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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Politics of Wales}}
{{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 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 7 May 2021 the [[Leader of the Opposition in Wales|Leader of the Opposition]] has been [[Andrew RT Davies]].


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 May 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|Fourth Shadow Cabinet of Andrew RT Davies}}
{{Main|Fourth Shadow Cabinet of Andrew RT Davies}}
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+Conservative Shadow Cabinet (as of 27 May 2021)
! style="width: 390px" |Portfolio
! style="width: 390px" |Portfolio
! colspan="3" |Name
! colspan="3" |Name
Line 20: Line 21:
|[[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 Finance
|Shadow Minister for Finance and Local Government
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 1px" |
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Peter-fox.jpg|85x85px]]
|[[File:Peter-fox.jpg|85x85px]]
Line 30: Line 31:
|2021–
|2021–
|-
|-
|Shadow Minister for Health
|Shadow Minister for Mid Wales and Deputy Whip
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 1px" |
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Russell-george.jpg|alt=|85x85px]]
|[[File:Russell_George_AM_(27889501870).jpg|alt=|85x85px]]
|[[Russell George (Welsh politician)|Russell George]] MS
|[[Russell George (Welsh politician)|Russell George]] MS
|[[Montgomeryshire (Senedd Cymru constituency)|Montgomeryshire]]
|[[Montgomeryshire (Senedd Cymru constituency)|Montgomeryshire]]
|2021–
|2021–
|-
|-
|Shadow Minister for the Economy
|Shadow Minister for West Wales
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 1px" |
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Paul-davies.jpg|85x85px]]
|[[File:Paul_Davies_AM_(28170823155).jpg|85x85px]]
|[[Paul Davies (politician)|Paul Davies]] MS
|[[Paul Davies (politician)|Paul Davies]] MS
|[[Preseli Pembrokeshire (Senedd constituency)|Preseli Pembrokeshire]]
|[[Preseli Pembrokeshire (Senedd constituency)|Preseli Pembrokeshire]]
Line 46: Line 47:
|Shadow Minister for Climate Change
|Shadow Minister for Climate Change
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 1px" |
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Janet-finch-saunders.jpg|alt=|85x85px]]
|[[File:Janet-finch-saunders.jpg|85x85px]]
|[[Janet Finch-Saunders]] MS
|[[Janet Finch-Saunders]] MS
|[[Aberconwy (Senedd Cymru constituency)|Aberconwy]]
|[[Aberconwy (Senedd constituency)|Aberconwy]]
|2021–
|2021–
|-
|-
|Shadow Minister for Education
|Shadow Minister for Culture, Sport, Tourism and Social Justice
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 1px" |
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Laura_Anne_Jones_MS.jpg|100x100px]]
|[[File:Laura-anne-jones.jpg|85x85px]]
|[[Laura Anne Jones]] MS
|[[Laura Anne Jones]] MS
|[[South Wales East (Senedd Cymru electoral region)|South Wales East]]
|[[South Wales East (Senedd electoral region)|South Wales East]]
|2021–
|2021–
|-
|-
|Shadow Minister for Social Justice and Shadow Counsel General
|Shadow Counsel General and Shadow Minister for Housing and Planning
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 1px" |
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Mark-isherwood.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 the Constitution and North Wales, and Chief Whip
|Shadow Minister for the Constitution and North Wales, Chief Whip and Business Manager
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 1px" |
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Darren-millar.jpg|85x85px]]
|[[File:Darren_Millar_AM_(27889497540).jpg|85x85px]]
|[[Darren Millar]] MS
|[[Darren Millar]] MS
|[[Clwyd West (Senedd constituency)|Clwyd West]]
|[[Clwyd West (Senedd constituency)|Clwyd West]]
|2021–
|2021–
|-
|-
|Shadow Minister for Equalities
|Shadow Minister for Social Care
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 1px" |
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Altaf-hussain.jpg|87x87px]]
|[[File:Altaf-hussain.jpg|87x87px]]
|[[Altaf Hussain (Welsh politician)|Altaf Hussain]] MS
|[[Altaf Hussain (Welsh politician)|Altaf Hussain]] MS
|[[South Wales West (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|South Wales West]]
|[[South Wales West (Senedd electoral region)|South Wales West]]
|2021–
|2021–
|-
|-
|Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs and the Welsh Language
|Shadow Minister for Economy
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 1px" |
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Samuel-kurtz.jpg|85x85px]]
|[[File:Samuel-kurtz.jpg|85x85px]]
Line 86: Line 87:
|2021–
|2021–
|-
|-
|Shadow Minister for Local Government
|Shadow Minister for Health
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 1px" |
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Sam-rowlands.jpg|85x85px]]
|[[File:Sam-rowlands.jpg|85x85px]]
Line 93: Line 94:
|2021–
|2021–
|-
|-
|Shadow Minister for Mental Health, Wellbeing and Mid Wales
|Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 1px" |
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:James-evans.jpg|85x85px]]
|[[File:James-evans.jpg|85x85px]]
Line 100: Line 101:
|2021–
|2021–
|-
|-
|Shadow Minister for Transport and Technology
|Shadow Minister for Transport
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 1px" |
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 1px" |
| [[File:Natasha-asghar.jpg|85x85px]]
|[[File:Natasha-asghar.jpg|85x85px]]
|[[Natasha Asghar]] MS
|[[Natasha Asghar]] MS
|[[South Wales East (Senedd electoral region)|South Wales East]]
|[[South Wales East (Senedd electoral region)|South Wales East]]
|2021–
|2021–
|-
|-
|Shadow Minister for Social Services
|Shadow Minister for Mental Health and Early Years
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 1px" |
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Gareth-davies.jpg|85x85px]]
|[[File:Gareth-davies.jpg|85x85px]]
Line 114: Line 115:
|2021–
|2021–
|-
|-
|Shadow Minister for Culture Tourism and Sport
|Shadow Minister for Education and Welsh Language
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 1px" |
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Tom-giffard.jpg|85x85px]]
|[[File:Tom-giffard.jpg|85x85px]]
Line 127: Line 128:
|[[South Wales Central (Senedd electoral region)|South Wales Central]]
|[[South Wales Central (Senedd electoral region)|South Wales Central]]
|2021–
|2021–
|-
|}
|}


