First Minister of Wales

Role and responsibilities

The First Minister has a central role in setting policy and running the Welsh Government. Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the Cabinet: chairing Cabinet meetings, coordinating decisions and setting collective priorities.
• Policy direction: developing and promoting government strategy across devolved areas such as health, education, transport and the environment.
• Appointments and staffing: nominating ministers and senior civil servants and managing the structure of the government.
• Representation: representing Wales in discussions with the UK Government, other devolved administrations, and international partners.
• Parliamentary accountability: answering to the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) and defending government policy in plenary sessions and committees.

Selection and accountability

The First Minister is normally the leader of the largest party or coalition in the Senedd. Members of the Senedd nominate and vote on a candidate; once nominated the person is formally appointed by the monarch. The First Minister must maintain the confidence of the Senedd to remain in office and is subject to scrutiny through questions, debates and committee inquiries. The Senedd itself was known until 2020 as the National Assembly for Wales, and it continues to be the primary forum for holding the executive to account (Welsh Government and Wales).

Offices and official sites

The working base of the First Minister is in Cardiff Bay at the Senedd building and adjoining offices in Tŷ Hywel; additional administrative accommodation has been used at the Crown Buildings in Cathays Park. Those locations host ministerial offices, meeting rooms and the administrative teams that support the cabinet and policy work (Senedd and Cardiff sites).

History and development

The office evolved as part of devolution settlements that created a distinct Welsh executive with responsibility for areas previously administered centrally. Over time successive Governments have built the institutions, statutory powers and international links associated with the First Minister’s role. The officeholder since 2018 has been Mark Drakeford, and the longest-serving occupant of the post to date was Rhodri Morgan, who helped establish many of the conventions and practices of the modern Welsh Government.

Significance and notable facts

As leader of Wales’s devolved government, the First Minister plays a central part in shaping services that affect daily life across Wales, from schools and hospitals to regional economic policy. The position combines political leadership with administrative responsibility and a continual need to negotiate with the UK Government and other administrations over the scope and funding of devolved powers.