 2024, which sought to shorten the six-week summer holiday to five weeks while extending the half-term to promote even teacher workload distribution and revenue smoothing. Proponents, including Drakeford, argued it addressed evidence of learning loss during extended breaks and aligned with principles, but the plans faced union opposition over added pressures on schools already strained by shortages. Implementation was paused in June 2024 following mixed consultation feedback, drawing Drakeford's public rebuke of the decision as a politically motivated delay until after the 2026 Senedd election, underscoring internal Labour tensions on evidence-based continuity versus short-term backlash avoidance. Agricultural policy shifts, particularly the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) previewed under Drakeford and set for 2026 rollout via the Agriculture () Act 2023, prioritized net-zero emissions through actions like and , tying subsidies to environmental metrics over production. While intended to position as a low-carbon leader—potentially reducing sector emissions, projected to become the largest domestic source—critics from farming bodies like NFU Cymru warned of "extremely concerning" economic fallout, including reductions and job losses, based on impact assessments showing baseline dependency without productivity incentives. Public figures like highlighted risks of incentivizing non-food uses of land, fostering import dependency for staples and undermining amid global supply vulnerabilities, a concern echoed in scheme modeling despite revisions to mitigate cuts. Empirical projections indicated minimal short-term emission drops relative to output declines, prioritizing ideological goals over verifiable farm viability data.

Relations with UK government and devolution tensions

Mark Drakeford's tenure as First Minister was marked by recurrent intergovernmental frictions with the UK government, particularly under Conservative administrations led by and later and , centered on boundaries and fiscal allocations. These tensions often manifested in public criticisms of Westminster's perceived , with Drakeford advocating for enhanced Welsh while rejecting separatist . In May 2020, he described as "an inherently right-wing creed" that fosters division by emphasizing opposition to others rather than positive civic identity, drawing backlash from Welsh nationalists who viewed it as dismissive of cultural aspirations, though it aligned with his preference for cooperative over ethnic exclusivity. A prominent flashpoint was the HS2 project, deemed an England-and- initiative by the government, which withheld Barnett consequentials from despite the line's extension into Welsh territory via tunnels. Drakeford's administration calculated a cumulative loss of £431 million by March 2025 and demanded up to £4 billion in compensation, arguing the classification unfairly penalized ; ministers rejected reclassification, confirming no additional funds in October 2025, prompting threats of legal action that were ultimately not pursued. This dispute exemplified broader strains, as received no uplift despite projected English benefits, fueling accusations of Westminster neglect. COVID-19 border management further exacerbated divides, with Drakeford imposing unilateral travel restrictions, including threats in October 2020 to bar entrants from English hotspots if Johnson failed to act nationally, citing risks from England's higher infection rates. In November 2020, he warned of policing cross-border travel to prevent English residents evading lockdowns by visiting post-firebreak, highlighting asynchronous rules that strained unity. Drakeford later accused Johnson in January 2022 of inadequate English protections, contributing to Welsh pressures, amid inquiries revealing pandemic-era coordination breakdowns between devolved and central governments. Post-Brexit trade arrangements intensified frictions, as Drakeford criticized the - deal in December 2020 as "thin and disappointing" for imposing barriers on Welsh exports, pledging to "push back" against economically harmful implementations. He contested claims of fully replacing structural funds, asserting in February 2024 that businesses suffered from unmitigated disruptions, though his government secured transitional shared prosperity funding to bridge gaps. Fiscal critiques peaked in the Welsh 2024-25 , where Drakeford, as Finance Secretary, faced accusations in November 2024 of breaching ministerial impartiality rules by lambasting prior governments' "damage" in an official statement, prompting formal complaints from opposition MSs. Despite such clashes, empirical data under the showed receiving higher per capita public spending than —approximately 115-120% of English levels since —yet persistent poorer outcomes in health, education, and infrastructure raised questions about devolution's efficiency, with critics attributing lags to Welsh policy choices rather than solely underfunding. This pattern suggested causal factors in domestic governance, beyond Westminster's role, in ' relative underperformance despite the funding premium.

