Jo Stevens is leaving the post of Secretary of State for Wales as Andy Burnham prepares to unveil his prime ministerial team. The Cardiff East MP said on X that she was "proud" of her role in government, after taking up the post when Labour came to power in 2024.
Stevens faced criticism from some Welsh Labour politicians for not supporting more powers for the Welsh government, including on policing, with one former minister describing her as the most "anti-devolution" Labour Welsh secretary in half a century. However, she said Wales had seen its biggest budget settlement for public services in the history of devolution while she was in office.
It is not known who will replace her. Stevens said it had been "a privilege and an honour" to hold the role, and added that former prime minister Starmer "leaves with the country in a much better place than he found it".
What did Jo Stevens say about her time in office?
Stevens said her period in office had brought major gains for Wales and praised the work of Labour governments in Westminster and Cardiff. She also wished the new Prime Minister and her successor well, saying they would do a great job alongside new Welsh Labour leader Ken Skates.
Wales has seen the biggest budget settlement for our public services in the history of devolution, our steel industry saved and transformed for the future, the largest public investment in Wales in history through new nuclear at Wylfa, a generational commitment of £14bn for our Welsh railways, the best local growth fund settlement of any of the UK nations and so much more.
I wish the new Prime Minister and my successor the very best in their new roles and know that they will do a great job, alongside our new Welsh Labour leader Ken Skates, in delivering for the people of Wales.
a privilege and an honour
proud
Why has she faced criticism from Welsh Labour politicians?
Some Welsh Labour politicians criticised Stevens for not backing further devolution to the Welsh government, including additional powers over policing. One former minister went further and described her as the most "anti-devolution" Labour Welsh secretary in half a century.
Stevens rejected that criticism by pointing to the scale of funding and investment Wales received during her time in office, including what she described as the biggest budget settlement for public services in the history of devolution.
What happens next for Wales and Westminster?
It is not yet known who will replace Stevens as Welsh secretary. The change comes as Andy Burnham prepares to unveil his prime ministerial team, and Stevens said she hoped the incoming leadership would continue to deliver for Wales.
What has Rhun ap Iorwerth said?
First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth said the new Welsh secretary must be "someone who respects and wants to see devolution work". He said he had not yet spoken to Burnham, but that plans were in place for a conversation, after Burnham became prime minister on Monday.
Ap Iorwerth said he hoped a new prime minister would be "an opportunity for a reset" in the Cardiff-London relationship. He said Sir Keir Starmer did not take much interest in devolution or Wales, but added that he hoped the relationship with Burnham would be better because he had a background "of understanding and appreciating the value of devolution".
Key Facts
- Jo Stevens is leaving her role as Secretary of State for Wales.
- She took up the post when Labour came to power in 2024.
- Andy Burnham is preparing to unveil his prime ministerial team.
- Rhun ap Iorwerth said the next Welsh secretary should respect devolution.
- It is not known who will replace Stevens.
