Chief Special Adviser to the First Minister
{{Short description|Adviser to the First Minister of Wales}}
{{About|the chief of staff to the first minister of Wales|the chief of staff to the first minister of Scotland|Chief of Staff to the First Minister}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = {{small|Wales}}
Chief Special Adviser to the First Minister
| body =
| native_name = {{native name|cy|Prif Gynghorydd Arbennig y Prif Weinidog}}
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| image = Official portrait of Wayne David MP crop 2.jpg
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| incumbent = Wayne David
| acting =
| incumbentsince = 1 January 2025
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| status =
| member_of = Welsh Government
| reports_to = First Minister
| residence =
| seat = Crown Buildings, Cathays Park, Cardiff
| nominator =
| appointer = First Minister
| appointer_qualified =
| termlength = At the First Minister's pleasure
| termlength_qualified =
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| precursor =
| inaugural = Gareth Williams
| formation = 12 May 1999
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| deputy =
| salary = £101,088–£107,149 (est, 2023)
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| footnotes =
}}
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
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.{{Cite book |last=Osmond |first=John |url=https://www.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unit/sites/constitution-unit/files/wadec99.pdf |title=Devolution: 'A Dynamic, Settled Process'? |date=December 1999 |publisher=Institute of Welsh Affairs |others=July to December 1999 |series=Monitoring the National Assembly for Wales |page=8 |access-date=21 December 2024}} In May 2000, his successor Rhodri Morgan gave the chief of staff the title of Senior Special Adviser to the First Secretary.{{Cite book |last=Osmond |first=John |url=https://www.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unit/sites/constitution-unit/files/wamay00.pdf |title=Devolution in Transition |date=May 2000 |publisher=Institute of Welsh Affairs |others=February to May 2000 |series=Monitoring the National Assembly for Wales |pages=12–14 |access-date=21 December 2024}} In October 2000, the office of First Secretary of Wales was renamed First Minister of Wales.{{Cite book |last=Zetter |first=Lionel |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QvUwd2gSNKcC&pg=PT291 |title=Lobbying: The Art of Political Persuasion |date=17 September 2011 |publisher=Harriman House Limited |isbn=978-0-85719-164-9 |page=291 |language=en |access-date=21 December 2024}} The chief of staff's title also changed to reflect this, becoming Senior Special Adviser to the First Minister.{{Cite book |last=Martin |first=Powell |title=Modernising the Welfare State: The Blair Legacy |publisher=Policy Press |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-84742-039-8 |page=8 |language=en}} Under First Minister Carwyn Jones, the office was renamed Chief Special Adviser to the First Minister in 2016.{{Cite news |last=Shipton |first=Martin |date=29 June 2023 |title=Commons regulator urged to probe payments made by Welsh Labour MPs |url=https://nation.cymru/news/commons-regulator-urged-to-probe-payments-made-by-welsh-labour-mps/ |access-date=21 December 2024 |work=Nation.Cymru}}{{Cite book |last=Jones |first=Carwyn |title=Not Just Politics |publisher=Headline |year=2020 |isbn=978-1-78615-772-0 |page=168 |language=en}}
First Secretary Alun Michael's chief of staff was Gareth Williams, a Labour politician who stood in the 1999 European Parliament elections. He resigned from the post when Michael resigned as first secretary in February 2000.{{Cite book |last=Osmond |first=John |url=https://www.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unit/sites/constitution-unit/files/wafeb00.pdf |title=Devolution Relaunched |date=March 2000 |publisher=Institute of Welsh Affairs |others=December 1999 to March 2000 |page=16 |access-date=21 December 2024}} Michael's successor Rhodri Morgan brought in his ally Kevin Brennan to act as his chief of staff until a successor was found. He appointed Paul Griffiths as his senior special adviser to the first secretary in May 2000. After the office of First Secretary of Wales was renamed First Minister of Wales, Morgan appointed another senior special adviser, Mark Drakeford, to serve alongside Griffiths{{Cite news |last=Owen |first=Twm |date=30 December 2023 |title=New First Minister will need to argue for powers to be 'returned to Wales' |url=https://nation.cymru/news/new-first-minister-will-need-to-argue-for-powers-to-be-returned-to-wales/ |access-date=21 December 2024 |work=Nation.Cymru}} later that year.{{Cite news |last=Shipton |first=Martin |date=12 August 2015 |title=Health Minister Mark Drakeford understood to be backing Jeremy Corbyn for Labour leadership |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/health-minister-mark-drakeford-understood-9844643 |access-date=21 December 2024 |work=WalesOnline}} Griffiths left the role in August 2007{{Cite journal |title=The Welsh way |url=https://www.iwa.wales/wp-content/media/2016/04/AgendaWint0708pages.pdf |journal=Agenda |issue=Winter 2007-08 |pages=29–31 |access-date=21 December 2024}} while Drakeford stepped down when Morgan resigned in 2009.{{Cite news |last=McFarnon |first=Emma |date=16 December 2010 |title=Welsh speakers in Cardiff: a growing community |url=https://thecorridorsofpower.wordpress.com/2010/12/16/welsh-speakers-in-cardiff-a-growing-community/ |access-date=21 December 2024 |work=Corridors of Power}}
