Chief Whip of the Welsh Government
Prif Chwip Lywodraeth Cymru
Incumbent
Jane Hutt MS
since 3 May 2023 (2023-05-03)
Welsh Government
Member of
Reports tothe Senedd and the First Minister of Wales
SeatCardiff
NominatorFirst Minister of Wales
AppointerThe Crown
Term length
Subject to elections to the Senedd which take place every five years
First holderAndrew Davies AM
Websitegov.wales/jane-hutt-ms

The chief whip (Welsh: prif chwip) is a member of the cabinet in the Welsh Government.[1] The current officeholder is Jane Hutt since May 2023.[2]

Chief whips

Name Picture Entered office Left office Other offices held Political party Government Notes
Chief Whip
Karen Sinclair 2000 2005 Minister for Assembly Business Labour First Morgan government

Second Morgan government

 [3][4]
Jane Hutt 2005 2007 Minister for the Assembly Business Labour Second Morgan government

Third Morgan government

 [2][5]
Carl Sargeant 31 May 2007 10 December 2009 Labour Fourth Morgan government [6]
Janice Gregory 10 December 2009 19 May 2016 Labour First Jones government

Second Jones government

 [7][8]
Jane Hutt 19 May 2016 3 November 2017 Leader of the House Labour Third Jones government [2]
Julie James 3 November 2017 13 December 2018 Leader of the House Labour Third Jones government [9]
Jane Hutt 13 December 2018 13 May 2021 Deputy minister Labour First Drakeford government [2][10]
Dawn Bowden 13 May 2021 3 May 2023 Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport

Accountable to Minister for Economy

 Labour Second Drakeford government [2][11][12]
Jane Hutt 3 May 2023 Incumbent Minister for Social Justice Labour Second Drakeford government [2]

Responsibilities

The main responsibility of Chief Whip is to ensure the Welsh Government's business can go through the Senedd, in particular securing the majority of votes the government holds to vote on its legislative and policy programmes. The chief whip attends the government's cabinet, and has the responsibility to work with the business minister to timetable and secure passage of legislative competence orders and measures (superseded by acts). They also have the role to successfully complete the government's programme of legislation.[13]

The maintain their responsibilities, whips use various methods. They manage the attendance of members in Senedd votes, and persuade them to vote with the government. The chief whip also acts as an important link between not only the government and the parliamentary (majority) party but also the government and opposition parties or the Assembly Parliamentary Service (now Senedd Commission) and presiding office. The chief whip would also attend regular weekly meetings with key figures to discuss the Senedd's business arrangements, as well as cabinet meetings. They would have daily contact with these key figures to deal with ongoing matters, timetabling or agenda issues. When legistlation is to be passed, or some other government business, discussions may arise between the chief whip and opposition whips, the minister overseeing Senedd business, or the whips' designated "shadow" counterpart, to resolve arising difficulties with amendments, the timing of a vote, and to resolve such issues a deal may be reached.[13]

The chief whip would also have contact with other whips concerning various matters, such as "pairing" and the intermittent filling of committee vacancies. The chief whip also manages the membership of committees, sub-committees. Discussions may follow these channels for other matters, such as upcoming or emanating changes from the Business Committee.[13]

The chief whip also ensures that backbenchers vote correctly electoronically as part of their duty. The whip is circulated each week by whips of each party to their members and sets out the list of business for the following week, as well as the expectation by the party on when Senedd members are to vote. To ensure the persuasion required on backbenchers to support the government are kept to a minimum, the Chief Whip advises the cabinet over the likely acceptability of any of its legislative proposals.[13]

See also

References

  1. ↑ This article contains OGL licensed text This article incorporates text published under the British Open Government Licence: "Cabinet members and ministers | GOV.WALES". www.gov.wales. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Jones, Branwen (3 May 2023). "Mark Drakeford reshuffles cabinet to make longtime ally chief whip". Wales Online. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  3. ↑ "Key Events in the Development of the National Assembly for Wales Second Assembly: 2003 - 2007" (PDF). senedd.wales. National Assembly for Wales.
  4. ↑ WalesOnline (13 October 2009). "AM Sinclair to stand down after cancer". Wales Online. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  5. ↑ "Jane Hutt MS". senedd.wales. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  6. ↑ Bagnall, Steve (7 November 2017). "'He made a big contribution to Welsh public life' - Carl Sargeant's role in politics". North Wales Live. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  7. ↑ Masters, Adrian (14 March 2013). "Chief Whip reappointment no surprise but still plenty of cabinet jobs to go". ITV News.
  8. ↑ WalesOnline (10 December 2009). "First Minister Carwyn Jones unveils his new cabinet". Wales Online. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  9. ↑ "Welsh Government cabinet reshuffle: Who is in and out?". BBC News. 3 November 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  10. ↑ Deacon, Thomas (13 December 2018). "This is who is in the new Welsh Government cabinet". Wales Online. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  11. ↑ Mosalski, Ruth (13 May 2021). "Live updates as Mark Drakeford overhauls Welsh Government cabinet". Wales Online. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  12. ↑ This article contains OGL licensed text This article incorporates text published under the British Open Government Licence: "Welsh Government Organisation Chart" (PDF). gov.wales. September 2021.
  13. 1 2 3 4 "Role of the Chief Whip" (PDF). senedd.wales.
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