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Chief Special Adviser to the First Minister

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This article is about the chief of staff to the first minister of Wales. For the chief of staff to the first minister of Scotland, see Chief of Staff to the First Minister.
Wales
Chief Special Adviser to the First Minister
Prif Gynghorydd Arbennig y Prif Weinidog (Welsh)
Incumbent
Wayne David
since 1 January 2025
Member ofWelsh Government
Reports toFirst Minister
SeatCrown Buildings, Cathays Park, Cardiff
AppointerFirst Minister
Term lengthAt the First Minister's pleasure
Inaugural holderGareth Williams
Formation12 May 1999
Salary£101,088–£107,149 (est, 2023)

The Chief Special Adviser to the First Minister (Welsh: Prif Gynghorydd Arbennig y Prif Weinidog) is the chief of staff and most senior special adviser of the first minister of Wales.

History

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After the creation of the National Assembly for Wales and the position of First Secretary of Wales in 1999, the inaugural first secretary Alun Michael employed a team of four special advisers in his office, including a chief of staff.[1] In May 2000, his successor Rhodri Morgan gave the chief of staff the title of Senior Special Adviser to the First Secretary.[2] In October 2000, the office of First Secretary of Wales was renamed First Minister of Wales.[3] The chief of staff's title also changed to reflect this, becoming Senior Special Adviser to the First Minister.[4] Under First Minister Carwyn Jones, the office was renamed Chief Special Adviser to the First Minister in 2016.[5][6]

First Secretary Alun Michael's chief of staff was Gareth Williams, a Labour politician who stood in the 1999 European Parliament elections.[1] He resigned from the post when Michael resigned as first secretary in February 2000.[7] Michael's successor Rhodri Morgan brought in his ally Kevin Brennan to act as his chief of staff until a successor was found.[7] He appointed Paul Griffiths as his senior special adviser to the first secretary in May 2000.[2] After the office of First Secretary of Wales was renamed First Minister of Wales,[4] Morgan appointed another senior special adviser, Mark Drakeford, to serve alongside Griffiths[8] later that year.[9] Griffiths left the role in August 2007[10] while Drakeford stepped down when Morgan resigned in 2009.[11]

During the One Wales coalition government between Labour and Plaid Cymru, First Minister Rhodri Morgan and his successor Carwyn Jones employed Anna Nicholl from Plaid Cymru[12] as a senior special adviser from 2008 to 2011.[13][14] From May 2011 to May 2016, Jones's senior special adviser was Jo Kiernan.[15][16][17] In 2016, Jones appointed Matt Greenough to the role and renamed it Chief Special Adviser to the First Minister.[18][6]

Carwyn Jones's successor Mark Drakeford appointed Jane Runeckles as his chief special adviser in December 2018.[19][20] His successor Vaughan Gething appointed David Hagendyk as his adviser in March 2024.[21] Gething's successor Eluned Morgan appointed Rhodri Morgan's chief of staff Kevin Brennan as her chief special adviser on her ascendency to the premiership in August 2024.[22][23][24] In December 2024, she announced that he would leave the role after he was nominated for a peerage by Prime Minister Keir Starmer. She appointed former MP and MEP Wayne David as his successor from the new year onwards.[25][26][27]

Role

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The chief special adviser is the first minister's chief of staff and their most senior special adviser.

List of officeholders

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Chief of Staff to the First Secretary

[edit]
Chief of Staff Term of office Party Administration
Gareth Williams 12 May
1999 		9 February
2000 		Labour Michael
Kevin Brennan
Acting 		9 February
2000 		May
2000 		Rhodri Morgan (interim)

Senior Special Adviser to the First Secretary

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Senior Special Adviser Term of office Party Administration
Paul Griffiths May
2000 		16 October
2000 		Labour Rhodri Morgan (interim)

Senior Special Adviser to the First Minister

[edit]
Senior Special Adviser Term of office Party Government

Paul Griffiths
Serving with Mark Drakeford
Mark Drakeford
Serving with Paul Griffiths
(2000–2007)
Serving with Anna Nicholl
(2008–2009) 		16 October
2000 		August
2007
(Griffiths)
10 December
2009
(Drakeford) 		Labour Rhodri Morgan I
(Lab.–L.D.)
Rhodri Morgan II
Rhodri Morgan III
Rhodri Morgan IV
(Lab.–P.C.)
Anna Nicholl
Serving with Mark Drakeford
(2008–2009) 		2008 11 May
2011 		Plaid
Jones I
(Lab.–P.C.)
Jo Kiernan 11 May
2011 		5 May
2016 		Labour Jones II