==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 2022 reshuffle
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+Plaid Cymru shadow cabinet (as of May 2021)
|+Plaid Cymru shadow cabinet (as of June 2023)
|-
|-
! style="width: 490px" |Portfolio || colspan="3" |Name
! style="width: 490px" |Portfolio || colspan="3" |Name
Line 140: Line 140:
|[[Plaid Cymru|Leader of Plaid Cymru]]
|[[Plaid Cymru|Leader of Plaid Cymru]]
! style="background-color: {{party color|Plaid Cymru}}; 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 Social Care
! style="background-color: {{party color|Plaid Cymru}}; 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]]||2021–
|[[Ynys Môn (Senedd Cymru constituency)|Ynys Môn]]||2023–
|-
|-
|Deputy Leader and Chief Whip
|Deputy Leader and Shadow Minister for Climate Change

Lead Designated Member on the Co-Operation Agreement with the [[Welsh Government]]
! style="background-color: {{party color|Plaid Cymru}}; width: 1px" |
! style="background-color: {{party color|Plaid Cymru}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Siân Gwenllian AM (28092344141).jpg|alt=|85x85px]]
|[[File:Delyth-jewell.jpg|85x85px]]
⚫
|[[Delyth Jewell]] MS
⚫
| link="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rhun_ap_Iorwerth_AM_(27555192223).jpg" |[[Siân Gwenllian]] MS
|[[South Wales East (National Assembly for Wales electoral region)|South Wales East]]||2023–
|[[Arfon (Senedd Cymru constituency)|Arfon]]
| 2022&ndash;
|-
|-
|Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs
|Second Designated Member on the Co-Operation Agreement with the [[Welsh Government]]
Chair of the Senedd Group
! style="background-color: {{party color|Plaid Cymru}}; width: 1px" |
! style="background-color: {{party color|Plaid Cymru}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Cefin Campbell yng Nghaerfyrddin (cropped).jpg|85x85px]]
|[[File:Llyr-gruffydd.jpg|85x85px]]
⚫
| link="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rhun_ap_Iorwerth_AM_(27555192223).jpg" |[[Llyr Huws Gruffydd]] MS
|[[Cefin Campbell]] MS
|[[Mid and West Wales (Senedd electoral region)|Mid and West Wales]]
|[[North Wales (Senedd Cymru electoral region)|North Wales]]
|2022&ndash;
| 2023&ndash;
|-
|-
|Shadow Minister for Post-16 Education, Social Justice and Equalities
|Shadow Minister for Education, Welsh language and Culture
Business Manager
! style="background-color: {{party color|Plaid Cymru}}; width: 1px" |
! style="background-color: {{party color|Plaid Cymru}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Heledd-fychan.jpg|85x85px]]
|
|[[Sioned Williams]] MS
|[[Heledd Fychan]] MS
|[[South Wales West (Senedd electoral region)|South Wales West]]||2021–
|[[South Wales Central (Senedd electoral region)|South Wales Central]]
|2023&ndash;
|-
|-
|Shadow Minister for Finance and Local Government
|Shadow Minister for Health, Social Care and Housing
Chief Whip
! style="background-color: {{party color|Plaid Cymru}}; width: 1px" |
! style="background-color: {{party color|Plaid Cymru}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Llyr Gruffydd AM (27889492780).jpg|alt=|85x85px]]
|[[File:Mabon-ap-gwynfor.jpg|85x85px]]
⚫
|[[Mabon ap Gwynfor]] MS
⚫
| link="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Si%C3%A2n_Gwenllian_AM_(28092344141).jpg" |[[Llyr Huws Gruffydd]] MS
|[[North Wales (Senedd Cymru electoral region)|North Wales]]
|[[Dwyfor Meirionnydd (Senedd constituency)|Dwyfor Meirionnydd]]||2023–
| 2021&ndash;
|-
|-
|Shadow Minister for the Economy
|Shadow Minister for Justice and European Affairs
! style="background-color: {{party color|Plaid Cymru}}; width: 1px" |
! style="background-color: {{party color|Plaid Cymru}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Adam-price.jpg|85x85px]]
|
| link="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Helen_Mary_Jones_AM.jpg" |[[Luke Fletcher (politician)|Luke Fletcher]] MS
| link="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Si%C3%A2n_Gwenllian_AM_(28092344141).jpg" |[[Adam Price]] MS
|[[Rhondda (Assembly constituency)|South Wales West]]
