Mark Drakeford, First Minister of Wales, steps down from his position

Mark Drakeford has announced that he will step down as the Welsh Labour leader immediately, and a leadership contest will be conducted to select a new first minister. He stated that a new party leader will be elected before Easter. However, he will continue to serve as the first minister until his successor is chosen by his party. Mark Drakeford, who represents Cardiff West, has been the first minister for the past five years. Although he originally intended to step down in 2024, his announcement came as a surprise. Mark Drakeford expressed his gratitude for leading both the Welsh Labour Party and the Welsh government, describing it as a significant privilege. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Welsh Conservative Senedd leader Andrew RT Davies both extended their well-wishes to Mark Drakeford as he concludes his years of public service, acknowledging his commitment to the role of first minister.