Welsh Politics: Lee Waters to stand down as transport minister

Lee Waters

Lee Waters said he will be deleting his X account, formerly known as Twitter

By Gareth Lewis
BBC Wales political editor

Lee Waters has announced he will leave the role as Wales' transport minister once a new first minister is elected.

He has overseen the introduction of Wales's controversial default 20mph law in built-up areas.

Both candidates for first minister have promised a review of the guidance given to councils on which roads to exempt.

But Vaughan Gething and Jeremy Miles have confirmed that the law will not be scrapped.

Mr Gething has acknowledged the Welsh government got its communications wrong and must "listen to and not lecture" the public.

The winner of the Welsh Labour leadership contest will be announced on 16 March.

Technically all ministers stand down when a new first minister takes over, but it is not clear whether Mr Waters wishes to return to the backbenches or take on another cabinet post.

Making the announcement on X, Mr Waters, whose official title is deputy minister for climate change, also confirmed that he would be deleting his account when he leaves his transport role.

"Over the past 15 years I've spent too much time on Twitter," he wrote. "It stopped being fun a while ago, but now I get a pile of malign comments for even the most innocuous posts."

Mr Waters survived a vote of no confidence in the Senedd called by the Welsh Conservatives last September.

The Welsh Conservatives want the 20mph law scrapped, but support it around places like hospitals and schools.

Responding to Mr Waters' announcement their leader in the Senedd, Andrew RT Davies, said: "Motorists and business owners across Wales will breathe a sigh of relief at this news.

"The deputy minister's time in post has been characterised by one anti-motorist policy after another, slowing Wales down and doing serious damage to our economy."

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