Rhun ap Iorwerth Names 14-Member Cabinet for Wales' First Plaid Government
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 13
Rhun ap Iorwerth Names 14-Member Cabinet for Wales' First Plaid Government
12 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 13
Sioned Williams was named deputy first minister and Elin Jones finance minister as Rhun ap Iorwerth unveiled a 14-member cabinet for Wales' first Plaid Cymru government.
Ap Iorwerth, confirmed first minister on Tuesday, cast the lineup as a "wholesale" break with past administrations after Plaid became the largest party in the Senedd and ended Labour's 27-year rule.
Adam Price took the enterprise, connectivity and energy brief, while Mabon ap Gwynfor got health, Anna Brychan education and Welsh language, and Elfyn Llwyd was tapped as counsel general pending Senedd approval.
Opposition figures struck a cautious tone: Reform UK's Dan Thomas said Wales needed the cabinet to succeed on the NHS, schools and economy, while Conservative leader Darren Millar said it faced a monumental task.
After a century of Labour dominance, has Welsh politics now been permanently reshaped?
With public services in 'emergency', can the new government fund its promises without more power from Westminster?
Can a minority government deliver radical change against a powerful pro-union opposition?
2026 Welsh Election Earthquake: Plaid Cymru Ousts Labour After a Century, Faces Reform UK Surge
Overview
In May 2026, Welsh politics experienced a historic transformation as Rhun ap Iorwerth became the first Plaid Cymru First Minister, ending over a century of Labour dominance. Plaid Cymru won 43 seats, forming a minority government with crucial Green Party support, while Welsh Labour was reduced to just nine seats and Reform UK became the main opposition with 34 seats. This dramatic shift reflected widespread voter dissatisfaction and a desire for new leadership, signaling a realignment of political loyalties and a stronger voice for previously overlooked communities. The new era in the Senedd marks a significant change in Wales’s political landscape.