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{{Short description|Opposition cabinet in Wales}}
The Welsh '''Shadow Cabinet''' is constituted by members of the largest party not part of the [[Welsh Government]]. Since 6 April 2017 this has been the [[Welsh Conservatives]]. And since 24 January 2021 the [[Leader of the Opposition in Wales|Leader of the Opposition]] has been [[Andrew R. T. Davies|Andrew RT Davies]].
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Politics of Wales}}
The '''Welsh Shadow Cabinet''' ({{Lang-cy|Cabinet Cysgodol Cymru}}) is formed from members of the [[official opposition]] in the [[Senedd]], the largest party not part of the [[Welsh Government]], to scrutinise ministers in the [[Welsh Cabinet]]. It is led by the [[Leader of the Opposition (Wales)|Leader of the Opposition]], who typically appoints [[Member of the Senedd|members of the Senedd]] (MSs) from their party as '''shadow ministers''' with portfolios which mirror ministerial posts in the Cabinet who scrutinise ministers and can propose their own alternative policies. Other opposition parties in the Senedd also appoint '''frontbench teams''' of spokespeople who perform the same function. These are also sometimes styled as "shadow cabinets" by their parties, though unlike the Shadow Cabinet they have no official recognition. Since 2021, the Shadow Cabinet has been formed from members of the [[Welsh Conservatives]] led by [[Andrew RT Davies]], who have alternated with [[Plaid Cymru]] as the official opposition in the Senedd since its establishment as the [[National Assembly for Wales]] in 1999.

The [[Shadow Cabinet of Dafydd Wigley|first shadow cabinet of Wales]] was formed by Plaid Cymru's [[Dafydd Wigley]] in 1999. Its members were elected to shadow portfolios by members of the Plaid Cymru Group in the National Assembly for Wales. In 2000, Plaid Cymru's [[Ieuan Wyn Jones]] succeeded Wigley as Leader of the Opposition and formed a [[Shadow Cabinet of Ieuan Wyn Jones|new shadow cabinet]], this time personally appointing its members; since then, members of the Shadow Cabinet have usually been appointed by the Leader of the Opposition. Leaders may [[Cabinet reshuffle|reshuffle]] their shadow cabinet, swapping members' portfolios and appointing new members to the Shadow Cabinet. The official opposition can also appoint party staff and spokespeople to the Shadow Cabinet who have [[Minister without portfolio|no shadow ministerial portfolio]].


Both the Welsh Conservatives and Plaid Cymru currently refer to their own front benches as Shadow Cabinets. As of January 2021 the following speak for their respective party and question the relevant minister in [[plenary session]].
The Shadow Cabinet presents itself as an alternative government-in-waiting. It is tasked with scrutinising government ministers, and its members are meant to lead the official opposition in challenging members of the Welsh Government and taking them to account. As party group spokespeople in the Senedd, shadow ministers are able to speak for their respective party and question their relevant ministerial counterparts at [[Plenary session|plenary sessions]] of the Senedd.


