Early years minister replaced in Wales following cabinet resignations
Following the resignation of several cabinet secretaries, First Minister Vaughan Gething who will remain in post until a successor can be found, has announced a mini reshuffle.
The resignations pushed the First Minister to announced that he would be standing down from the role just four months after being voted in. A leadership contest will be under way shortly.
Jayne Bryant who was the Minister for Mental Health and Early Years has been moved to Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Housing. She is being replaced by Sarah Murphy who is the new Mental Health and Early Years.
Purnima Tanuku OBE, Chief Executive of National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) Cymru said: “Following resignations in the Cabinet there has been another change in the early years ministerial role. We welcome new minister Sarah Murphy at a critical time for the Early Childhood Play Learning and Care sector.
“Children’s early years really need to be prioritised to make sure our youngest children are given the best start in life. Currently 91% of private nurseries in Wales expect to make a loss because the funding rate has not been reviewed in three years. They are also facing a serious recruitment crisis.
“We will be contacting the new minister and hope to meet with her soon. We need some stability in the role to get to grips with these issues and support those who care for and educate children in their formative years.”
The reshuffle is as a result of Jeremy Miles, Mick Antoniw, Julie James and Lesley Griffiths leaving their roles in the Welsh Government earlier this week. They cited their decisions around a lack of confidence in Vaughan Gething to continue as First Minister.
- Wales
