But it is a long time since his approval ratings peaked – during the Covid pandemic, when a calm manner and obvious command of detail struck a stark contrast to Boris Johnson’s eccentric behaviour at the other end of the M4. “It’s fair to say, people warmed to him much more in the pandemic,” says Davies. “He became the Covid first minister and people felt he was a safe hand at the tiller.”
Yet when Tories in Westminster today say Labour would have gone further on lockdown during the pandemic it is partly because the Welsh Government did. This included limiting outdoor exercise to once a day, with a maximum fine of £1,920, double that in England; a two-week “firebreak” in October 2020; and banning supermarkets from selling “non-essential” items.
Drakeford was nothing if not a contradictory figure, at various times described as the most loved and most hated man in Wales. A thoughtful and avuncular character (the unkind might add “dull”), he could at times let intellectual superiority get the better of him, becoming dismissive of criticism and scornful of legitimate scrutiny. More recently he veered towards dogmatism, appearing to impose unpopular policies from on high for a sceptical public’s own good. His anti-business, anti-farming, anti-tourism agenda has stymied investment his country so clearly needs.
But then, the Welsh Government is a fairly contradictory executive. Though Labour runs a minority government in partnership with Plaid Cymru, Wales increasingly gives the impression of being a one-party state. Labour has been in power continuously since devolution just over 25 years ago, with the Conservatives unable to escape the long shadow of Margaret Thatcher and the miners’ strikes and Plaid perceived as being the party of Welsh speakers (estimated to be less than 30 per cent of the population).
Few question Drakeford’s good intentions. During his final speech to the Senedd earlier this week, he fought back tears when mentioning his wife Clare, who died suddenly in January last year. Last August, his son Jonathan, who is now known as Jay Humphries, was sent back to prison for breaching a sex offender order. He was previously jailed for rape in 2018.
“The last 12 months have been the hardest and the saddest of my life,” said Drakeford.
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
