Welsh politics is turning a significant page. Labour’s Mark Drakeford, who announced his resignation this week, has spent five years as first minister of Wales alongside Conservative UK governments in Westminster. His Labour successor, who is expected to be chosen by March, will be hoping to work alongside a Keir Starmer-led Labour administration instead.
The timing of Mr Drakeford’s announcement confirms that Labour wants the Welsh succession sorted before the next UK general election. It may also imply that Sir Keir does not want the election in Wales to be dominated by Labour’s mixed record under Mr Drakeford. The outgoing first minister’s popularity has dipped recently, so a new Welsh Labour leader would be less of an election target for rival parties.
