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Cabinet Secretary for North Wales

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Cabinet Secretary for North Wales of the Welsh Government
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Ogledd Cymru (Welsh)
Incumbent
Ken Skates MS
since 21 March 2024 (2024-03-21)
Welsh Government
StyleWelsh Minister
StatusCabinet Minister
AbbreviationMinister
Member of
Reports tothe Senedd and the First Minister of Wales
SeatCardiff
NominatorFirst Minister of Wales
AppointerThe Crown
Term lengthFive years
Subject to elections to the Senedd which take place every five years
First holderKen Skates AM
Websitegov.wales/ken-skates-ms

The Cabinet Secretary for North Wales (Welsh: Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Ogledd Cymru)[a] is a member of the cabinet in the Welsh Government. The current officeholder is Ken Skates since March 2024.

The establishment of a role focusing on North Wales was first raised in 2009, but was established by Mark Drakeford in 2018. It was established over concerns of how devolution was centred on South Wales. A Plaid Cymru MS disputed the role's existence, while some argue for a directly elected mayor instead.

Ministers

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Name Picture Entered office Left office Other offices held Political party Government Notes
Minister for North Wales
Ken Skates 14 December 2018 13 May 2021 Minister for Economy and Transport Labour First Drakeford government [1][2][3]
Lesley Griffiths 13 May 2021 20 March 2024 Minister for Rural Affairs

Trefnydd

Labour Second Drakeford government [4][5]
Cabinet Secretary for North Wales
Ken Skates 21 March 2024 Incumbent Cabinet Secretary for Transport Labour Gething government [6]

Background and history

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See also: Politics of Wales and 2021 Senedd election

Earlier proposals and North Wales representation

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See also: North-South divide (Wales)

In her leadership bid for the 2009 Welsh Labour leadership election, Edwina Hart, stated she would establish a "Minister for North Wales", if she won and set up the next Welsh Assembly Government.[7]

In 2010, the Welsh Assembly Government opened a local assembly office in Llandudno Junction, Conwy, to decentralise government and the civil service, as well as spread the "benefits [of] devolution" to North Wales.[8] Prior to this, only 23% of Welsh Government posts were outside Cardiff.[8] The Llandudno Junction building later became very underused by 2011 for its purpose, and was costing £1 million annually.[9]

On 19 July 2011, the opposition Welsh Conservatives, gave specific responsibilities to a shadow minister over "North Wales". The responsibilities were passed to Mark Isherwood, the Shadow Minister for Housing and Social Justice, who would have additional responsibilities concerning North Wales alongside his usual shadow ministerial responsibilities.[10]

On 27 July 2011, the Welsh Assembly Government held its first cabinet meeting in North Wales, with First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones, stating he plans his government to have a "significant presence" in North Wales.[11]

Establishment of post

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In 2017, a Chief Regional Officer role for North Wales was established by the Welsh Government.[2]

In his campaign to become leader of Welsh Labour, for the 2018 Welsh Labour leadership election, Mark Drakeford announced that if he were to win the leadership contest, he would set up a ministerial post dedicated to the interests of North Wales.[1][12] Drakeford repeated the plans he had for a North Wales post, for his first cabinet, after winning the leadership contest.[13]

The post was established on 14 December 2018, with Ken Skates as the inaugural holder.[3] It is the first ministerial post in the Welsh Government dedicated to North Wales.[2]

In April 2024, Plaid Cymru MS Llyr Gruffydd disputed whether the role should exist, stating all ministers should represent all of Wales, which includes North Wales. Gruffydd also claimed the role would be viewed as "tokenistic" by some, and that if there was a role for North Wales, where are the roles for other regions of Wales, such as West Wales and Mid Wales.[14] While the Welsh Conservatives have shadow ministers with these roles.[15]

Calls for a devolved post

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Following the Welsh Government roads review, where all of the major road projects in North Wales were cancelled in February 2023. There were calls to establish a "metro mayor", comparable to the directly elected mayors in England, for North Wales. Proposers argued that the area is being ignored, that it was an example of a North-South divide in Wales, and that the devolved post would be a "real Minister for North Wales", but would still be accountable to the Welsh Government. The Welsh Government responded to calls stating they already have a Minister for North Wales in their cabinet, which would "champion[...] the north and its many strengths and opportunities".[16][17][18]

Responsibilities

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The minister would be responsible on overseeing issues relating to North Wales, and would be the chair of the Cabinet Sub Committee for North Wales.[19][20]

As a Welsh Minister, the holder is to have an annual salary of £105,701 for 2020–2021.[21]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Formerly Minister for North Wales (Welsh: Y Gweinidog Gogledd Cymru; or Gweinidog y Gogledd; lit. 'Minister for the north')

References

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  1. ^ a b Bagnall, Steve (11 January 2019). "First Minister shares North Wales vision (and views on 'divide' with the south)". North Wales Live. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Hughes, Owen (17 December 2018). "The minister aiming to change perception North Wales has been shortchanged since devolution". North Wales Live. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  3. ^ a b Osborne, Rob (14 December 2018). "Mark Drakeford reveals his new Welsh Government". ITV News.
  4. ^ "Lesley Griffiths MS: Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd | GOV.WALES". www.gov.wales. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Minister for North Wales to be 'strong voice in the cabinet'". Wrexham.com. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  6. ^ "Wales' new First Minister Vaughan Gething announces his cabinet". ITV News. 21 March 2024.
  7. ^ Live, North Wales (28 October 2009). "Edwina Hart in 'Minister for North Wales' pledge". North Wales Live. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  8. ^ a b "Assembly government office opens in Llandudno Junction". BBC News. 22 September 2010. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  9. ^ WalesOnline (30 November 2011). "Empty rooms at new Welsh Government office block cost taxpayers more than £1m a year". Wales Online. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  10. ^ "Tory assembly leader Andrew RT Davies's shadow cabinet". BBC News. 19 July 2011. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  11. ^ "First north Wales meeting for Welsh Government cabinet". BBC News. 26 July 2011. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  12. ^ "AM promises to install a Minister for North Wales if he elected as new Welsh Labour leader". The Leader. 15 October 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  13. ^ "Mark Drakeford plans 50-50 gender split cabinet". BBC News. 9 December 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  14. ^ "Need for dedicated Welsh Government minister for north Wales called into question". Deeside.com. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  15. ^ Price, Emily (18 April 2024). "Welsh Conservatives reshuffle shadow cabinet". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  16. ^ Hughes, Owen (27 March 2023). "North Wales should have its own 'Metro Mayor' demand after roads schemes halted". North Wales Live. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  17. ^ Price, Emily (28 March 2023). "Businessman launches campaign to devolve power to north Wales and appoint 'metro mayor'". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  18. ^ "Welsh Government says there is "already a Minister for North Wales" after calls for a Metro Mayor". Deeside.com. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  19. ^ "Lesley Griffiths MS: Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd | GOV.WALES". www.gov.wales. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  20. ^ "Ken Skates MS: Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport | GOV.WALES". www.gov.wales. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  21. ^ "Determination on Members' Pay and Allowances: 2020-2021" (PDF). senedd.wales. Remuneration Board.
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