Chief Special Adviser to the First Minister
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| Wales Chief Special Adviser to the First Minister | |
|---|---|
| Prif Gynghorydd Arbennig y Prif Weinidog (Welsh) | |
Incumbent since 25 July 2025Luke Young | |
| Member of | Welsh Government |
| Reports to | First Minister |
| Seat | Crown Buildings, Cathays Park, Cardiff |
| Appointer | First Minister |
| Term length | At the First Minister's pleasure |
| Inaugural holder | Gareth Williams |
| Formation | 12 May 1999 |
| Salary | £76,000–£92,000 (2025) |
The Chief Special Adviser to the First Minister (Welsh: Prif Gynghorydd Arbennig y Prif Weinidog) is the chief of staff and most senior special adviser of the first minister of Wales.
After the creation of the National Assembly for Wales and the position of First Secretary of Wales in 1999, the inaugural first secretary Alun Michael employed a team of four special advisers in his office, including a chief of staff.[1] In May 2000, his successor Rhodri Morgan gave the chief of staff the title of Senior Special Adviser to the First Secretary.[2] In October 2000, the office of First Secretary of Wales was renamed First Minister of Wales.[3] The chief of staff's title also changed to reflect this, becoming Senior Special Adviser to the First Minister.[4] Under First Minister Carwyn Jones, the office was renamed Chief Special Adviser to the First Minister in 2016.[5][6]
First Secretary Alun Michael's chief of staff was Gareth Williams, a Labour politician who stood in the 1999 European Parliament elections.[1] He resigned from the post when Michael resigned as first secretary in February 2000.[7] Michael's successor Rhodri Morgan brought in his ally Kevin Brennan to act as his chief of staff until a successor was found.[7] He appointed Paul Griffiths as his senior special adviser to the first secretary in May 2000.[2] After the office of First Secretary of Wales was renamed First Minister of Wales,[4] Morgan appointed another senior special adviser, Mark Drakeford, to serve alongside Griffiths[8] later that year.[9] Griffiths left the role in August 2007[10] while Drakeford stepped down when Morgan resigned in 2009.[11]
During the One Wales coalition government between Labour and Plaid Cymru, First Minister Rhodri Morgan and his successor Carwyn Jones employed Anna Nicholl from Plaid Cymru[12] as a senior special adviser from 2008 to 2011.[13][14] From May 2011 to May 2016, Jones's senior special adviser was Jo Kiernan.[15][16][17] In 2016, Jones appointed Matt Greenough to the role and renamed it Chief Special Adviser to the First Minister.[18][6]
Carwyn Jones's successor Mark Drakeford appointed Jane Runeckles as his chief special adviser in December 2018.[19][20] His successor Vaughan Gething appointed David Hagendyk as his adviser in March 2024.[21] Gething's successor Eluned Morgan appointed Rhodri Morgan's chief of staff Kevin Brennan as her chief special adviser on her ascendency to the premiership in August 2024.[22][23][24] In December 2024, she announced that he would leave the role after he was nominated for a peerage by Prime Minister Keir Starmer. She appointed former MP and MEP Wayne David as his successor from the new year onwards.[25][26][27]
In July 2025, Morgan announced Wayne David’s departure due to ill health. She later appointed Citizens Advice Head of Policy, and former Welsh Labour Head of Communications, Luke Young as the new Chief Special Adviser. He is an alumnus of Swansea University. Young was described by ITV Wales as “a well known Labour insider”.
Role
The chief special adviser is the first minister's chief of staff and their most senior special adviser.
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