Griffiths takes over from Sargeant in Welsh cabinet reshuffle
Carl Sargeant, the former Welsh Minister for Natural Resources, has been moved to a ministerial role with the Department of Communities and Children in a reshuffle of the Welsh Government.
Welsh Labour leader Carwyn Jones last week (19 May) named his new cabinet following his reappointment as First Minister after a week of discussions with the new official opposition, Plaid Cymru.
As part of the deal, which saw Jones form a minority government, the Welsh Government will not bring forward any legislation in its first 100 days so that ‘Assembly Members could establish a new, more collaborative way of law-making’. Kirsty Williams, former Welsh Liberal Democrat leader who is now the party’s sole representative in the Senedd, was one of those named to a cabinet role, which Jones said fulfilled the manifesto the government was elected on, but said that there was need for greater “constructive collaboration”.
Sargeant becomes Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children after almost two years in his Natural Resources post. During his time in the role, the AM for Alyn and Deeside played a role in introducing tougher enforcement on waste crime in Wales, as well as vocally backing the Welsh Government’s Collection Blueprint.
Lesley Griffiths
Griffiths has served as Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty since March 2013, when she also took over Sargeant’s previous portfolio of housing and regeneration. Before that reshuffle she had spent two years as Minister for Health and Social Services.
After the announcement of the reshuffle, Griffiths tweeted: ‘Privilege to serve in Welsh Government as Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs… Half of Welsh Government Cabinet posts held by North East Wales AMs ensuring a strong voice for the region in the Welsh Assembly.’
Cabinet in full
Carwyn Jones’s full cabinet now includes:
Ken Skates – Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure
Vaughan Gething – Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport
Mark Drakeford – Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government
Kirsty Williams – Cabinet Secretary for Education
Lesley Griffiths – Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs
Carl Sargeant – Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children
Jane Hutt – Leader of the House and Chief Whip
Julie James – Minister for Skills and Science
Alun Davies – Minister for Lifelong Learning and Welsh Language
Rebecca Evans – Minister for Social Services and Public Health
Inclusive and transparent administration
Following the reshuffle, Jones said: “I am delighted to introduce the team who will be taking Wales forward over the next five years. They will have a central role to play in delivering our priorities and leading and directing the work of the Welsh Government on behalf of the people of Wales.
“This will be an open, inclusive, and transparent administration, ready to work with others where it is in the national interest. A critical five years lie ahead. My relentless focus, and that of my cabinet and ministers, will be on driving improvement in our economy and in the vital public services that the people of Wales rely on every day.
“I am confident this is the team with the talent, the vision and the ideas to deliver opportunity for all, and build a united, connected and sustainable Wales, now and for future generations.”
