This is a list of the first ministers of Wales. The role of "First Secretary of Wales" was introduced in 1999 with the establishment of the National Assembly for Wales (now Senedd) following the 1997 referendum. The title of the role was changed to "First Minister of Wales" in October 2000, a change which was recognised in law following the enactment of the Government of Wales Act 2006. Until 2026, all first ministers to date also served concurrently as leader of Welsh Labour.
After the 2026 Senedd election, Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth became the first officeholder to come from a party other than Welsh Labour.
List of First Ministers of Wales No.PortraitName(Birth–Death)Constituency/TitleTerm of officePolitical partyElectedGovernmentDeputyStart of termEnd of termTenure1Alun Michael(born 1943)AM for Mid and West Walesas First Secretary12 May19999 February2000Labour Co-op1999MichaelLab (minority)none2Rhodri Morgan(1939–2017)AM for Cardiff WestOffice renamed First Minister on 16 October 20009 February20009 December2009Labour —Interim Rh. MorganLab (minority)noneRh. Morgan ILab – LDMike German (LD)2000–01 and 2002-03 Jenny Randerson2001–02 (acting)2003Rh. Morgan IILab (minority)none2007Rh. Morgan IIILab (minority) —Rh. Morgan IVLab – PlaidIeuan Wyn Jones(Plaid Cymru)3Carwyn Joneslater created Baron Jones of Penybont(born 1967)AM for Bridgend10 December200912 December2018LabourJones ILab – Plaid2011Jones IILab (minority)none2016Jones IIILab – LD - Ind4Mark Drakeford(born 1954)MS for Cardiff West13 December201820 March2024Labour —Drakeford ILab – LD - Indnone2021Drakeford IILab (minority)none5Vaughan Gething(born 1974)MS for Cardiff South and Penarth20 March20245 August2024Labour Co-op —GethingLab (minority)none6Eluned Morgan,Baroness Morgan of Ely(born 1967)MS for Mid and West Wales6 August202412 May2026LabourE. MorganLab (minority)Huw Irranca-Davies(Labour)7Rhun ap Iorwerth(born 1972)MS for Bangor Conwy Môn12 May2026IncumbentPlaid Cymru 2026ap IorwerthPlaid (minority)Sioned Williams(Plaid Cymru)
Timeline This is a graphical lifespan timeline of the first secretaries and first ministers of Wales. They are listed in order of first assuming office.
The following chart lists first secretaries and first ministers by lifespan (living first secretaries and first ministers on the green line), with the years outside of their tenure in beige.
The following chart shows first secretaries and first ministers by their age (living first secretaries and first ministers in green), with the years of their tenure in blue.
Previous nominations
2026
August 2024
March 2024
2021 On 12 May 2021, Mark Drakeford was the only person nominated for the position (by Rebecca Evans), and was a subsequently recommended by the presiding officer to be appointed as First Minister.
2018
2016
2011 On 11 May 2011, Carwyn Jones was the only person nominated for the position (by Janice Gregory), and was a subsequently recommended by the presiding officer to be appointed as First Minister.
2009 On 9 December 2009, Carwyn Jones was the only person nominated for the position (by Rhodri Morgan), and was a subsequently recommended by the presiding officer to be appointed as First Minister.
2007 On 25 May 2007, Rhodri Morgan was the only person nominated for the position (by Jane Hutt), and was a subsequently recommended by the presiding officer to be appointed as First Minister.
2003 On 7 May 2003, Rhodri Morgan was the only person nominated for the position (by Lynne Neagle), and was a subsequently elected as First Minister.
2000 On Wednesday 9 February 2000, following the resignation of Alun Michael, the Assembly cabinet unanimously elected Rhodri Morgan as acting First Secretary. He was elected unopposed as First Secretary by the whole Assembly (after being proposed by Andrew Davies) the following week on Tuesday 15 February.
1999 On 12 May 1999, Alun Michael was the only person nominated for the position (by Rhodri Morgan and seconded by Ann Jones), and was a subsequently elected as First Secretary.
References
Notes
Dates are from various BBC News Online articles from 1999 to 2003.
External links Roles and Responsibilities. Cabinet members and ministers Welsh Government: Cabinet and ministers.