==Conservative Shadow Cabinet==
==Conservative Shadow Cabinet==
{{Main|Third Shadow Cabinet of Andrew RT Davies}}
{{Main|Fourth Shadow Cabinet of Andrew RT Davies}}
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+Conservative Shadow Cabinet (as of 24 January 2021)
! style="width: 390px" |Portfolio
! style="width: 390px" |Portfolio
! colspan="3" |Name
! colspan="3" |Name
!Constituency or <br>electoral region
!Constituency
!Term
!Term
|-
|-
|[[Leader of the Opposition in Wales|Leader of the Opposition]]
|[[Leader of the Opposition in Wales|Leader of the Opposition]]
[[Welsh Conservatives|Leader of the Welsh Conservatives]]
[[Welsh Conservatives|Leader of the Welsh Conservatives]]
! style="background-color: {{Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color}}; width: 1px" |
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Andrew_RT_Davies_2016.jpg|alt=|85x85px]]
|[[File:Andrew_RT_Davies_2016.jpg|alt=|85x85px]]
|[[Andrew RT Davies]] MS
|[[Andrew RT Davies]] MS
|[[South Wales Central (Senedd Cymru electoral region)|South Wales Central]]
|[[South Wales Central (Senedd electoral region)|South Wales Central]]
|2021–
|2021–
|-
|-
|Shadow Minister for Health and Social Services
|Shadow Minister for Finance and Local Government
! style="background-color: {{Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color}}; width: 1px" |
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Angela_Burns_AM_(28066511502).jpg|alt=|85x85px]]
|[[File:Peter-fox.jpg|85x85px]]
|[[Peter Fox (Welsh politician)|Peter Fox]] MS
|[[Angela Burns]] MS
|[[Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire (Senedd Cymru constituency)|Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire]]
|[[Monmouth (Senedd constituency)|Monmouth]]
|2021–
|2021–
|-
|-
|Shadow Minister for Finance, North Wales and Chief Whip
|Shadow Minister for Mid Wales and Deputy Whip
! style="background-color: {{Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color}}; width: 1px" |
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Russell_George_AM_(27889501870).jpg|alt=|85x85px]]
|[[Russell George (Welsh politician)|Russell George]] MS
|[[Montgomeryshire (Senedd Cymru constituency)|Montgomeryshire]]
|2021–
|-
|Shadow Minister for West Wales
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Paul_Davies_AM_(28170823155).jpg|85x85px]]
|[[Paul Davies (politician)|Paul Davies]] MS
|[[Preseli Pembrokeshire (Senedd constituency)|Preseli Pembrokeshire]]
|2021–
|-
|Shadow Minister for Climate Change
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Janet-finch-saunders.jpg|85x85px]]
|[[Janet Finch-Saunders]] MS
|[[Aberconwy (Senedd constituency)|Aberconwy]]
|2021–
|-
|Shadow Minister for Culture, Sport, Tourism and Social Justice
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Laura-anne-jones.jpg|85x85px]]
|[[Laura Anne Jones]] MS
|[[South Wales East (Senedd electoral region)|South Wales East]]
|2021–
|-
|Shadow Counsel General and Shadow Minister for Housing and Planning
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Mark_Isherwood_AM_(28092336901).jpg|alt=|85x85px]]
|[[File:Mark_Isherwood_AM_(28092336901).jpg|alt=|85x85px]]
|[[Mark Isherwood (politician)|Mark Isherwood]] MS
|[[Mark Isherwood (politician)|Mark Isherwood]] MS
|[[North Wales (Senedd Cymru electoral region)|North Wales]]
|[[North Wales (Senedd electoral region)|North Wales]]
|2021–
|2021–
|-
|-
|Shadow Minister for Economy, Transport and Mid Wales
|Shadow Minister for the Constitution and North Wales, Chief Whip and Business Manager
! style="background-color: {{Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color}}; width: 1px" |
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Russell_George_AM_(27889501870).jpg|alt=|85x85px]]
|[[File:Darren_Millar_AM_(27889497540).jpg|85x85px]]
|[[Russell George]] MS
|[[Darren Millar]] MS
|[[Montgomeryshire (Senedd Cymru constituency)|Montgomeryshire]]
|[[Clwyd West (Senedd constituency)|Clwyd West]]
|2021–
|2021–
|-
|-
|Shadow Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs
|Shadow Minister for Social Care
! style="background-color: {{Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color}}; width: 1px" |
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Janet_Finch_Saunders_AM_(28066509832)_(2).jpg|alt=|85x85px]]
|[[File:Altaf-hussain.jpg|87x87px]]
|[[Altaf Hussain (Welsh politician)|Altaf Hussain]] MS
|[[Janet Finch-Saunders]] MS
|[[Aberconwy (Senedd Cymru constituency)|Aberconwy]]
|[[South Wales West (Senedd electoral region)|South Wales West]]
|2021–
|2021–
|-
|-
|Shadow Minister for Mental Health, Wellbeing, Culture and Sport
|Shadow Minister for Economy
! style="background-color: {{Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color}}; width: 1px" |
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:David Melding 2016.jpg|85x85px]]
|[[File:Samuel-kurtz.jpg|85x85px]]
|[[David Melding]] MS
|[[Samuel Kurtz]] MS
|[[Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire (Senedd constituency)|Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire]]
|[[South Wales Central (Senedd Cymru electoral region)|South Wales Central]]
|2021–
|2021–
|-
|-
|Shadow Minister for Education, Skills and the Welsh Language
|Shadow Minister for Health
! style="background-color: {{Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color}}; width: 1px" |
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Suzy_Davies.jpg|alt=|85x85px]]
|[[File:Sam-rowlands.jpg|85x85px]]
|[[Suzy Davies]] MS
|[[Sam Rowlands]] MS
|[[South Wales West (Senedd Cymru electoral region)|South Wales West]]
|[[North Wales (Senedd electoral region)|North Wales]]
|2021–
|2021–
|-
|-
|Shadow Minister for Housing and Local Government, Equalities, Children and Young People
|Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs
! style="background-color: {{Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color}}; width: 1px" |
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Laura Anne Jones MS.jpg|100x100px]]
|[[File:James-evans.jpg|85x85px]]
|[[James Evans (Welsh politician)|James Evans]] MS
|[[Laura Anne Jones]] MS
|[[South Wales East (Senedd Cymru electoral region)|South Wales East]]
|[[Brecon and Radnorshire (Senedd constituency)|Brecon and Radnorshire]]
|2021–
|2021–
|-
|-
|Shadow Minister for Transport
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Natasha-asghar.jpg|85x85px]]
|[[Natasha Asghar]] MS
|[[South Wales East (Senedd electoral region)|South Wales East]]
|2021–
|-
|Shadow Minister for Mental Health and Early Years
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Gareth-davies.jpg|85x85px]]
|[[Gareth Davies (Welsh politician)|Gareth Davies]] MS
|[[Vale of Clwyd (Senedd constituency)|Vale of Clwyd]]
|2021–
|-
|Shadow Minister for Education and Welsh Language
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Tom-giffard.jpg|85x85px]]
|[[Tom Giffard]] MS
|[[South Wales West (Senedd electoral region)|South Wales West]]
|2021–
|-
|Shadow Minister for Social Partnership
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Joel-james.jpg|85x85px]]
|[[Joel James (politician)|Joel James]] MS
|[[South Wales Central (Senedd electoral region)|South Wales Central]]
|2021–
|}
|}
{{Politics of Wales}}


