Wales' finance secretary not interested in the economy, says first minister

Wales' first minister Eluned Morgan says her own finance secretary Mark Drakeford's "interest has never been in the economy".

Drakeford handles the Welsh government's £25bn budget and takes crucial decisions on taxes, including business rates and stamp duty.

But on the economy, Morgan said there was a "fundamental difference" between her and Drakeford - who was first minister from 2018 to 2024.

She said Drakeford's priority was to "look after the poor directly" - but she wanted to alleviate poverty by creating jobs.

"Mark Drakeford, who I think is amazing, quite incredible, but his interest has never been in the economy," Morgan told the Senedd Sources podcast.

The first minister began by saying: "Look I have always been clear, back to this point, I am not Mark Drakeford, right."

She added: "He's always been very much more on the social side of things.

"My interest is in tackling poverty... but from a jobs point of view – make sure you equip people with the skills so that they can get out of poverty.

"To do that you need to give the skills and create the jobs... This is very much my agenda."

Morgan, who hosted an international investment summit last year, said Wales was "losing too many good people" who cannot find work in their communities.

In the interview, Morgan said she shared the same values as previous Welsh Labour leaders.

But she said: "Mark is very much more in the space of let's look after the poor directly, interventions".

She added: "I do think that is a fundamental difference between us."

Opinion polls have suggested Labour has fallen behind rival parties in the race for the Senedd election, which will be held on 7 May.

A poll this week put them in fourth place, with Plaid Cymru in the lead and Reform second.

"I'm very clear that we are losing more people to Plaid than we are to Reform," she said.

She insisted she would not "chase Reform down a path where we are knocking immigrants".

"I'm not selling my soul in order to get votes," she said.