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Chief Whip (Wales)

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Chief Whip of the Welsh Government
Prif Chwip Lywodraeth Cymru (Welsh)
Incumbent
Jane Hutt MS
since 3 May 2023 (2023-05-03)
Welsh Government
Member of
Reports tothe Senedd and the First Minister of Wales
SeatCardiff
NominatorFirst Minister of Wales
AppointerThe Crown
Term length
Subject to elections to the Senedd which take place every five years
First holderAndrew Davies AM
Websitegov.wales/jane-hutt-ms

The Chief Whip (Welsh: Prif Chwip) is a member of the cabinet in the Welsh Government.[1] The current officeholder is Jane Hutt since May 2023.[2]

Chief whips

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Name Picture Entered office Left office Other offices held Political party Government Refs.
Andrew Davies 12 May 1999 9 February 2000 Minister for Assembly Business Labour Michael administration
Karen Sinclair 9 February 2000 2005 Minister for Assembly Business Interim Rhodri Morgan administration [3][4]
First Rhodri Morgan government
Second Rhodri Morgan government
Jane Hutt 2005 2007 Minister for the Assembly Business [2][5]
Third Rhodri Morgan government
Carl Sargeant 31 May 2007 10 December 2009 Fourth Rhodri Morgan government [6]
Janice Gregory 10 December 2009 19 May 2016 First Jones government [7][8]
Second Jones government
Jane Hutt 19 May 2016 3 November 2017 Leader of the House Third Jones government [2]
Julie James 3 November 2017 13 December 2018 Leader of the House [9]
Jane Hutt 13 December 2018 13 May 2021 Deputy minister First Drakeford government [2][10]
Dawn Bowden 13 May 2021 3 May 2023 Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport

Accountable to Minister for Economy

Second Drakeford government [2][11][12]
Jane Hutt 3 May 2023 Incumbent Minister for Social Justice (2018–2024) [2]
Minister for Social Justice (2024)

Trefnydd (2024–)

Gething government [13]
Trefnydd (2024–) Eluned Morgan government [14]

Responsibilities

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See also: Politics of Wales and 2021 Senedd election

The main responsibility of Chief Whip is to ensure the Welsh Government's business can go through the Senedd, in particular securing the majority of votes the government holds to vote on its legislative and policy programmes. The chief whip attends the cabinet, and works with the business minister to timetable and secure passage of legislative competence orders and acts) (formerly measures). They also have the role to successfully complete the government's programme of legislation.[15]

To maintain their responsibilities, whips use various methods. They manage the attendance of members in Senedd votes, and persuade them to vote with the government. The chief whip is also an important link not only between the government and the parliamentary (majority) party, but also between the government and opposition parties or the Assembly Parliamentary Service (now Senedd Commission) and presiding office. The chief whip would attends regular weekly meetings with key figures to discuss the Senedd's business arrangements, as well as cabinet meetings. They have daily contact with these key figures to deal with ongoing matters, timetabling and agenda issues. When legislation is to be passed, or for some other government business, discussions may arise between the chief whip and opposition whips, the minister overseeing Senedd business, or the whips' designated "shadow" counterpart, to resolve difficulties arising with amendments, the timing of a vote, and to resolve such issues a deal may be reached.[15]

The chief whip also has contact with other whips concerning various matters, such as "pairing" and the intermittent filling of committee vacancies. The chief whip also manages the membership of committees and sub-committees. Discussions may follow these channels for other matters, such as changes coming from or presented to the Business Committee.[15]

The chief whip also ensures that backbenchers use their electronic votes correctly. The whip (document) is circulated each week by whips of each party to their members and sets out the list of business for the following week, as well as the party's expectations for when Senedd members are to vote. To minimise the persuasion required for backbenchers to support the government, the Chief Whip advises the cabinet over the likely acceptability of any of its legislative proposals.[15]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Cabinet members and ministers | GOV.WALES". www.gov.wales. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Jones, Branwen (3 May 2023). "Mark Drakeford reshuffles cabinet to make longtime ally chief whip". Wales Online. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  3. ^ "Key Events in the Development of the National Assembly for Wales Second Assembly: 2003 - 2007" (PDF). senedd.wales. National Assembly for Wales.
  4. ^ WalesOnline (13 October 2009). "AM Sinclair to stand down after cancer". Wales Online. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Jane Hutt MS". senedd.wales. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  6. ^ Bagnall, Steve (7 November 2017). "'He made a big contribution to Welsh public life' - Carl Sargeant's role in politics". North Wales Live. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  7. ^ Masters, Adrian (14 March 2013). "Chief Whip reappointment no surprise but still plenty of cabinet jobs to go". ITV News.
  8. ^ WalesOnline (10 December 2009). "First Minister Carwyn Jones unveils his new cabinet". Wales Online. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  9. ^ "Welsh Government cabinet reshuffle: Who is in and out?". BBC News. 3 November 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  10. ^ Deacon, Thomas (13 December 2018). "This is who is in the new Welsh Government cabinet". Wales Online. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  11. ^ Mosalski, Ruth (13 May 2021). "Live updates as Mark Drakeford overhauls Welsh Government cabinet". Wales Online. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  12. ^ "Welsh Government Organisation Chart" (PDF). gov.wales. September 2021.
  13. ^ Browne, Adrian (21 March 2024). "New First Minister Vaughan Gething announces cabinet". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  14. ^ Mosalski, Ruth (11 September 2024). "Mark Drakeford given new key role as Eluned Morgan names her cabinet". WalesOnline. Reach plc. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  15. ^ a b c d "Role of the Chief Whip" (PDF). senedd.wales.
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