Welsh Government Reshuffle Takes Place – Carl Sargeant suspended from Labour after ‘allegations’
First Minister Carwyn Jones reshuffled of his Cabinet this afternoon, with Carl Sargeant AM being fired or resigning earlier in the day after ‘allegations’.
4:29pm There is usually pictures after a reshuffle, some taken by the huge sign at the front of the Senedd or posed to the smaller signage around the corner. Going by this tweet from BBC Wales reporter it seems that is it for the reshuffle excitement, with @NickServini adding he was ‘told they ran out of time’.
Press now being told the First Minister has already left WG HQ and there will be no cabinet photo-op. #wgreshuffle pic.twitter.com/RewpF7SKaz
— Cemlyn Davies (@Cemlyn) November 3, 2017
4:11pm: First Minister Carwyn Jones has give his view on his own reshuffle, “I am proud to announce my new Ministerial team, which provides a balance of experience and stability, with new drive and energy. This strong team will drive forward our ambitious plans for Wales – focusing on growing the Welsh economy, creating jobs, supporting our public services and improving the day-to-day lives of the people of Wales.”
4:08pm: Fuller statement issued along with the list below…
Locally Ken Skates AM loses tourism, and Lesley Griffiths AM sees Environment split off from her portfolio.
“Dafydd Elis Thomas will join the Government as Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport, with Ken Skates remaining as Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport.
Vaughan Gething remains Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services, with Huw Irranca-Davies as his deputy as Minister for Children and Social Care.
Mark Drakeford remains Cabinet Secretary for Finance. Responsibility for Local Government moves to Alun Davies as Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services, supported by Rebecca Evans, Minister for Housing and Regeneration.
Lesley Griffiths remains Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs, with Hannah Blythyn joining the Government as Minister for Environment.
Kirsty Williams remains Cabinet Secretary for Education, with Eluned Morgan joining the Government as Minister for Welsh Language and Lifelong Learning.
Julie James joins the Cabinet as Leader of the House and Chief Whip, with responsibility for digital infrastructure and equalities.
Jeremy Miles will be nominated for the role of Counsel General, the Welsh Government’s chief legal advisor.
4:03pm The moment we have been waiting for… the list is out!
First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones
Counsel General Designate, Jeremy Miles
Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services, Alun Davies
Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Mark Drakeford
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services, Vaughan Gething
Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths
Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport, Ken Skates
Cabinet Secretary for Education, Kirsty Williams
Leader of the House and Chief Whip, Julie James
Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport, Dafydd Elis-Thomas (Deputy to Ken Skates)
Minister for Housing and Regeneration, Rebecca Evans (Deputy to Alun Davies)
Minister for Environment, Hannah Blythyn (Deputy to Lesley Griffiths)
Minister for Welsh Language and Lifelong Learning, Eluned Morgan (Deputy to Kirsty Williams)
Minister for Children and Social Care, Huw Irranca-Davies (Deputy to Vaughan Gething).
3:18pm It has gone quiet on the shuffle front, with no replacements to the two vacancies announced so far. We were down in the big smoke recently, and there were murmurings of a reshuffle back then, but frankly we were blinded by the diamonds and gold everywhere to pay attention.
2:17pm Reshuffle underway as Jane Hutt AM announced as leaving the cabinet after 18 years – Carwyn Jones has issued the below statement:
2:10pm BBC Wales Political Editor gives some insight to Carl Sargeant going…
I understand that Carl Sargeant was sacked from Welsh Government cabinet. The allegations emerged in the past few days.
— Nick Servini (@NickServini) November 3, 2017
2pm: A Welsh Labour spokesperson has commented – with further information on Carl Sargeant:
“Carl Sargeant has been suspended from party membership, and therefore the Labour whip in the National Assembly for Wales, while an investigation into allegations received takes place.”
1:51pm: First official statement regarding the reshuffle, and it contains some new information that is coming out of the blue about ‘allegations’ with Carl Sargeant stepping aside:
Personal Statement pic.twitter.com/6VEOtGtj2Z
— Carl Sargeant (@carlsargeant1) November 3, 2017
1:09pm: No formal announcements as of yet! So looking back to the last shuffle in 2013 there was a tit for tat exchange between Welsh Labour and Welsh Conservatives, with the lines used describing it as ‘changing the deckchairs on the Titanic’ by Conservative leader Andrew Davies. Roll forward to today a comment has been sent over from Mr Davies saying: “New names and new faces count for very little – positive outcomes are all that matter to the people of Wales.”
“The First Minister’s reshuffle is an act as futile as the captain of the Titanic rearranging the deckchairs.”
12:30pm: BBC reporting first move in the reshuffle – ‘Deeside AM Carl Sargeant has lost his job as Communities Secretary’. Previously reshuffles have seen the official Welsh Government twitter accounts break the news publicly – but this time things could be done a more old school manner with the news ’emerging’ over the afternoon.
Original information below…
Currently Wrexham’s AM Lesley Griffiths is the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, with Clwyd South’s Ken Skates the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure. ITV are tipping Lesley Griffiths as a ‘potential casualty’ in the reshuffle.
It is widely tipped that Wales will see a new ‘Brexit’ Secretary post being created. Wales recently rebranded most of the ministerial roles to ‘Secretary for…’ rather than Minister.
Updates as they come through from the Bay…
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