Chief Special Adviser to the First Minister

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Chief Special Adviser Term of office Party Government
Matt Greenough 19 May
2016 		12 December
2018 		Labour Jones III
(Lab.–L.D.–Ind.)
Jane Runeckles 13 December
2018 		20 March
2024 		Drakeford I
(Lab.–L.D.–Ind.)
Drakeford II
David Hagendyk March
2024 		5 August
2024 		Gething
Kevin Brennan 6 August
2024 		31 December
2024 		Eluned Morgan
Wayne David 1 January
2025 		Incumbent

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Osmond, John (December 1999). Devolution: 'A Dynamic, Settled Process'? (PDF). Monitoring the National Assembly for Wales. July to December 1999. Institute of Welsh Affairs. p. 8. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  2. ^ a b Osmond, John (May 2000). Devolution in Transition (PDF). Monitoring the National Assembly for Wales. February to May 2000. Institute of Welsh Affairs. pp. 12–14. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  3. ^ Zetter, Lionel (17 September 2011). Lobbying: The Art of Political Persuasion. Harriman House Limited. p. 291. ISBN 978-0-85719-164-9. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  4. ^ a b Martin, Powell (2008). Modernising the Welfare State: The Blair Legacy. Policy Press. p. 8. ISBN 978-1-84742-039-8.
  5. ^ Shipton, Martin (29 June 2023). "Commons regulator urged to probe payments made by Welsh Labour MPs". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  6. ^ a b Jones, Carwyn (2020). Not Just Politics. Headline. p. 168. ISBN 978-1-78615-772-0.
  7. ^ a b Osmond, John (March 2000). Devolution Relaunched (PDF). December 1999 to March 2000. Institute of Welsh Affairs. p. 16. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  8. ^ Owen, Twm (30 December 2023). "New First Minister will need to argue for powers to be 'returned to Wales'". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  9. ^ Shipton, Martin (12 August 2015). "Health Minister Mark Drakeford understood to be backing Jeremy Corbyn for Labour leadership". WalesOnline. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  10. ^ "The Welsh way" (PDF). Agenda (Winter 2007-08): 29–31. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  11. ^ McFarnon, Emma (16 December 2010). "Welsh speakers in Cardiff: a growing community". Corridors of Power. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  12. ^ "WLGA names peer review team examining governance arrangements at council". Local Government Lawyer. 25 June 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  13. ^ Wales' Central Organising Principle: Legislating for Sustainable Development (PDF). Institute of Welsh Affairs. May 2012. p. 131. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  14. ^ Osmond, John; Upton, Stevie (March 2013). A Stable, Sustainable Settlement for Wales (PDF). UK's Changing Union. pp. 31, 146. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  15. ^ Powys, Betsan (6 June 2011). "The new CG and some raised eyebrows". BBC News. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  16. ^ Shipton, Martin (31 December 2015). "Carwyn Jones' top adviser Jo Kiernan to leave her role after Assembly election". WalesOnline. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  17. ^ Jones, Carwyn (26 July 2017). "Written Statement – Special Advisers". Welsh Government. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  18. ^ Evans, Jason (27 November 2018). "An anonymous letter said Carl Sargeant was 'not fit to be around women', inquest told". WalesOnline. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  19. ^ Grey, Jack; Frampton, Ben (7 March 2024). "Welsh ministers didn't know own Covid rules, inquiry told". BBC News. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
  20. ^ "Ms Jane Runeckles". UK COVID-19 Inquiry. 7 March 2024. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
  21. ^ Shipton, Martin (10 May 2024). "Vaughan Gething employs close friend to support and advise him". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
  22. ^ Shipton, Martin (20 December 2024). "Carwyn Jones and Kevin Brennan go to the House of Lords". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
  23. ^ Shipton, Martin (25 July 2024). "Former MP Kevin Brennan to be top adviser to First Minister Eluned Morgan". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  24. ^ Bloom, Dan (6 August 2024). "And still the rioting goes on". Politico. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  25. ^ Shipton, Martin (20 December 2024). "Carwyn Jones and Kevin Brennan go to the House of Lords". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  26. ^ "Statement from the First Minister". Welsh Government. 20 December 2024. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  27. ^ Hicks, Tom (20 December 2024). "Former Caerphilly MP announced as new special adviser". Caerphilly Observer. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
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