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{{Cite news |date=25 June 2014 |title=WLGA names peer review team examining governance arrangements at council |url=https://www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=19002:wlga-names-peer-review-team-examining-governance-arrangements-at-council&catid=59&Itemid=27 |access-date=21 December 2024 |work=Local Government Lawyer}} as a senior special adviser from 2008 to 2011.{{Cite book |url=https://www.iwa.wales/wp-content/media/2012/01/centorgsd.pdf |title=Wales' Central Organising Principle: Legislating for Sustainable Development |date=May 2012 |publisher=Institute of Welsh Affairs |page=131 |access-date=21 December 2024}}{{Cite book |last1=Osmond |first1=John |url=https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/2003830/1/ChangingUnion_Complete.pdf |title=A Stable, Sustainable Settlement for Wales |last2=Upton |first2=Stevie |date=March 2013 |publisher=UK's Changing Union |pages=31, 146 |access-date=21 December 2024}} From May 2011 to May 2016, Jones's senior special adviser was Jo Kiernan.{{Cite news |last=Powys |first=Betsan |date=6 June 2011 |title=The new CG and some raised eyebrows |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-13672501 |access-date=21 December 2024 |work=BBC News}}{{Cite news |last=Shipton |first=Martin |date=31 December 2015 |title=Carwyn Jones' top adviser Jo Kiernan to leave her role after Assembly election |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/carwyn-jones-top-adviser-jo-10670857 |access-date=21 December 2024 |work=WalesOnline}}{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Carwyn |date=26 July 2017 |title=Written Statement – Special Advisers |url=https://www.gov.wales/written-statement-special-advisers-0 |access-date=21 December 2024 |website=Welsh Government}} In 2016, Jones appointed Matt Greenough to the role and renamed it Chief Special Adviser to the First Minister.{{Cite news |last=Evans |first=Jason |date=27 November 2018 |title=An anonymous letter said Carl Sargeant was 'not fit to be around women', inquest told |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/carl-sargeant-inquest-matt-greenough-15474209 |access-date=21 December 2024 |work=WalesOnline}}
Carwyn Jones's successor Mark Drakeford appointed Jane Runeckles as his chief special adviser in December 2018.{{Cite news |last1=Grey |first1=Jack |last2=Frampton |first2=Ben |date=7 March 2024 |title=Welsh ministers didn't know own Covid rules, inquiry told |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-wales-68489711 |access-date=23 December 2024 |work=BBC News}}{{Cite web |date=7 March 2024 |title=Ms Jane Runeckles |url=https://uk-inquiry.its-airborne.org/2024-03-07_module-2B/1_Ms_Jane_Runeckles/ |access-date=23 December 2024 |publisher=UK COVID-19 Inquiry}} His successor Vaughan Gething appointed David Hagendyk as his adviser in March 2024.{{Cite news |last=Shipton |first=Martin |date=10 May 2024 |title=Vaughan Gething employs close friend to support and advise him |url=https://nation.cymru/news/vaughan-gething-employs-close-friend-to-support-and-advise-him/ |access-date=23 December 2024 |work=Nation.Cymru}} 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.{{Cite news |last=Shipton |first=Martin |date=20 December 2024 |title=Carwyn Jones and Kevin Brennan go to the House of Lords |url=https://nation.cymru/news/carwyn-jones-and-kevin-brennan-go-to-the-house-of-lords/ |access-date=23 December 2024 |work=Nation.Cymru}}{{Cite news |last=Shipton |first=Martin |date=25 July 2024 |title=Former MP Kevin Brennan to be top adviser to First Minister Eluned Morgan |url=https://nation.cymru/news/former-mp-kevin-brennan-to-be-top-adviser-to-first-minister-eluned-morgan/ |access-date=6 August 2024 |work=Nation.Cymru}}{{Cite news |last=Bloom |first=Dan |date=6 August 2024 |title=And still the rioting goes on |url=https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/london-playbook/and-still-the-rioting-goes-on/ |access-date=6 August 2024 |work=Politico}} 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.{{Cite news |last=Shipton |first=Martin |date=20 December 2024 |title=Carwyn Jones and Kevin Brennan go to the House of Lords |url=https://nation.cymru/news/carwyn-jones-and-kevin-brennan-go-to-the-house-of-lords/ |access-date=21 December 2024 |work=Nation.Cymru}}{{Cite web |date=20 December 2024 |title=Statement from the First Minister |url=https://media.service.gov.wales/news/statement-from-the-first-minister |access-date=21 December 2024 |website=Welsh Government}}{{Cite news |last=Hicks |first=Tom |date=20 December 2024 |title=Former Caerphilly MP announced as new special adviser |url=https://caerphilly.observer/news/1045730/former-caerphilly-mp-announced-as-new-special-adviser-to-eluned-morgan/ |access-date=1 January 2025 |work=Caerphilly Observer}}
Role
The chief special adviser is the first minister's chief of staff and their most senior special adviser.
