First Minister for Wales

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wales This article is part of the series: Politics and Government of Wales

Contemporary Welsh Law English Law Courts of England and Wales

National Assembly for Wales Measures Statutory Instruments Presiding Officer: Dafydd Elis-Thomas Chief Executive & Clerk: Claire Clancy Assembly Commission Members (AMs): 2007 Constituencies and electoral regions Elections: 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011

Welsh Assembly Government First Minister: Rhodri Morgan Deputy First Minister: Ieuan Wyn Jones Welsh Ministers Counsel General: Carwyn Jones

Wales in the UK Parliament Constituencies Acts Constituencies Elections: 1979, 1983, 1987, 1992,        1997, 2001, 2005, 2009/10

Wales in the UK Government Wales Office Secretary of State: Paul Murphy

European Parliament European Parliament constituency Elections: 1979, 1984, 1989, 1994,        1999, 2004, 2009

Administrative divisions of Wales Political parties

Other countries · Atlas  Politics Portal view • talk • edit

The First Minister (Welsh: 'Prif Weinidog') is the leader of the Welsh Assembly Government, Wales' devolved administration, which was established in 1999. When initially set up under the Government of Wales Act 1998, the title was known as First Secretary (in Welsh Prif Ysgrifennydd), as Wales was given a less powerful assembly and executive than Northern Ireland and Scotland. This was also attributed to the fact that the Welsh term for First Minister, Prif Weinidog, also translates as Prime Minister, so a different title was chosen to avoid confusion with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

The official office of the First Minister is in Crickhowell House and the Senedd in Cardiff Bay, however, an office is also kept at the Welsh Assembly Government building in Cathays Park.

Contents 1 Role 2 List of First Secretaries 3 List of First Ministers 4 List of Deputy First Ministers 5 External links 6 Sources

[edit] Role

Under the arrangements in the Government of Wales Act, 1998, executive functions are conferred on the National Assembly for Wales and then separately delegated to the First Minister and to other Cabinet Ministers and staff as appropriate. Until the Government of Wales Act 2006 these were delegated powers of the UK government. Since that Act came into force in May 2007 however the First Minister will be appointed by the Crown and will represent the Crown in Wales. Whilst this will have little practical difference it is a huge symbolic shift as for the first time in centuries the head of government in Wales will be appointed by the Crown on the advice of the elected representatives of the Welsh people. This makes Wales equal in status to Scotland and Northern Ireland within the devolved structures of the UK, although it still does not yet make its own Acts of Parliament.

This change of title occurred after the Liberal Democrats formed a coalition government with Labour in the Welsh Assembly in October 2000. The Government of Wales Bill (2006) allowed for the post to be officially known as the First Minister and also made the First Minister, Keeper of the Welsh Seal.

The First Minister will subsequently appoint the Welsh Ministers, Deputy Welsh Ministers and the Counsel General for Wales (collectively known as the Welsh Assembly Government), with the approval of Her Majesty.

Following separation between the legislative and the executive on the enactment of the Government of Wales Act 2006 (upon appointment of the First Minister, May 25, 2007), the Welsh Ministers will exercise functions in their own right and further transfers of executive functions from the UK Government will be made directly to the Welsh Ministers (with their consent) by an Order in Council approved by Parliament.

The First Minister is Accountable/Responsible for:

• Exercise of functions by the Cabinet of the Welsh Assembly Government.
• Policy development and coordination of policy.
• The relationships with the rest of the United Kingdom, Europe and Wales Abroad.
• Staffing/Civil Service

[edit] List of First Secretaries

Name		Picture	Entered office	Left office	Political party	Government
	Alun Michael		12 May 1999	9 February 2000	Labour	Labour
	Rhodri Morgan		9 February 2000 (acting) 15 February 2000	16 October 2000	Labour	Labour

[edit] List of First Ministers

Name		Picture	Entered office	Left office	Political party	Government
	Rhodri Morgan		October 16, 2000	May 8, 2003	Labour	Labour/Liberal Democrat Coalition
	Rhodri Morgan		May 8, 2003	May 25, 2007	Labour	Labour
	Rhodri Morgan		May 25, 2007	July 11, 2007	Labour	Labour (minority)
	Rhodri Morgan		July 11, 2007		Labour	Labour/Plaid Cymru Coalition

[edit] List of Deputy First Ministers

Name		Picture	Entered office	Left office	Political party	Government
	Michael German		16 October 2000	6 July 2001	Liberal Democrats	Labour/Liberal Democrat Coalition
	Jenny Randerson		6 July 2001 (acting)	13 June 2002	Liberal Democrats	Labour/Liberal Democrat Coalition
	Michael German		13 June 2002	8 May 2003	Liberal Democrats	Labour/Liberal Democrat Coalition
	Ieuan Wyn Jones		11 July 2007		Plaid Cymru	Labour/Plaid Cymru Coalition

[edit] External links

• [1] About the Office of the First Minister.

[edit] Sources

• Dates are from World Statesmen and various BBC News Online articles from 1999 to 2003.