==Plaid Cymru Shadow Cabinet==
==Plaid Cymru Shadow Cabinet==
[[Rhun ap Iorwerth]] was announced as a [[2023 Plaid Cymru leadership election|new leader]] of Plaid Cymru on the 16 June 2023.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-06-16 |title=Plaid Cymru: Rhun ap Iorwerth elected leader unopposed |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-65928575 |access-date=2023-06-27}}</ref> He announced his shadow cabinet on the 27 June.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-27 |title=Rhun ap Iorwerth announces make up of Plaid Cymru's new Senedd team |url=https://nation.cymru/news/rhun-ap-iorwerth-announces-make-up-of-plaid-cymrus-new-senedd-team/ |access-date=2023-06-27 |website=Nation.Cymru |language=en-GB}}</ref>
After winning the [[2018 Plaid Cymru leadership election]] with 49.7% of first preference votes, Adam Price installed former leadership rivals Leanne Wood (22.3%) and Rhun ap Iorwerth (28%) in high ranking positions in his shadow cabinet. He most recently updated his cabinet in a January 2020 reshuffle.
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+Plaid Cymru shadow cabinet (as of January 2020)
|+Plaid Cymru shadow cabinet (as of June 2023)
|-
|-
! style="width: 490px" |Portfolio || colspan="3" |Name
! style="width: 490px" |Portfolio || colspan="3" |Name
!Constituency or<br>electoral region|| Term
!Constituency or<br />electoral region|| Term
|-
|-
|[[Plaid Cymru|Leader of Plaid Cymru]]
|[[Plaid Cymru|Leader of Plaid Cymru]]
! style="background-color: {{Plaid Cymru/meta/color}}; width: 1px" |
! style="background-color: {{party color|Plaid Cymru}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Adam Price 2016 (cropped square).jpg|alt=|85x85px]]
|[[File:Rhun-ap-iorwerth.jpg|85x85px]]
|[[Adam Price]] MS
|[[Carmarthen East and Dinefwr (Senedd Cymru constituency)|Carmarthen East and Dinefwr]]||2018–
|-
|Deputy Leader and Shadow Minister for Health and Finance
! style="background-color: {{Plaid Cymru/meta/color}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Rhun ap Iorwerth AM (27555192223).jpg|alt=|85x85px]]
|[[Rhun ap Iorwerth]] MS
|[[Rhun ap Iorwerth]] MS
|[[Ynys Môn (Senedd Cymru constituency)|Ynys Môn]]||2020–
|[[Ynys Môn (Senedd Cymru constituency)|Ynys Môn]]||2023–
|-
|-
|Deputy Leader and Chief Whip
|Deputy Leader and Shadow Minister for Climate Change
! style="background-color: {{party color|Plaid Cymru}}; width: 1px" |

