Rhun ap Iorwerth reveals ministerial team, promising ‘new era’ for Wales

1 hour agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleDavid DeansWales political reporter

Welsh government

First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth has revealed his ministerial team in Wales’ first ever Plaid Cymru government.

Sioned Williams will be his deputy first minister, and finance cabinet minister will be former presiding officer Elin Jones.

Introducing his ministers on the steps of the government’s headquarters in Cardiff, ap Iorwerth said it was not just a change to the administration but a “wholesale” change of approach, promising a government “for all of the people of Wales”.

Ap Iorwerth was confirmed as first minister on Tuesday, after Plaid became the largest party in the Senedd in an historic election that saw Labour’s 27-year long rule in Wales come to an end.

He said: “We will begin the government in earnest as a united team, of energy, talent and experience, ready to serve.”

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Wales’ new health minister is Mabon ap Gwynfor, education and Welsh language minister and new MS is Anna Brychan, while Heledd Fychan becomes cabinet minister for culture and sport, as well as trefnydd – which involves organising government business in the Senedd.

Former Plaid leader Adam Price becomes cabinet minister for enterprise, connectivity and energy.

Cabinet member for rural resilience, responsible for farming, is Llŷr Gruffydd, while Sian Gwenllian becomes responsible for local government.

Former Westminster MP for Plaid Elfyn Llwyd becomes counsel general, the government’s chief legal adviser, in a post that will need to be signed off by the Senedd.

Welsh government

The full list of ap Iorwerth’s cabinet ministers includes:

• Deputy first minister and minister for social justice and equality – Sioned Williams
• Finance – Elin Jones
• Trefnydd, chief whip and minister for culture and sport – Heledd Fychan
• Government effectiveness and the constitution – Dafydd Trystan Davies
• Health and care – Mabon ap Gwynfor
• Enterprise, connectivity and energy – Adam Price
• Education and the Welsh language – Anna Brychan
• Rural resilience and sustainability – Llŷr Gruffydd
• Local government, housing and planning – Siân Gwenllian
• Public and preventative health – Nerys Evans
• Social care, mental health and women’s health – Delyth Jewell
• Transport – Mark Hooper
• Skills and tertiary education – Cefin Campbell
• Counsel general designate – Elfyn Llwyd

In a statement released to the media after his cabinet was announced, ap Iorwerth said it would have a “relentless focus on doing what’s best for Wales”.

“Our pledge is simple – to repay people’s trust in us as quickly as we can, bringing the nation together. A new era of leadership starts today,” he said.

Responding to the announcement, Reform UK’s Welsh leader Dan Thomas said the people of Wales “need this cabinet to succeed”.

“Our NHS, our schools and our economy need urgent change, and while I may disagree with Plaid, we all need them to succeed,” he said.

“We will scrutinise their actions and work to ensure that their attention is on our public services and not Welsh independence.”

Welsh Conservative Senedd leader Darren Millar said the new government had a “monumental task ahead of it” and wanted to see it succeed “where Labour fell short”.

“We need new ideas and new governance, not the same old politics of the past 27 years,” he said.

Welsh governmentPlaid CymruUK elections 2026Rhun ap IorwerthWelsh Parliament election 2026Wales