Summary

  • Mark Drakeford is standing down as Welsh Labour leader

  • He has held the position for exactly five years after succeeding Carwyn Jones, who resigned in 2018

  • He says leading Welsh Labour and the Welsh government has been "a huge privilege"

  • Mr Drakeford will stay on as first minister of Wales until his successor is appointed, which will be done by the spring

  • He was elected as an Assembly Member for Cardiff West in 2011

Live Reporting

Catriona Aitken and Rosie Mercer

  1. 'Consistent and clear leadership'

    Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, Jane Dodds, said Mr Drakeford had shown nothing but kindness and support to her throughout her time in the Senedd, and wished him all the best for the future.

    She added: "Whether you disagree or not with the first minister and his government’s decisions, it would be untrue to say that Mark has lacked any passion for his job.

    "Throughout his time in office, he was provided consistent and clear leadership that has steered this country through some difficult times and for that we owe him a debt of gratitude."

  2. From loving cheese to angry outbursts - a look back at Drakeford's five years as first minister

    Mark Drakeford has been Wales' first minister since 2018 and the most high profile one since devolution began in the late 1990s.

    From angry outbursts in the Senedd to confessing his love for Caerphilly cheese, the instinctively quiet politician has been thrust into the public.

    In more recent times, his transport policies - including the decision to switch from 30mph to 20mph - have proved divisive.

    Mark Drakeford: A look back at his five years as first minister

  3. Who will succeed Mark Drakeford as first minister?

    Cemlyn Davies
    Political correspondent, BBC Wales

    The two clear frontrunners for the job are the Economy Minister Vaughan Gething and the Education Minister Jeremy Miles.

    Both are said to have leadership campaigns ready to go.

    Mr Gething has has served in government since 2013 and was health minister during the pandemic. He came second in the last leadership race in 2018.

    Mr Miles previously served as counsel general and Brexit minister.

    Health Minister Eluned Morgan's name is always mentioned in any discussion about the next first minister and she also stood to be leader in 2018.

    Other potential candidates include Climate Change Minister Julie James and the deputy minister for social partnership Hannah Blythyn.

  4. New leader by Easter

    Mark Drakeford says he’s confident that the process to find his successor as Welsh Labour leader will be "concluded by the end of the spring term" in March.

    "That would enable the name of the winner of that contest to be put to the Senedd before the Easter recess."

    The Senedd rises for the Easter recess on 25 March and returns on 14 April.

  5. Resignation comes months after death of Drakeford's wife

    Mark Drakeford's wife Clare died suddenly at the age of 71 in January.

    The couple got married in 1977 and lived in Pontcanna, Cardiff, for 30 years and have three adult children.

    Following his wife's funeral Mr Drakeford tweeted: "The past weeks have been incredibly difficult for our family, but I'm grateful for the many kind words of support we have received.

    "Diolch o galon i chi gyd [Many thanks to you all]."

    Mark Drakeford and his wife ClareGetty Images

  6. Plaid leader says announcement was unexpected

    The leader of Plaid says Mr Drakeford's announcement marked "the end of a political era in Wales".

    Rhun ap Iorwerth added: "I don’t think anyone was expecting this."

    Rhun ap IorwerthBBc

  7. 'One of the most powerful Labour figures in power in recent years'

    Chris Mason
    Political editor

    The patchwork of governance structures that define how the UK is run means that, wherever you are, there are faces and voices of some political prominence not just at Westminster. In that context the departure of any first minister from any part of the UK is a moment, not just for that nation, but more broadly. In Mark Drakeford’s case, he has been one of the most powerful Labour figures in power in recent years, running a government that has big impacts on lives of people across Wales every day, but also shaping perceptions and arguments about Labour in power that have then cropped up in the Westminster conversation. Conservatives in the Commons frequently point to Labour’s governing record in Wales as an attempt to ask searching, sceptical questions about what a Labour government across the UK might look like and do. Mr Drakeford was also afforded a prominence beyond the Welsh border during the pandemic – a moment that illustrated more keenly than ever before where power lies in the UK, the division of labour of decision making in a public health crisis where the devolved governments had control of some of the key levers. From Labour’s perspective, this resignation and the leadership election that now begins comes in the year of a general election campaign. Labour will be attempting to do what the Conservatives have been trying at Westminster – renewing in office, with a new leader trying to do the job in their own way, while inheriting the mandate of their predecessor.

