The next first minister of Wales will be Mark Drakeford, an experienced politician who describes himself as a 21st-century socialist and is a keen backer of Jeremy Corbyn.

Drakeford, 64, won the race to replace Carwyn Jones as leader of Labour in Wales and should be confirmed next week as the fourth person to hold the post.

In his victory speech, Drakeford said that under his leadership Welsh Labour would follow “radical socialist traditions” in the style of Aneurin Bevan, Michael Foot and former first minister Rhodri Morgan. He said he would dedicate himself to creating a “Wales which is a beacon of hope in a darkening world”.

His closeness to the UK Labour leader means he will come under scrutiny from political opponents in London as well as in Cardiff. Any problems the Welsh government faces or errors it makes could be used as ammunition to attack UK Labour and Corbyn.

The leader of the Conservatives in the Welsh assembly, Paul Davies, said: “While Mark Drakeford has a mandate to lead from the Labour party, he has no mandate to lead from the Welsh people. Only a Welsh assembly election will provide an opportunity for the public to endorse, or otherwise, his plans.”

Drakeford, who was the frontrunner for the leadership, won the contest with 54% of the vote after it went to a second round.

He is on the centre left of the Welsh Labour party and was the only member of the then Welsh cabinet who voted for Corbyn in his first leadership bid in 2015.

Drakeford used to work as special adviser for Morgan, one of the most charismatic Welsh politicians of recent years, who famously advocated “clear red water” between Welsh Labour and the UK party – then led by Tony Blair. Drakeford believes this divide is no longer needed.

Brexit will, naturally, be top of Drakeford’s list of priorities, while on the domestic scene one of his first tasks will be to oversee a decision on a hugely controversial road programme – the plan to carve a new 14-mile stretch of motorway through the ancient Gwent Levels near Newport.

He will also have to heal rifts in Welsh Labour following the death of Carl Sargeant, who was found dead four days after he was sacked amid allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour to women.

Corbyn said: “I am confident that Mark will demonstrate what Labour in government can achieve by building a more equal society, even in the face of the Conservatives’ callous austerity agenda and cuts to the Welsh budget.

“I know Mark will relentlessly fight for the interests of the Welsh people and stand up to the Tories’ chronic under-investment in Wales compared to other parts of the UK, particularly London.”

At the conclusion of the process, all four party groups represented in the Welsh assembly – Labour, the Welsh Conservatives, Plaid Cymru and Ukip – will have changed leader during 2018.



