Welsh Labour Leader
Mark Drakeford
Mark Drakeford is the Leader of Welsh Labour and the First Minister of Wales.
Mark was born and brought up in west Wales before moving to Cardiff more than 30 years ago. Since then he has lived in the Pontcanna area of Cardiff. A former probation officer, youth justice worker and Barnardos project leader in Ely and Caerau, he has been a professor of Social Policy and Applied Social Sciences at Cardiff University. Mark has also taught previously at Swansea University. In the 1980s and 1990s Mark was a Labour Councillor on South Glamorgan County Council, specialising in education issues, including Welsh medium education. Between 2000 and 2010 he worked as the Cabinet's health and social policy adviser at the Welsh Government, and was latterly head of the First Minister's political office. He has a 30 year knowledge of the Cardiff West constituency.
Mark became the Assembly Member for Cardiff West in May 2011. He was Chair of the Assembly's Health and Social Care Committee from July 2011 – March 13 and of the All-Wales Programme Monitoring Committee for European funds from July 2011 – March 13. He was appointed Minister for Health and Social Services in March 2013. Mark was re-elected as the Assembly Member for Cardiff West in May 2016. Shortly after the new Government was formed, he was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government.
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Public sector in Wales encouraged to offer paid leave for victims of domestic abuse
All public sector organisations in Wales are being encouraged by the Welsh Government to offer paid leave for victims of domestic abuse. Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government Hannah Blythyn has written to all devolved public services to highlight a joint statement by the Workforce Partnership Council which…
A Budget for the NHS and the Future of Our Planet
Finance Minister Rebecca Evans has unveiled a draft Budget with plans to invest more than £8bn for the Welsh NHS alongside ambitious projects to help combat climate change. In the first Budget following the declaration of a climate emergency in Wales, there is significant new funding for low carbon transport…
Mark Drakeford's Barnstorming Speech at Swansea Rally
Watch Mark Drakeford's barnstorming speech at our rally in Swansea yesterday. "All of this relies on us. An opportunity to repair to the damage done by a decade of Tory imposed austerity. An opportunity to save our NHS from the clutches of Donald Trump & his friend Boris…
Welsh Labour Wins: Free breakfasts for primary school pupils
The Welsh Labour Government provides all children in primary education with a free school breakfast to start their day off right. Since it was first introduced in 2004, thousands of children have been starting their days with nutritionally balanced meals and heading into their first classes of the day on…
One month to go until Welsh Labour's cheaper rail fares
Rail passengers across Wales are set to see a reduction in many fares across the Transport for Wales rail network from 2 January 2020, thanks to the Welsh Labour Government. Changes being implemented by the Welsh Labour Government's wholly-owned, not-for-profit company Transport for Wales include free travel for under 11-year-olds,…
Welsh Labour Wins: Free hospital parking in Wales
We've provided free parking at Welsh NHS hospitals for patients, visitors and staff since 2008, scrapping what the BMA called "a tax on the sick". Patients, staff and visitors to Welsh NHS hospitals have enjoyed free car parking since 2008, removing what the British Medical Association described as "a tax…