The Chief Whip () is a member of the cabinet in the Welsh Government. The current officeholder is Heledd Fychan since May 2026.
Chief whips NamePictureEntered officeLeft officeOther offices heldPolitical partyGovernmentRefs.Andrew Davies12 May 19999 February 2000Minister for Assembly BusinessLabourMichael administrationKaren Sinclair9 February 20002005Minister for Assembly BusinessInterim Rhodri Morgan administrationFirst Rhodri Morgan governmentSecond Rhodri Morgan governmentJane Hutt20052007Minister for the Assembly BusinessThird Rhodri Morgan governmentCarl Sargeant31 May 200710 December 2009Fourth Rhodri Morgan governmentJanice Gregory10 December 200919 May 2016First Jones governmentSecond Jones governmentJane Hutt19 May 20163 November 2017Leader of the HouseThird Jones governmentJulie James3 November 201713 December 2018Leader of the HouseJane Hutt13 December 201813 May 2021Deputy ministerFirst Drakeford governmentDawn Bowden13 May 20213 May 2023Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport Accountable to Minister for EconomySecond Drakeford governmentJane Hutt3 May 202312 May 2026Minister for Social Justice (2018–2024)Minister for Social Justice (2024) Trefnydd (2024–2026)Gething governmentTrefnydd (2024–2026)Eluned Morgan governmentHeledd Fychan13 May 2026IncumbentTrefnydd (2026–) Cabinet Minister for Culture and Sport (2026–)Plaid Cymruap Iorwerth government
Responsibilities
The main responsibility of Chief Whip is to ensure the Welsh Government's business can go through the Senedd, in particular securing the majority of votes the government holds to vote on its legislative and policy programmes. The chief whip attends the cabinet, and works with the business minister to timetable and secure passage of legislative competence orders and acts) (formerly measures). They also have the role to successfully complete the government's programme of legislation.
To maintain their responsibilities, whips use various methods. They manage the attendance of members in Senedd votes, and persuade them to vote with the government. The chief whip is also an important link not only between the government and the parliamentary (majority) party, but also between the government and opposition parties or the Assembly Parliamentary Service (now Senedd Commission) and presiding office. The chief whip would attends regular weekly meetings with key figures to discuss the Senedd's business arrangements, as well as cabinet meetings. They have daily contact with these key figures to deal with ongoing matters, timetabling and agenda issues. When legislation is to be passed, or for some other government business, discussions may arise between the chief whip and opposition whips, the minister overseeing Senedd business, or the whips' designated "shadow" counterpart, to resolve difficulties arising with amendments, the timing of a vote, and to resolve such issues a deal may be reached.
The chief whip also has contact with other whips concerning various matters, such as "pairing" and the intermittent filling of committee vacancies. The chief whip also manages the membership of committees and sub-committees. Discussions may follow these channels for other matters, such as changes coming from or presented to the Business Committee.
The chief whip also ensures that backbenchers use their electronic votes correctly. The whip (document) is circulated each week by whips of each party to their members and sets out the list of business for the following week, as well as the party's expectations for when Senedd members are to vote. To minimise the persuasion required for backbenchers to support the government, the Chief Whip advises the cabinet over the likely acceptability of any of its legislative proposals.
See also
Chief Whip Ministry
References