{"id":122079,"date":"2023-12-13T19:39:26","date_gmt":"2023-12-13T19:39:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/leviolonrouge.com\/?p=122079"},"modified":"2023-12-13T19:39:26","modified_gmt":"2023-12-13T19:39:26","slug":"mark-drakeford-passionate-fm-but-has-irreparably-damaged-wales","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/leviolonrouge.com\/politics\/mark-drakeford-passionate-fm-but-has-irreparably-damaged-wales\/","title":{"rendered":"Mark Drakeford ‘passionate FM’ but has irreparably ‘damaged’ Wales"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mark Drakeford announces he’s stepping down as Welsh Labour leader<\/h3>\n

Mark Drakeford represented something in Wales that the rest of the UK lacked: stability, continuity, and a steady pair of hands.<\/p>\n

While leaders around the union came and went \u2014 including five Conservative Prime Ministers in almost as many years \u2014 Mr Drakeford lasted five years in his post.<\/p>\n

He had announced his intentions to resign in the current Senedd term, but when he did so on Wednesday, December 13, it was completely unexpected.<\/p>\n

Andrew RT Davies, the leader of the Welsh Conservatives who are in opposition, commended Mr Drakeford’s time in office, describing him as a “passionate public servant”.<\/p>\n

Yet, he told Express.co.uk that Wales had suffered as a result of the First Minister’s leadership and a string of botched policies that have led the country into decline.<\/p>\n

READ MORE <\/strong> Mark Drakeford resigns as First Minster of Wales as popularity hits 18-month low<\/strong><\/p>\n

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“Obviously, Mark led the country through the COVID-19 crisis, and he is a passionate public servant who ultimately did what he thinks is in the best interest of Wales,” he said.<\/p>\n

“But, regrettably, when you look at the overall narrative, whether it be economically, educational standards or the NHS, Mark will say that it hasn’t been the tenure that one would have wished for success. On the key indicators about improving people’s lives, he failed to move the needle.”<\/p>\n

Wales has voted for the Labour Party in every Assembly and Senedd election since 1999, and has picked the party in every UK general election since 1922.<\/p>\n

Many in the Senedd like Mr Davies and even those who cooperate with Welsh Labour like Rhun ap Iorwerth, leader of Plaid Cymru, told Express.co.uk that they believe Mr Drakeford’s party has in effect rested on its laurels in the comfort of its electoral success.<\/p>\n

But things in the country have taken a turn for the worse in recent years. Education standards have slipped under Mr Drakeford’s watch, with Etsyn, the education and training inspectorate for Wales, releasing a damning report in October.<\/p>\n

Of the 18 secondary schools it inspected, 64 percent received a recommendation to improve the effectiveness of teaching, while 60, or 27 percent, of primary schools received a recommendation to improve their curriculum to help develop pupils’ skills, 46, 21 percent, were told to improve literacy skills and 37, 17 percent, numeracy skills.<\/p>\n

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Welsh nationalist has his eyes set on toppling Mark Drakeford from power[INSIGHT] <\/strong><\/p>\n

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