|[[File:Delyth-jewell.jpg|85x85px]]
Shadow Minister for Education, Culture and the Welsh Language
|[[Delyth Jewell]] MS
! style="background-color: {{Plaid Cymru/meta/color}}; width: 1px" |
|[[South Wales East (National Assembly for Wales electoral region)|South Wales East]]||2023–
|[[File:Siân Gwenllian AM (28092344141).jpg|alt=|85x85px]]
| link="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rhun_ap_Iorwerth_AM_(27555192223).jpg" |[[Siân Gwenllian]] MS
|[[Arfon (Senedd Cymru constituency)|Arfon]]
| 2018&ndash;
|-
|-
|Shadow Minister for the Environment and Rural Affairs
|Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs
Chair of the Senedd Group
! style="background-color: {{Plaid Cymru/meta/color}}; width: 1px" |
! style="background-color: {{party color|Plaid Cymru}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Llyr Gruffydd AM (27889492780).jpg|alt=|85x85px]]
|[[File:Llyr-gruffydd.jpg|85x85px]]
| link="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Si%C3%A2n_Gwenllian_AM_(28092344141).jpg" |[[Llyr Huws Gruffydd]] MS
| link="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rhun_ap_Iorwerth_AM_(27555192223).jpg" |[[Llyr Huws Gruffydd]] MS
|[[North Wales (Senedd Cymru electoral region)|North Wales]]
|[[North Wales (Senedd Cymru electoral region)|North Wales]]
| 2018&ndash;
| 2023&ndash;
|-
|-
|Shadow Minister for the Economy, Tackling Poverty and Transport
|Shadow Minister for Education, Welsh language and Culture
Business Manager
! style="background-color: {{Plaid Cymru/meta/color}}; width: 1px" |
! style="background-color: {{party color|Plaid Cymru}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Helen Mary Jones AM.jpg|alt=|85x85px]]
|[[File:Heledd-fychan.jpg|85x85px]]
|[[Helen Mary Jones]] MS
|[[Heledd Fychan]] MS
|[[Mid and West Wales (Senedd Cymru electoral region)|Mid and West Wales]]||2020–
|[[South Wales Central (Senedd electoral region)|South Wales Central]]
|2023&ndash;
|-
|-
|Shadow Minister for Justice and Equalities
|Shadow Minister for Health, Social Care and Housing
Chief Whip
! style="background-color: {{Plaid Cymru/meta/color}}; width: 1px" |
! style="background-color: {{party color|Plaid Cymru}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Leanne Wood AM (27555056394) (cropped) (cropped).jpg|alt=|85x85px]]
|[[File:Mabon-ap-gwynfor.jpg|85x85px]]
| link="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Helen_Mary_Jones_AM.jpg" |[[Leanne Wood]] MS
|[[Mabon ap Gwynfor]] MS
|[[Rhondda (Assembly constituency)|Rhondda]]
|[[Dwyfor Meirionnydd (Senedd constituency)|Dwyfor Meirionnydd]]||2023–
| 2018&ndash;
|-
|Shadow Minister for Justice and European Affairs
! style="background-color: {{party color|Plaid Cymru}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Adam-price.jpg|85x85px]]
| link="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Si%C3%A2n_Gwenllian_AM_(28092344141).jpg" |[[Adam Price]] MS
|[[Carmarthen East and Dinefwr (Senedd Cymru constituency)|Carmarthen East and Dinefwr]]
| 2023&ndash;
|-
|Shadow Minister for Finance and Local Government
! style="background-color: {{party color|Plaid Cymru}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Peredur-owen-griffiths.jpg|85x85px]]
| link="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Helen_Mary_Jones_AM.jpg" |[[Peredur Owen Griffiths]] MS
|[[South Wales East (Senedd Cymru electoral region)|South Wales East]]
| 2023&ndash;
|-
|-
|Shadow Minister for post-16 Education, Skills and Innovation
|Shadow Minister for Social Justice and Social Services
! style="background-color: {{Plaid Cymru/meta/color}}; width: 1px" |
! style="background-color: {{party color|Plaid Cymru}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Sioned-williams.jpg|85x85px]]
|[[File:Bethan Jenkins AM (28170817115) (2).jpg|link=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bethan_Jenkins_AM_(28170817115)_(2).jpg|alt=|85x85px]]
| link="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dai_Lloyd_AM_(28170816265).jpg" |[[Sioned Williams]] MS
|[[Bethan Sayed]] MS
|[[South Wales West (National Assembly for Wales electoral region)|South Wales West]]
|[[South Wales West (Senedd electoral region)|South Wales West]]
|2020&ndash;
| 2023&ndash;
|-
|-
|Shadow Minister for Constitutional Affairs, International Relations and Leaving the EU
|Shadow Minister for the Economy
! style="background-color: {{Plaid Cymru/meta/color}}; width: 1px" |
! style="background-color: {{party color|Plaid Cymru}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Dai Lloyd AM (28170816265).jpg|alt=|85x85px]]
|[[File:Luke-fletcher.jpg|85x85px]]
|Dr [[David Lloyd (Welsh politician)|Dai Lloyd]] MS
|[[Luke Fletcher (politician)|Luke Fletcher]] MS
|[[South Wales West (National Assembly for Wales electoral region)|South Wales West]]
|[[South Wales West (Senedd electoral region)|South Wales West]]
|2018&ndash;
|2023&ndash;
|-
|-
|Lead Designated Member for the Co-operation agreement
|Shadow Minister for Public Service Transformation and the Future
! style="background-color: {{Plaid Cymru/meta/color}}; width: 1px" |
! style="background-color: {{party color|Plaid Cymru}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Delyth Jewell (cropped).jpg|alt=|85x85px]]
|[[File:Siân-gwenllian.jpg|85x85px]]
| link="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dai_Lloyd_AM_(28170816265).jpg" |[[Delyth Jewell]] MS
| link="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Delyth_Jewell_(cropped).jpg" |[[Siân Gwenllian]] MS
|[[Arfon (Senedd constituency)|Arfon]]
|[[South Wales East (National Assembly for Wales electoral region)|South Wales East]]
| 2020&ndash;
| 2023&ndash;
|-
|-
|Designated Member for the Co-operation agreement
|[[Counsel General for Wales|Shadow Counsel General]]
! style="background-color: {{Plaid Cymru/meta/color}}; width: 1px" |
! style="background-color: {{party color|Plaid Cymru}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Cefin-campbell.jpg|85x85px]]
|
|[[Cefin Campbell]] MS
| link="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Delyth_Jewell_(cropped).jpg" |[[Elfyn Llwyd]]<ref>{{Cite news|date=June 2020|title=The Shadow Cabinet|website=Plaid Cymru|url=https://www.partyof.wales/shadow_cabinet/}}]]|}</ref>
|[[Mid and West Wales (Senedd electoral region)|Mid and West Wales]]
|''Not elected''
| 2018&ndash;
|2023&ndash;
|}
|}


