Welsh cabinet reshuffle sees culture brief moved
Ken Skates takes responsibility for culture after John Griffiths leave cabinet
A reshuffle of the Welsh government’s ministerial team has seen the minister for natural resources, culture and sport, John Griffiths, leave the cabinet.
His role has been downgraded and split between two deputy ministers, with Ken Skates taking responsibility for culture, sport and tourism and Carl Sargeant taking natural resources.
Skates is the former deputy minister for skills and technology and an assembly member for Clwyd South. He reports to Edwina Hart, the minister for economy, science and transport.
After announcing the reshuffle on Twitter yesterday, Carwyn Jones, the first minister of Wales, said the changes would help deliver needed changes, especially the reform of public services.
Among the key changes is the return to government of Leighton Andrews, who resigned in June last year and has now been appointed minister for public services.
Lesley Griffiths has been appointed the minister for communities and tackling poverty, replacing Jeff Cuthbert, who has left the cabinet and also plans to stand down as an assembly member in 2016.
Huw Lewis will remain the minister for education and skills.
Jones said: "This is a cabinet equipped with the skills and experience to deliver the changes that Wales needs in the crucial months ahead. We promised this would be a term of delivery and I am proud of what we have achieved together in the last three years.
"However, there is still a huge amount for us to do, especially in the delivery of our public services reform programme.”
David Anderson, director general of Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museums Wales, said: "We worked closely with John Griffiths and welcomed him to the national museums on a regular basis. Despite having to make difficult decisions in relation to our budget, he was enthusiastic and passionate about our work, in particular in relation to the St Fagans redevelopment and supporting the Welsh government’s anti-poverty agenda.
"We look forward to working with his successor, the deputy minister for culture, sport and tourism, Ken Skates and welcoming him to one of the national museums in the very near future.
"With the Museums Association conference in Wales in a few weeks time, and also the first Welsh Museums Festival taking place from 4-12 October, it will be a perfect time to showcase to the new minister the quality and breadth of the work being undertaken by museums of all shapes and sizes across Wales."
The last reshuffle of the Welsh government was in March last year. John Griffiths had been culture minister since 2011.
His role has been downgraded and split between two deputy ministers, with Ken Skates taking responsibility for culture, sport and tourism and Carl Sargeant taking natural resources.
Skates is the former deputy minister for skills and technology and an assembly member for Clwyd South. He reports to Edwina Hart, the minister for economy, science and transport.
After announcing the reshuffle on Twitter yesterday, Carwyn Jones, the first minister of Wales, said the changes would help deliver needed changes, especially the reform of public services.
Ken Skates becomes Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport & Tourism #reshuffle
— Carwyn Jones (@fmwales) September 11, 2014Among the key changes is the return to government of Leighton Andrews, who resigned in June last year and has now been appointed minister for public services.
Lesley Griffiths has been appointed the minister for communities and tackling poverty, replacing Jeff Cuthbert, who has left the cabinet and also plans to stand down as an assembly member in 2016.
Huw Lewis will remain the minister for education and skills.
Jones said: "This is a cabinet equipped with the skills and experience to deliver the changes that Wales needs in the crucial months ahead. We promised this would be a term of delivery and I am proud of what we have achieved together in the last three years.
"However, there is still a huge amount for us to do, especially in the delivery of our public services reform programme.”
David Anderson, director general of Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museums Wales, said: "We worked closely with John Griffiths and welcomed him to the national museums on a regular basis. Despite having to make difficult decisions in relation to our budget, he was enthusiastic and passionate about our work, in particular in relation to the St Fagans redevelopment and supporting the Welsh government’s anti-poverty agenda.
"We look forward to working with his successor, the deputy minister for culture, sport and tourism, Ken Skates and welcoming him to one of the national museums in the very near future.
"With the Museums Association conference in Wales in a few weeks time, and also the first Welsh Museums Festival taking place from 4-12 October, it will be a perfect time to showcase to the new minister the quality and breadth of the work being undertaken by museums of all shapes and sizes across Wales."
The last reshuffle of the Welsh government was in March last year. John Griffiths had been culture minister since 2011.