The new Secretary of State for Wales has said his first priority is to get families and businesses “through this challenging winter”.
Veteran Tory politician David TC Davies was promoted to the Cabinet role on Tuesday by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak after his predecessor Sir Robert Buckland resigned.
“I would like to thank the Prime Minister for the trust that has been placed in me,” Mr Davies said on Wednesday after first Cabinet meeting in Downing Street. “I promise to be a strong advocate for Wales around the Cabinet table, doing all I can to promote the interests of the people of Wales.” It is understood the Welsh Government believed it had begun to build a good working relationship with Mr Buckland during his short four months in the post.
Former PM Liz Truss did not once call Mr Drakeford or Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon during her brief time in office, breaking with the informal tradition of contacting the leaders of devolved governments shortly after coming into office. After leaving school he went to work for British Steel and joined the Territorial Army, serving for 18 months as a Gunner with 104 Air Defence Regiment at Raglan Barracks.