List of officeholders
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
| colspan=7 |
=Chief of Staff to the First Secretary=
|- style="height:1em"
! colspan=3 | Chief of Staff
! colspan=2 | Term of office
! Party
! Administration
|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 style="background-color: {{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
|
| Gareth Williams
| {{Small|12 May}}
1999
| {{Small|9 February}}
2000
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Labour}} | Labour
| {{Party shading/Labour}} | Michael
|- style="height:1em"
| 99x99px
| Kevin Brennan
{{Small|Acting}}
| {{Small|9 February}}
2000
| {{Small|May}}
2000
| {{Party shading/Labour}} | Rhodri Morgan (interim)
|- style="height:1em"
| colspan=7|
=Senior Special Adviser to the First Secretary =
|- style="height:1em"
! colspan=3 | Senior Special Adviser
! colspan=2 | Term of office
! Party
! Administration
|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| Paul Griffiths
| {{Small|May}}
2000
| {{Small|16 October}}
2000
| {{Party shading/Labour}} | Labour
| {{Party shading/Labour}} | Rhodri Morgan (interim)
|- style="height:1em"
| colspan=7|
=Senior Special Adviser to the First Minister =
|- style="height:1em"
! colspan=3 | Senior Special Adviser
! colspan=2 | Term of office
! Party
! Government
|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=4 style="background-color: {{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=4 | Paul Griffiths
{{Small|Serving with Mark Drakeford}}
Mark Drakeford
{{Small|Serving with Paul Griffiths
(2000–2007)}}
{{Small|Serving with Anna Nicholl
(2008–2009)}}
| rowspan=4 | {{Small|16 October}}
2000
| rowspan=4 | {{Small|August}}
2007
{{resize|65%|(Griffiths)}}
{{small|10 December}}
2009
{{resize|65%|(Drakeford)}}
| rowspan=4 {{Party shading/Labour}} | Labour
| {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} | Rhodri Morgan I
{{Small|(Lab.–L.D.)}}
|- style="height:1em"
| {{Party shading/Labour}} | Rhodri Morgan II
|- style="height:1em"
| {{Party shading/Labour}} | Rhodri Morgan III
|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} | Rhodri Morgan IV
{{Small|(Lab.–P.C.)}}
|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan="2" style="background-color: {{Party color|Plaid Cymru}}" |
| rowspan="2" |
| rowspan="2" | Anna Nicholl
{{Small|Serving with Mark Drakeford
(2008–2009)}}
| rowspan="2" | 2008
| rowspan="2" | {{Small|11 May}}
2011
| rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Plaid Cymru|fade=y}} | Plaid
|- style="height:1em"
| {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} | Jones I
{{Small|(Lab.–P.C.)}}
|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
|
| Jo Kiernan
| {{Small|11 May}}
2011
| {{Small|5 May}}
2016
| {{Party shading/Labour}} | Labour
| {{Party shading/Labour}} | Jones II
|- style="height:1em"
| colspan=7|
=Chief Special Adviser to the First Minister =
|- style="height:1em"
! colspan=3 | Chief Special Adviser
! colspan=2 | Term of office
! Party
! Government
|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan="6" style="background-color: {{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
|
| Matt Greenough
| {{Small|19 May}}
2016
| {{Small|12 December}}
2018
| rowspan="6" {{Party shading/Labour}} | Labour
| {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} | Jones III
{{Small|(Lab.–L.D.–Ind.)}}
|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan="2" |
| rowspan="2" | Jane Runeckles
| rowspan="2" | {{Small|13 December}}
2018
| rowspan="2" | {{Small|20 March}}
2024
| {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} | Drakeford I
{{Small|(Lab.–L.D.–Ind.)}}
|- style="height:1em"
| {{Party shading/Labour}} | Drakeford II
|- style="height:1em"
|
| David Hagendyk
| {{Small|March}}
2024
| {{Small|5 August}}
2024
| {{Party shading/Labour}} | Gething
|- style="height:1em"
| 97x97px
| {{Small|6 August}}
2024
| {{Small|31 December}}
2024
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Labour}} | Eluned Morgan
|- style="height:1em"
| 97x97px
| {{Small|1 January}}
2025
|}