THE RESHUFFLE WINNERS & LOSERS ....
THE BIG WINNERS
Jeremy Miles and Julie James have reason to crack open the champagne.
Neath AM Mr Miles is the Counsel General designate. He takes on the role at a crucial time when the balance of powers between the Assembly and the UK Government is a focus of intense debate.
Swansea West AM Ms James enters the cabinet and steps into the Leader of the House and Chief Whip role vacated by Jane Hutt. She had previously been Minister for Skills and Science.
Today is also good news for Blaenau Gwent AM Alun Davies who has staged something of a comeback. He will sit in the top team at full cabinet level again for the first time since his 2014 sacking.
He has won the critical post of Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services, having previously been Minister for Lifelong Learning and Welsh Language. THE PROMOTED
Former MP and now Ogmore AM Huw Irranca-Davies gains a foothold in the Welsh Government as Minister for Children and Social Care, as does ex-MEP and Member of the House of Lords turned Mid and West Wales AM Eluned Morgan. She is now Minister for Welsh Language and Lifelong Learning.
Delyn AM Hannah Blythyn is also now in the Government as Minister for Environment. And in one of the most intriguing appointments of the day, former Plaid Cymru leader Dafydd Elis-Thomas (who sits as the independent AM for Dwyfor Meirionnydd) becomes Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport. This means that the Labour-led Welsh
Government includes former Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams as Education Secretary and a former Plaid Presiding Officer in its ranks. THE DEPARTURES
It had been rumoured that Alyn and Deeside’s Carl Sargeant would lose his post as Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children, but it was a shock to hear he was facing allegations which he describes as “distressing”.
Pontypridd AM Mick Antoniw gave every sign of relishing his position as Counsel General but he has lost the role to Mr Miles.
Jane Hutt had served in government since 1999. The Vale of Glamorgan AM has left her stamp on Wales. WHAT THIS TELLS US
This is a substantial reshuffle but the big changes are not at the top. Two figures who are regularly spoken of as possible successors to Mr Jones stay in post, Vaughan Gething at Health and Ken Skates in the Economy position. The most significant impact is bringing new blood to junior roles. The First Minister has decided not to give Mr Irranca-Davies or Baroness Morgan seats at the top table right away but they have a chance to earn their spurs in the Welsh Government.
And by bringing in Lord Elis-Thomas, Mr Jones is continuing to take a big tent approach to politics, even though there may well be Labour backbenchers who are disappointed they didn’t get the chance to start a ministerial career.
Mr Jones is clearly in confident mood, with Welsh Labour having enjoyed a much better than expected general election in June. A host of potential successors now have positions in Government. They are bound by collective responsibility and under pressure to excel.