== 2016 Plaid-Conservative Shadow Cabinets ==
== 2016 Plaid-Conservative Shadow Cabinets ==
At the 2016 election, [[Plaid Cymru]], led by [[Leanne Wood]], became the largest party not in government having won 12 seats to the Welsh Conservatives' 11. On 14 October 2016 [[Dafydd Elis-Thomas]] left Plaid Cymru to sit as an independent, so that Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Conservatives both held 11 seats. During this period, Wood was not referred to as Leader of the Opposition, but merely as leader of Plaid Cymru.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Record of Proceedings - 18/10/2016|url=https://senedd.wales/en/bus-home/pages/rop.aspx?meetingid=3998&language=en&assembly=5&c=Record+of+Proceedings&startDt=14/10/2016&endDt=28/10/2016|website=Senedd Cymru}}</ref> The Conservative group grew to 12 when [[Mark Reckless]] defected from UKIP to the Conservative group on 6 April 2017, and the Welsh Conservative leader, [[Andrew R.T. Davies]] at the time, was referred to as Leader of the Opposition once more.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Record of Proceedings - 02/05/2017|url=https://senedd.wales/en/bus-home/pages/rop.aspx?meetingid=4284&language=en&assembly=5&c=Record+of+Proceedings&startDt=11/04/2017&endDt=02/05/2017|website=Senedd Cymru}}</ref>
At the 2016 election, [[Plaid Cymru]], led by [[Leanne Wood]], won 12 seats to the Welsh Conservatives' 11, and thus became the largest party not in government. On 14 October 2016 [[Dafydd Elis-Thomas]] left Plaid Cymru to sit as an independent, so that Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Conservatives both held 11 seats. During this period, Wood was not referred to as Leader of the Opposition, but merely as leader of Plaid Cymru.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Record of Proceedings - 18/10/2016|url=https://senedd.wales/en/bus-home/pages/rop.aspx?meetingid=3998&language=en&assembly=5&c=Record+of+Proceedings&startDt=14/10/2016&endDt=28/10/2016|website=Senedd Cymru}}</ref> The Conservative group grew to 12 when [[Mark Reckless]] defected from UKIP to the Conservative group on 6 April 2017, and the Welsh Conservative leader, [[Andrew RT Davies]] at the time, was referred to as Leader of the Opposition once more.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Record of Proceedings - 02/05/2017|url=https://senedd.wales/en/bus-home/pages/rop.aspx?meetingid=4284&language=en&assembly=5&c=Record+of+Proceedings&startDt=11/04/2017&endDt=02/05/2017|website=Senedd Cymru}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
*[[Drakeford government]]
*[[Gething government]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