|[[Carmarthen East and Dinefwr (Senedd Cymru constituency)|Carmarthen East and Dinefwr]]
| 2021&ndash;
| 2023&ndash;
|-
|-
|Shadow Minister for Climate Change, Energy and Transport
|Shadow Minister for Finance and Local Government
! style="background-color: {{party color|Plaid Cymru}}; width: 1px" |
! style="background-color: {{party color|Plaid Cymru}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Delyth Jewell (cropped).jpg|alt=|85x85px]]
|[[File:Peredur-owen-griffiths.jpg|85x85px]]
| link="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dai_Lloyd_AM_(28170816265).jpg" |[[Delyth Jewell]] MS
| link="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Helen_Mary_Jones_AM.jpg" |[[Peredur Owen Griffiths]] MS
|[[South Wales East (National Assembly for Wales electoral region)|South Wales East]]
|[[South Wales East (Senedd Cymru electoral region)|South Wales East]]
| 2021&ndash;
| 2023&ndash;
|-
|-
|Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Rural Affairs, Housing and Planning
|Shadow Minister for Social Justice and Social Services
! style="background-color: {{party color|Plaid Cymru}}; width: 1px" |
! style="background-color: {{party color|Plaid Cymru}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Sioned-williams.jpg|85x85px]]
|
⚫
| link="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dai_Lloyd_AM_(28170816265).jpg" |[[Sioned Williams]] MS
⚫
|[[Mabon ap Gwynfor]] MS
|[[Dwyfor Meirionnydd (Senedd constituency)|Dwyfor Meirionnydd]]
|[[South Wales West (Senedd electoral region)|South Wales West]]
|2021&ndash;
| 2023&ndash;
|-
|-
|Shadow Minister for Children and Young people, Welsh Language, Culture, Sport and International Affairs
|Shadow Minister for the Economy
! style="background-color: {{party color|Plaid Cymru}}; width: 1px" |
! style="background-color: {{party color|Plaid Cymru}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Luke-fletcher.jpg|85x85px]]
|
|[[Luke Fletcher (politician)|Luke Fletcher]] MS
⚫
| link="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Delyth_Jewell_(cropped).jpg" |[[Heledd Fychan]] MS
|[[South Wales Central (Senedd electoral region)|South Wales Central]]
|[[South Wales West (Senedd electoral region)|South Wales West]]
| 2021&ndash;
|2023&ndash;
|-
|-
|Shadow Minister for the Constitution and Justice
|Lead Designated Member for the Co-operation agreement
! style="background-color: {{party color|Plaid Cymru}}; width: 1px" |
! style="background-color: {{party color|Plaid Cymru}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Rhys ab Owen AS - Senedd Cymru (cropped).jpg|85x85px]]
|[[File:Siân-gwenllian.jpg|85x85px]]
⚫
| link="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Delyth_Jewell_(cropped).jpg" |[[Siân Gwenllian]] MS
|[[Rhys ab Owen]] MS
|[[South Wales Central (Senedd electoral region)|South Wales Central]]
|[[Arfon (Senedd constituency)|Arfon]]
|2021&ndash;
| 2023&ndash;
|-
|-
|Designated Member for the Co-operation agreement
|Shadow Minister for Communities and Older People
! style="background-color: {{party color|Plaid Cymru}}; width: 1px" |
! style="background-color: {{party color|Plaid Cymru}}; width: 1px" |
|[[File:Cefin-campbell.jpg|85x85px]]
|
|[[Peredur Owen Griffiths]] MS
|[[Cefin Campbell]] MS
|[[South Wales East (Senedd Cymru electoral region)|South Wales East]]
|[[Mid and West Wales (Senedd electoral region)|Mid and West Wales]]
|2021&ndash;
|2023&ndash;
|}
|}


== 2016 Plaid-Conservative Shadow Cabinets ==
== 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.<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>
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==
*[[Second Drakeford government|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:Shadow cabinets|Wales]]
[[Category:Welsh shadow cabinets]]

Revision as of 21:23, 16 July 2024

This article is part of a series within the
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see also: Regional terms and Regional economy

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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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