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CABINET ANNOUNCED II

Posted by Tom Bodden on July 19, 2007 12:28 PM | 

Ieuan Wyn JonesRHODRI Morgan's 'big-hitters' remain in a new 10-strong Assembly cabinet which includes three members from Plaid Cymru.
The Labour First Minister and Plaid deputy Ieuan Wyn Jones (left) announced the line-up in sunshine on the steps of the Senedd at high noon.
The only pay-roll casualties were Labour ex-deputy economic development minister Huw Lewis (see previous post) and Alyn and Deeside AM Carl Sargeant whose deputy business minister job was equally short-lived. But Carl stays Labour's chief whip and will attend cabinet meetings.
Full details below:

New Labour/Plaid Cabinet:
First Minister: Rhodri Morgan
Deputy First Minister and Minister for Economy and Transport: Ieuan Wyn Jones.
Finance and Public Service Delivery: Andrew Davies.
Social Justice and Local Government: Brian Gibbons.
Education, Children and Young People: Jane Hutt.
Rural Affairs: Elin Jones.
Health and Social Services: Edwina Hart.
Sustainability and Housing: Jane Davidson.
Heritage (including Welsh language, sport and tourism): Rhodri Glyn Thomas.
Counsel General and Leader of the House, Business and Communications: Carwyn Jones.

Deputy Ministers:
Social Services: Gwenda Thomas.
Housing: Jocelyn Davies.
Skills: John Griffiths.
Regeneration: Leighton Andrews.


 

Comments (5)

Blue Horizon wrote...

This doesn't seem to give the north a much greater profile. One in, one out from the north, and then two new Plaid members from the west and south, with a deputy minister from the south-east. Have Plaid been short-changed?

Posted by: Blue Horizon  | July 19, 2007 3:18 PM

Tom wrote...

The North gets deputy first minister Ieuan Wyn Jones as economic development and transport minister, not an insignficant portfolio, and better than zero, which was the case before.
Alyn and Deeside's Carl Sargeant will hold a watching brief in cabinet as Labour's chief whip.
Ceredigion is at least further North than Pontypridd.
Heritage minister Rhodri Glyn Thomas was born in Wrexham, while I'm sure Andrew Davies once told me he had a few relatives in the Deeside area.
The North makes up 25% of Plaid's government team with one each from the North, Mid, West and South East regions. (Spun enough yet?)
Who else would you have in? And who would make room?

Posted by: Tom  | July 19, 2007 5:51 PM

Citizen wrote...

Have Plaid been shafted? OK Ieuan has a seemingly big portfolio but I guess when a really big development happens the First Minister will hog the limelight. The Deputy First minister does have the opportunity of pleasing Elinor Burnham by getting a decent North South railway service and could help speed up the Ebbw Vale line thus helping independent AM Trish Law. But these appart is it a really big job. Without tax varying powers and control of the economy like Scotland and Northern Ireland it ain't worth a row of beans. And as for the other Plaid cabinet posts so what. It just reinforces the Rhodri Morgan line to his group that the coaltion will deliver Labour's priorities with a few Plaid Cymru add on's. So they get resonsibility for the Welsh Language and the farmers,big deal. This will really swing the valley votes their way!!! Perhaps Jocelyn Davies might be their saviour if she makes a fist of her housing brief but Jane Davidson with her thirst for publicity will take much of the credit in that area too me thinks.

Posted by: Citizen  | July 20, 2007 10:25 AM

Tom wrote...

Certainly Ieuan Wyn Jones doesn't believe (isn't saying) that his party has been 'shafted'.
He might argue that for a junior partner in a coalition, which has never been in government before in its 82 year history, the deal is quite an achievement.
Asked that specific 'shafted' question at the press conference, he said: "They are signficant posts.
"Economic development is a very signficant post, rural affairs is a very important post given the vast area of Wales is rural; and the whole issue of heritage is vitally important for us as a nation.
"So I am very, very pleased indeed that the negotiations have delivered signficant participation for Plaid Cymru members alongside our colleagues in the Labour Party."
You could argue that Plaid have been landed with somewhat 'cliched' portfolios for them - rural affairs, Welsh language, culture.
Now it's time to put the money where they mouths have been to deliver the pledges in One Wales.
We'll be watching.

Posted by: Tom  | July 20, 2007 1:39 PM

Citizen wrote...

Your right to use the word 'cliched'. What they've got will work well in the 'bro Cymraeg.' But will it turn on the 70 per cent plus that they have to reach if they are to be a major partner in government one day. This group don't live in rural Wales and couldn't care a fig for the Welsh language and Welsh culture.

Posted by: Citizen  | July 21, 2007 10:01 AM

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Welcome to ‘Gog in the Bay’, the occasional diary of a political journalist. My name is Tom Bodden, the Welsh Affairs Correspondent of The Daily Post, which is North Wales’ best selling newspaper. I am based full-time at the National Assembly for Wales in Cardiff Bay.

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