[[Category:Politics of Wales]]
[[Category:Welsh Government]]
[[Category:Welsh Government]]
[[Category:British shadow cabinets]]
[[Category:British shadow cabinets]]
[[Category:Welsh shadow cabinets]]

Revision as of 21:23, 16 July 2024

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Represented in the Senedd

The Welsh Shadow Cabinet (Welsh: Cabinet Cysgodol Cymru) is formed from members of the official opposition in the Senedd, the largest party not part of the Welsh Government, to scrutinise ministers in the Welsh Cabinet. It is led by the Leader of the Opposition, who typically appoints members of the Senedd (MSs) from their party as shadow ministers with portfolios which mirror ministerial posts in the Cabinet who scrutinise ministers and can propose their own alternative policies. Other opposition parties in the Senedd also appoint frontbench teams of spokespeople who perform the same function. These are also sometimes styled as "shadow cabinets" by their parties, though unlike the Shadow Cabinet they have no official recognition. Since 2021, the Shadow Cabinet has been formed from members of the Welsh Conservatives led by Andrew RT Davies, who have alternated with Plaid Cymru as the official opposition in the Senedd since its establishment as the National Assembly for Wales in 1999.

The first shadow cabinet of Wales was formed by Plaid Cymru's Dafydd Wigley in 1999. Its members were elected to shadow portfolios by members of the Plaid Cymru Group in the National Assembly for Wales. In 2000, Plaid Cymru's Ieuan Wyn Jones succeeded Wigley as Leader of the Opposition and formed a new shadow cabinet, this time personally appointing its members; since then, members of the Shadow Cabinet have usually been appointed by the Leader of the Opposition. Leaders may reshuffle their shadow cabinet, swapping members' portfolios and appointing new members to the Shadow Cabinet. The official opposition can also appoint party staff and spokespeople to the Shadow Cabinet who have no shadow ministerial portfolio.

The Shadow Cabinet presents itself as an alternative government-in-waiting. It is tasked with scrutinising government ministers, and its members are meant to lead the official opposition in challenging members of the Welsh Government and taking them to account. As party group spokespeople in the Senedd, shadow ministers are able to speak for their respective party and question their relevant ministerial counterparts at plenary sessions of the Senedd.

