Mark Drakeford 'unprepared for the ferocity of grief'

Mark and Clare Drakeford lived together in Pontcanna, Cardiff, for 30 years

Wales' first minister has said he was "entirely unprepared for the ferocity of grief" following the death of his wife last year.

Mark Drakeford's partner Clare passed away suddenly at the age of 71 in January 2023.

Speaking to Channel 5 News Mr Drakeford said he still found it difficult to talk about the subject.

Mr Drakeford will step down in March after more than five years as first minister.

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Asked by Channel 5 News presenter Dan Walker for his reflections following his wife's death, Mr Drakeford replied: "Thank goodness for work."

"Being in work has been sustaining, it gives you something to do, it gives you a rhythm to the week, it gives you distraction from what otherwise is an entirely miserable experience.

"So, for me, I was entirely unprepared for the ferocity of grief."

A clearly emotional Mr Drakeford added that "once that subject is opened up it's very hard to keep [the emotion] under control."

'Never lose your temper'

In a wide-ranging interview Mr Drakeford was also asked about his relationship with prime ministers past and present.

He said Rishi Sunak "is an easier person to be with than either of his immediate predecessors".

"In the brief time Liz Truss was prime minister she showed no interest whatsoever in having a conversation.

"I think dealing with Boris Johnson was different again because the idea you were dealing with a serious politician, someone who would have measured up to the responsibility of being prime minister, I would have said that was too often absent in my contact with him."

Mr Drakeford also expressed his regret at losing his temper during an exchange in the Senedd with the leader of the Welsh Conservatives' group Andrew RT Davies in 2022.

"I regretted it immediately, you should never lose your temper," Mr Drakeford said.