The announcement of Wales’ new first minister will take place on Saturday following the Welsh Labour leadership election. Vaughan Gething and Jeremy Miles are the two contenders competing to replace Mark Drakeford who officially retires next week. The Labour Party will declare the results of the election in Cardiff where any member of the party in Wales or organizations allied with Labour could vote. Members voted via post or online ballots from February 16 to March 14th.
Mr. Gething, Wales’ economy minister, is a former solicitor and was born in Zambia. His Welsh father met his chicken farmer mother while working in the African country. Gething attended school in Dorset and universities in Aberystwyth and Cardiff. If he wins the contest, he will become Wales’ first black leader and take over from Mark Drakeford.
Mr. Miles, currently Wales’ education minister, was a solicitor born in the mining town of Pontarddulais, raised as a first-language Welsh speaker. He went to school at Ysgol Ystalyfera during the 1980s, with many students whose fathers were part of the miners’ strike. If he is victorious, Miles will become Wales’ first gay leader.
Replacing Drakeford as Wales’ first minister is scheduled to take place next week. He is expected to undergo his final question and answer sessions on Tuesday, with his resignation being submitted later that day to Buckingham Palace. On the following day, either Gething or Miles will be nominated in Senedd as the new first minister. With Labour currently holding 30 of the 60 seats in Cardiff Bay, winning the position is relatively secure
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