Next week will mark the formal resignation of Mark Drakeford as First Minister of Wales, setting the stage for the appointment of his successor. Here’s a breakdown of the anticipated sequence of events:
In December of last year, Mark Drakeford announced his decision to step down after five years in the role, prompting an election to determine the next leader of Welsh Labour.
Vaughan Gething, the economy minister, and Jeremy Miles, the education minister, emerged as the contenders in the Welsh Labour leadership race.
Voting for the candidates concluded at midday on Thursday (March 14), and the results are scheduled to be announced on Saturday (March 16) at 10 am.
On Tuesday (March 19), Mark Drakeford will participate in his final Questions to the First Minister session in the Senedd, commencing at the customary time of 1:30 pm.
Reports suggest that Drakeford prefers a low-key farewell, anticipating a more relaxed and amicable atmosphere compared to the usual adversarial nature of the session. However, there are rumors that the Welsh Conservatives are planning a final critique directed at Drakeford.
Following the session, Mark Drakeford is expected to formally submit his resignation to King Charles III, following the customary protocol to ensure a seamless transition of leadership.
On Wednesday morning (March 20), the Welsh Government will notify the Llywydd, Elin Jones, as soon as confirmation is received from the Palace regarding the acceptance of Mark Drakeford’s resignation.
The Llywydd will then issue a written statement to formally inform the Senedd of this development, signifying Drakeford’s official resignation.
In the afternoon, the Llywydd will call for nominations for the next First Minister. The timing of this process, whether it occurs immediately at 1:30 pm or after oral questions around 3 pm, will hinge on the receipt of formal notice of resignation earlier that Wednesday morning.