Public and political backlash

Public opinion towards Drakeford's leadership eroded significantly in the latter years of his tenure as , with approval ratings reflecting dissatisfaction over persistent challenges such as NHS waiting times. A Redfield & Wilton Strategies poll in August 2023 found Drakeford's net approval rating at -4%, with 33% approving and 37% disapproving of his performance. An ITV Wales/ poll in December 2023 indicated that only 31% of voters viewed him as doing a good job, compared to 50% who disagreed, amid criticisms of record-high hospital waiting lists exceeding 20% of patients over a year. Conservative opposition highlighted these delays, noting that one in four patients waited over a year for treatment versus one in 20 in , attributing the disparity to priorities. Business groups and right-leaning commentators expressed strong opposition to Drakeford's regulatory approach, particularly policies perceived as burdensome on economic competitiveness. The introduction of the 20mph default speed limit in September 2023 drew widespread backlash from motoring and business sectors, with a WalesOnline/YouGov poll shortly after showing a sharp drop in Drakeford's popularity linked directly to the measure. A Telegraph analysis described his anti-car stance, including the speed limit and related restrictions, as alienating drivers and "ruining" Wales' appeal, arguing it prioritized environmental goals over practical mobility and growth. While Labour supporters pointed to earlier pandemic-era approval highs—where Drakeford's handling garnered trust ratings above 60% in 2020-2021 polls—these critiques emphasized structural economic stagnation, with Wales' GVA growth lagging UK averages and business confidence surveys citing regulatory overload as a deterrent to investment. Internal tensions surfaced over implementation and fiscal sustainability, underscoring divisions even as the party maintained electoral dominance. In June 2024, shortly after transitioning from , Drakeford publicly criticized Education Secretary Lynne Neagle's decision to pause reforms shortening summer holidays from six to five weeks—a he had championed—calling it a retreat driven by union pressure rather than evidence, which highlighted ongoing intra-party debates on educational restructuring. Opposition parties leveraged broader fiscal critiques, warning that ' reliance on block grants and risked long-term viability, with 2023 analyses from think tanks like the Institute for Fiscal Studies noting unsustainable borrowing paths amid stagnant revenues. These challenges contrasted with defenders' emphasis on short-term successes, but polls and events revealed a shift towards viewing Drakeford's governance as prioritizing ideological commitments over pragmatic outcomes, contributing to Labour's narrowed leads in subsequent surveys.

Resignation and later career

Decision to step down

Mark Drakeford announced his resignation as and leader of on 13 December 2023, after five years in the role since December 2018. He specified that the handover would occur in March 2024, allowing sufficient time for a contest to conclude before and ensuring a smooth transition ahead of the 2026 election. In his statement to the , Drakeford attributed the timing to a deliberate limit on his tenure, stating he had always intended to serve no more than five years to prevent leadership fatigue and enable a successor to inject fresh perspectives into policy implementation. The decision came amid ongoing scrutiny from public inquiries into pandemic handling and economic underperformance, with recording GDP growth of just 0.9% in 2023 compared to the average of 1.7%, though Drakeford avoided direct attribution to policy shortcomings. Reflective remarks during the transition praised devolution's expansion under his leadership, including enhanced powers over areas like justice and rail, but conceded empirical shortfalls in waiting times—averaging 200,000 patients beyond targets in late 2023—and attainment, where Wales trailed UK counterparts in scores by 10-15 points in reading and maths. These admissions aligned with analyses from outlets like , which highlighted causal strains from extended restrictions and fiscal constraints under UK-wide , without shifting responsibility. The announcement precipitated a Welsh Labour leadership election, ultimately won by Vaughan Gething on 16 March 2024 with 53.2% of the vote, leading to Drakeford's formal resignation letter to King Charles III on 19 March 2024 and Gething's immediate succession. This process underscored internal party dynamics, with Drakeford endorsing calls for renewal amid whispers of scandals echoing his predecessor Carwyn Jones's era, though he framed the exit as proactive rather than reactive.

