Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford resigns

Mark Drakeford has announced he is stepping down as the Welsh first minister, and a contest for the leadership of Welsh Labour will begin shortly, Report informs, citing The Guardian.

Drakeford said: “I have today formally notified the chair of the Welsh executive committee of my intention to stand down as leader of Welsh Labour in March 2024. When I stood for the leadership, I said that, if elected, I would serve for five years. Exactly five years have passed since I was confirmed as first minister in 2018. Nominations for my successor as Welsh Labour leader will open shortly. The process will be concluded by the end of the spring term, to enable the name of the winner to be put to the Senedd before the Easter recess. In the meantime, I remain your first minister.”