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Vaughan Gething’s former leadership rival Jeremy Miles has returned to the Welsh government as Eluned Morgan’s health secretary in her first cabinet reshuffle.
He is one of two ex-cabinet members who forced Gething to quit by resigning in the summer given ministerial jobs.
Julie James, who had also resigned, will become counsel general.
Former first minister Mark Drakeford – who had been interim health secretary since the summer – will also remain in government as finance secretary.
Vaughan Gething had already ruled himself out of serving in the government.
Lesley Griffiths and Mick Antoniw, who resigned from government at the same time as Jeremy Miles and Julie James, were not given government jobs.
Morgan said: “The changes I am announcing today offer stability, draw on experience, and bring our collective talents together.
“The new portfolios reflect modern Wales and are designed to address the key challenges that face us all.”
The Welsh Conservatives said the new cabinet was “still the same old Labour”.
Plaid Cymru said it was the “third Welsh government cabinet this year after months of internal Labour party chaos”.
Rebecca Evans, who was finance secretary prior to the reshuffle, has moved to the economy brief.
But Lynne Neagle, Ken Skates, Jayne Bryant, Huw-Irranca Davies have all retained their previous jobs in education, transport, local government and rural affairs respectively.
Jane Hutt will also stay on as chief whip, although her culture portfolio – previously held by Lesley Griffiths – will move to junior minister Jack Sargeant.
He is also responsible for skills and social partnership.
Meanwhile Vikki Howells, MS for Cynon Valley, has been promoted to government as a junior minister for the first time, responsible for further and higher education.
Jeremy Miles lost to Vaughan Gething in the Welsh Labour leadership contest in March.
Following months of rows over Gething’s campaign donations and the sacking of a minister, Miles, James, Antoniw and Griffiths all quit at the same time, forcing Gething from office.
Who is who in the new Welsh government cabinet?
- Huw Irranca-Davies – Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs
- Jeremy Miles – Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
- Mark Drakeford – Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language
- Rebecca Evans – Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
- Jayne Bryant – Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government
- Lynne Neagle – Cabinet Secretary for Education
- Ken Skates – Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales
- Jane Hutt – Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip
- Jack Sargeant – Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership
- Vikki Howells – Minister for Further and Higher Education
- Sarah Murphy – Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing
- Dawn Bowden – Minister for Children and Social Care
- Julie James – Counsel General Designate and Minister for Delivery
Analysis
By Daniel Davies, political correspondent
Jeremy Miles inherits a massive budget and a daunting task.
It’s three years since the Welsh government declared that reducing the backlog of treatments from Covid was “our highest priority”.
But hospital waiting times have proved stubbornly high and last month hit a new record, having risen for the fifth month in a row.
Eluned Morgan, Vaughan Gething and Mark Drakeford all did stints in charge of the behemoth health department before ascending to the top job.
Now it’s the turn of the politician who helped end Gething’s reign by resigning from his cabinet.