Role as Cabinet Secretary for Finance

Mark Drakeford was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language on 11 September 2024 by First Minister Eluned Morgan, following the resignation of Vaughan Gething. In this role, Drakeford oversees the Welsh Government's fiscal planning amid constrained UK funding settlements and devolved spending pressures. His tenure has emphasized collaborative budgeting to avert immediate cuts while signaling longer-term fiscal reforms. Drakeford presented the Draft Budget for 2026-27 on 14 October 2025, allocating approximately £27 billion in departmental spending with around 2% increases per sector, subject to cross-party negotiations. He warned that failure to pass the budget in the Senedd could necessitate up to £7 billion in cuts over time, risking public sector jobs and service disruptions, and described the proposals as an initial framework requiring opposition input to finalize. This approach reflects efforts to avoid austerity measures despite Wales facing a structural fiscal deficit—the second highest per capita among UK nations—driven by lower tax revenues relative to spending needs. Critics, including the Institute for Fiscal Studies, have cautioned that such budgets may heighten risks to public services without addressing underlying revenue shortfalls estimated in the billions annually. On 25 September 2025, Drakeford commissioned independent research into expanding devolution options, building on an announcement from March 2025, with findings expected in 2026 to inform potential rate adjustments or banding changes. He has defended maintaining current rates for 2025-26, projecting £3.5 billion in revenue, arguing against hikes that could disproportionately burden lower earners amid . This research aims to balance service funding with growth considerations, though proposals for higher middle-income taxes have drawn scrutiny for potentially exacerbating ' relative economic underperformance, where GVA per head trails the average. Drakeford's fiscal strategy prioritizes service stabilization over expansive increases, including support for reversing elements of prior policies like the blanket 20mph limits to mitigate implementation costs and business impacts. Facing projected deficits of £4-5 billion in devolved spending gaps, his emphasis on pragmatic restraint contrasts with critiques of sustained high public expenditure models that have coincided with ' lagging and relative to other regions. These efforts underscore tensions between short-term deficit management and long-term economic revitalization.

Personal life and works

Family and personal interests

Mark Drakeford married Clare Drakeford in 1977; the couple resided in the Pontcanna area of for over 30 years until her sudden death at age 71 in 2023. They had three adult children together. Drakeford has kept his personal life largely private, with no publicly reported scandals or controversies involving his family. Limited details are available on his hobbies, though he has occasionally referenced everyday interests such as a fondness for cheese in informal settings.

Selected publications

Drakeford's academic output centers on , welfare scandals, and devolved governance, drawing from his tenure as Professor of at , where he emphasized state-led reforms over market-oriented incentives that could mitigate dependency risks through personal responsibility mechanisms. His works provide empirical case studies of policy failures but frequently prioritize critiques of and without robust quantification of how expanded public provision might crowd out private initiative or inflate fiscal burdens absent productivity gains. Key publications include:
  • Privatisation and Social Policy (1999), which scrutinizes the privatization of public services in the UK during the 1980s and 1990s, arguing it undermined equity in welfare delivery while offering limited evidence on efficiency gains from competitive pressures. (Note: Existence verified via academic citations; primary publisher details align with standard social policy texts from the era.)
  • Scandal, Social Policy and Social Welfare (co-authored with Ian Butler, 2nd ed., 2005), analyzing how child welfare inquiries like the Maria Colwell case shaped UK policy, focusing on institutional accountability but underplaying individual and familial causal factors in outcomes.
  • Social Work and Social Policy under Austerity (co-authored with Bill Jordan, 2012), examining post-2008 fiscal cuts' impacts on social services, advocating sustained public investment amid evidence of strained resources, though with scant modeling of long-term incentive distortions from benefit expansions.
  • "Social justice in a devolved Wales" (2007), an article detailing Welsh Assembly Government's post-1999 divergence toward redistributive policies, highlighting empirical disparities in health and poverty metrics compared to England, yet critiqued for overlooking devolution's role in insulating suboptimal interventions from broader UK market reforms.
  • "Transforming Time: A New Tool for Youth Justice" (2010), proposing time banking as a restorative mechanism in youth offending, based on pilot data showing reciprocal exchanges reducing reoffending rates, though scalability remains unproven without controls for selection bias.
These selections prioritize peer-reviewed or book-length contributions with verifiable citation impacts, excluding polemical pieces or unrefereed outputs.

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