  8. Watch the moment Drakeford announces resignation

    Watch the moment Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford announces he will stand down as Welsh Labour leader in March and a leadership contest for a new first minister will be held.

    Mr Drakeford, who is the Cardiff West Member of the Senedd, was confirmed as first minister exactly five years and one day ago.

    He'd planned to stand down in 2024 but the timing of his announcement was a surprise.

    The moment Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford announces his resignation

  9. Who is Mark Drakeford?

    Mark Drakeford has been first minister of Wales and Welsh Labour leader for the past five years.

    He was born and grew up in Carmarthen, studied Latin at the University of Kent in Canterbury and then started his working life as a probation officer in Cardiff in 1979.

    He became a councillor with South Glamorgan County Council in 1985 and said it was the poor living standards of offenders in Ely, Cardiff, that made him want to stand for election.

    He went on to become a lecturer at Swansea University and later a professor of social policy at Cardiff University.

    Mark DrakefordGetty Images

  10. Starmer calls Drakeford a true titan of Welsh politics

    Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer says Mr Drakeford set a clear standard for public service in UK politics, "always putting others before himself".

    He said he was a "true titan" of Welsh Labour politics.

    "On behalf of the the whole Labour Party, I pay tribute to Mark Drakeford for an outstanding career.

    "During his five years as first minister, against a backdrop of austerity, instability in Westminster and navigating the pandemic, he has delivered for Wales with steely determination and quiet authority.

    He added that he's a "kind and decent man, who lives his Labour values".

    "A proud Welshman, Wales too can be proud of Mark for his fight for working people.

    "He's a true titan of Welsh and Labour politics.

    "It has been a pleasure to work alongside him and we all wish him the very best for his retirement."

    Sir Keir Starmer and Mark Drakeford with Labour supporters at the launch of the Welsh Labour election campaign at Bridgend CollegePA Media

  11. Prime minister wishes Drakeford all the best

    Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has tweeted following the resignation of Mr Drakeford.

    He said: "I wish Mark Drakeford all the best as he moves on from his many years of public service.

    "We will continue to work closely with the Welsh government to build on our joint work to spread opportunity for people across Wales."

    Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford with John Goddard harbour masterGetty Images

  12. Key points from Drakeford's speech

    Here are the key takeaways from Mr Drakeford's speech when he announced his resignation:

    • When he stood for the leadership in 2018, he said if he was elected he would serve for five years
    • Exactly five years have passed and nominations for his successor will open shortly
    • The process will be concluded by the end of the spring term, but Drakeford will remain first minister until then
    • He calls his time as Welsh Labour leader "a huge privilege"

  13. Drakeford 'epitomised public service'

    Shadow Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens said Mr Drakeford "epitomised public service and public duty" throughout his time as first minister.

    "His remarkable stewardship of Wales through the horror of the pandemic being the most obvious example.

    "Leading our country with care, skill and values firmly rooted in our Labour principles of social justice and progressive politics, he has dedicated so much of his life to bringing positive change to the people of Wales."

    She adds that Mr Drakeford has "been there throughout our devolution journey, both as an architect and a builder".

    "As Mark ends his term as Welsh Labour leader, I thank him for his leadership, his friendship and his outstanding contribution to Wales."

  14. Welsh Conservative leader commends dedication of Drakeford

    Leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, Andrew RT Davies, says he wishes Mr Drakeford well as he stands down.

    “While we may have different visions for Wales, I know I'm joined by colleagues in holding a huge amount of respect for his dedication to the job of first minister.

    “It’s important, however, with this announcement that there is no distraction from the really important job of delivering for the people of Wales."

  15. Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford resigns

    Mark Drakeford has announced he will stand down as Welsh Labour leader and a leadership contest for a new first minister will be held.

    Mark Drakeford in the Senedd

    Mark Drakeford has been the Welsh Labour leader for five years

  16. Welcome

    Good morning and welcome to our live page.

    We’ll be bringing you the latest updates about Mark Drakeford standing down as Welsh Labour leader.

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