First Minister for Wales

The First Minister for Wales is the leader of Wales and of the Welsh Assembly Government, Wales's devolved administration. When initially set up under the Government of Wales Act 1998, the title was known as First Secretary (in Welsh Prif Ysgrifennydd), as Wales was given a less powerful assembly and executive than Northern Ireland and Scotland. This was also attributed to the fact that the Welsh term for First Minister, Prif Weinidog, also translates as Prime Minister, so a different title was chosen to avoid confusion with the UK Prime Minister.

Related Topics:
Wales - Welsh Assembly Government - Government of Wales Act 1998 - Welsh - Northern Ireland - Scotland

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This change of title occurred after the Liberal Democrats formed a coalition government with Labour in the Welsh Assembly in October 2000. The change of title has no effect in law - as the post of First Secretary is established in statute law under the 1998 Government of Wales Act.

Related Topics:
Liberal Democrats - Coalition government - Labour - Welsh Assembly - Government of Wales Act

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