Mark Drakeford won't visit Welsh pubs that banned him

Mark Drakeford may be full of Christmas cheer... but he won't be raising a glass in many Conwy pubs

Mark Drakeford says he is "intensely relaxed" about reports that he is banned from a series of pubs in north Wales.

The outgoing first minister of Wales said the publicans behind the ban were not in "any danger" of him visiting.

His comments came as the last Labour Senedd member to endorse a candidate in the campaign declared their nomination.

Health Minister Eluned Morgan said she would support Economy Minister Vaughan Gething.

The health minister and MS for Mid and West Wales said on social media: "Vaughan has demonstrated his capabilities for high office throughout the pandemic, making him a valuable candidate with a profound understanding of the NHS for the position of first minister."

The announcement means Mr Gething has 10 supporters in the Senedd Labour group, while 16 are for Education Minister Jeremy Miles.

Neither Mr Drakeford nor his Chief Whip Jane Hutt are expected to nominate a candidate.

Senedd nominations officially close on Thursday, before the vote of the membership opens in February.

Mr Drakeford will hand over to either Mr Gething or Mr Miles at the end of March.

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The Local Democracy Reporting Service reported claims last week that he is not welcome in 90 pubs in Conwy.

The protest dates back to restrictions imposed during the Covid pandemic in hospitality.

In an interview with the PA news agency, Mr Drakeford said: "I find myself intensely relaxed at this.

"They are not in any danger of me visiting, so they can be relaxed as well."

Meanwhile Mr Drakeford said he would refuse a peerage if asked.

"I will not be looking to, if I were ever to be asked, become a member of an unelected House of Lords."

He added: "I simply don't believe that that is the right way to run things in a democracy."

Labour promises to replace the lords with an elected second chamber to be called the Assembly of the Nations and Regions.

"I think they are very important reforms," Mr Drakeford said. "I don't say for a minute that they all have to be done on the first day, but there is a journey of House of Lords reform that we need to embark upon.

"The fact that there are hereditary peers still making laws in this country is surely, well if I was to call it a democratic anachronism that would be giving you the kindest description I can think of."

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