Mark Drakeford

The Right Honourable Mark Drakeford MS
Official portrait, 2020
First Minister of Wales
In office 13 December 2018 – 20 March 2024
Monarchs	Elizabeth II Charles III
Preceded by	Carwyn Jones
Succeeded by	Vaughan Gething
Leader of Welsh Labour
In office 6 December 2018 – 16 March 2024
Deputy	Carolyn Harris
UK party  leader	Jeremy Corbyn Keir Starmer
Preceded by	Carwyn Jones
Succeeded by	Vaughan Gething
Ministerial offices 2013‍–‍2018 Cabinet Secretary for Finance In office 19 May 2016 – 13 December 2018 First Minister Carwyn Jones Preceded by Jane Hutt Succeeded by Rebecca Evans Minister for Brexit In office 3 November 2017 – 13 December 2018 First Minister Carwyn Jones Preceded by Office established Succeeded by Jeremy Miles Minister for Health and Social Services In office 14 March 2013 – 19 May 2016 First Minister Carwyn Jones Deputy Vaughan Gething Preceded by Lesley Griffiths Succeeded by Vaughan Gething
Member of the Senedd for Cardiff West
Incumbent
Assumed office 5 May 2011
Preceded by	Rhodri Morgan
Majority	11,211 (30.7%)[1]
Personal details
Born	(1954-09-19) 19 September 1954 (age 69) Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire, Wales
Political party	Labour
Spouse	Clare Buckle ​ ​ (m. 1977; died 2023)​
Children	3
Alma mater	University of Kent University of Exeter
Cabinet	Second Drakeford government
Signature
Mark Drakeford's voice Drakeford announces measures against the COVID-19 pandemic Recorded 23 March 2020

This article is part of a series about Mark Drakeford
MS for Cardiff West Welsh Labour Clear red water First Minister of Wales 2018–2024 First Ministry and Term 2018 leadership election COVID-19 pandemic 2021 Senedd election Second Ministry and Term 2021 Welsh Labour–Plaid Cymru agreement 2023 Welsh Government roads review 2023 20 mph urban road speed limit
v t e

Mark Drakeford (born 19 September 1954) is a Welsh politician who served as First Minister of Wales and Leader of Welsh Labour from 2018 to 2024. He previously served in the Welsh Government as Cabinet Secretary for Finance from 2016 to 2018 and Minister for Health and Social Services from 2013 to 2016. Drakeford was first elected as the Member of the Senedd (MS) for Cardiff West in 2011 and is considered to be on the soft left of Labour.

Drakeford was born in Carmarthen in West Wales. He studied Latin at the University of Kent and the University of Exeter. He was a lecturer at the University College of Swansea from 1991 to 1995 and at Cardiff University from 1995 to 1999. He was a Professor of Social Policy and Applied Social Sciences at Cardiff University from 2003 to 2013.

Drakeford was elected at the 2011 National Assembly for Wales election for Cardiff West. In 2013, First Minister Carwyn Jones appointed Drakeford to the Welsh Government as Minister for Health and Social Services. He served as Cabinet Secretary for Finance from 2016 to 2018 and as Minister for Brexit from 2017 to 2018. In 2018, he was elected to succeed Jones as Welsh Labour Leader and First Minister. He led the Welsh Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the 2021 Senedd election, Drakeford led Welsh Labour to win 30 seats, a working majority, and was reappointed as First Minister.

Drakeford resigned in March 2024 as Welsh Labour Leader and First Minister. As a result, a leadership election took place, with Vaughan Gething becoming first minister on 20 March 2024.