Conservative Shadow Cabinet

Main article: Fourth Shadow Cabinet of Andrew RT Davies
Portfolio Name Constituency Term
Leader of the Opposition

Leader of the Welsh Conservatives

Andrew RT Davies MS South Wales Central 2021–
Shadow Minister for Finance and Local Government Peter Fox MS Monmouth 2021–
Shadow Minister for Mid Wales and Deputy Whip Russell George MS Montgomeryshire 2021–
Shadow Minister for West Wales Paul Davies MS Preseli Pembrokeshire 2021–
Shadow Minister for Climate Change Janet Finch-Saunders MS Aberconwy 2021–
Shadow Minister for Culture, Sport, Tourism and Social Justice Laura Anne Jones MS South Wales East 2021–
Shadow Counsel General and Shadow Minister for Housing and Planning Mark Isherwood MS North Wales 2021–
Shadow Minister for the Constitution and North Wales, Chief Whip and Business Manager Darren Millar MS Clwyd West 2021–
Shadow Minister for Social Care Altaf Hussain MS South Wales West 2021–
Shadow Minister for Economy Samuel Kurtz MS Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire 2021–
Shadow Minister for Health Sam Rowlands MS North Wales 2021–
Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs James Evans MS Brecon and Radnorshire 2021–
Shadow Minister for Transport Natasha Asghar MS South Wales East 2021–
Shadow Minister for Mental Health and Early Years Gareth Davies MS Vale of Clwyd 2021–
Shadow Minister for Education and Welsh Language Tom Giffard MS South Wales West 2021–
Shadow Minister for Social Partnership Joel James MS South Wales Central 2021–

Plaid Cymru Shadow Cabinet

Rhun ap Iorwerth was announced as a new leader of Plaid Cymru on the 16 June 2023.[1] He announced his shadow cabinet on the 27 June.[2]

Plaid Cymru shadow cabinet (as of June 2023)
Portfolio Name Constituency or
electoral region		 Term
Leader of Plaid Cymru Rhun ap Iorwerth MS Ynys Môn 2023–
Deputy Leader and Shadow Minister for Climate Change Delyth Jewell MS South Wales East 2023–
Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs

Chair of the Senedd Group

Llyr Huws Gruffydd MS North Wales 2023–
Shadow Minister for Education, Welsh language and Culture

Business Manager

Heledd Fychan MS South Wales Central 2023–
Shadow Minister for Health, Social Care and Housing

Chief Whip

Mabon ap Gwynfor MS Dwyfor Meirionnydd 2023–
Shadow Minister for Justice and European Affairs Adam Price MS Carmarthen East and Dinefwr 2023–
Shadow Minister for Finance and Local Government Peredur Owen Griffiths MS South Wales East 2023–
Shadow Minister for Social Justice and Social Services Sioned Williams MS South Wales West 2023–
Shadow Minister for the Economy Luke Fletcher MS South Wales West 2023–
Lead Designated Member for the Co-operation agreement Siân Gwenllian MS Arfon 2023–
Designated Member for the Co-operation agreement Cefin Campbell MS Mid and West Wales 2023–

2016 Plaid-Conservative Shadow Cabinets

At the 2016 election, Plaid Cymru, led by Leanne Wood, won 12 seats to the Welsh Conservatives' 11, and thus became the largest party not in government. On 14 October 2016 Dafydd Elis-Thomas left Plaid Cymru to sit as an independent, so that Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Conservatives both held 11 seats. During this period, Wood was not referred to as Leader of the Opposition, but merely as leader of Plaid Cymru.[3] The Conservative group grew to 12 when Mark Reckless defected from UKIP to the Conservative group on 6 April 2017, and the Welsh Conservative leader, Andrew RT Davies at the time, was referred to as Leader of the Opposition once more.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Plaid Cymru: Rhun ap Iorwerth elected leader unopposed". BBC News. 16 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  2. ^ "Rhun ap Iorwerth announces make up of Plaid Cymru's new Senedd team". Nation.Cymru. 27 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  3. ^ "The Record of Proceedings - 18/10/2016". Senedd Cymru.
  4. ^ "The Record of Proceedings - 02/05/2017". Senedd Cymru.
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