First Minister Mark Drakeford has reshuffled his cabinet and made his longtime friend and ally, Jane Hutt, the Chief Whip. In an statement published by the Welsh Government on Tuesday, May 2, it was announced that the minister for social justice will maintain her role as well as becoming the new chief whip. The Senedd Member, who has served the Vale of Glamorgan since 1999, will also assume a Welsh Government ministerial liaison role for the cooperation qgreement in which she will continue to support the work with Plaid Cymru as they enter the second half of their three-year agreement.
In an interview with the BBC in April 2018 Ms Hutt said she and Mr Drakeford "go back a long way" as both of them served as members of the former South Glamorgan County Council. Mr Drakeford also served as Ms Hutt's special adviser when she was the health minister between 1999 and 2005. When Carwyn Jones announced that he was stepping down as First Minister in 2018 Ms Hutt endorsed Mr Drakeford, who was the finance secretary at the time, to lead the party, stating that he would be a "blessing" to Wales.
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