Stephen Kinnock enters Cabinet promising to champion Wales as pressure grows for further devolution

FORMER Labour leader Lord Neil Kinnock has spoken of his pride after his son, Stephen Kinnock, was appointed Secretary of State for Wales.

The Aberafan Maesteg MP was promoted to the Cabinet by new Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Monday (July 20), replacing Cardiff East MP Jo Stevens.

It is Mr Kinnock’s first Cabinet position, having previously served as a health minister in the UK Government.

Lord Kinnock, who led Labour between 1983 and 1992, said his son was “thrilled to bits” when they spoke late on Monday night.

He told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast: “We had our midnight conversation, not the first in our lives it has to be said, and usually that was because he came home late.

“It was a delight.”

Lord Kinnock, 84, said his son had earned the appointment through “a lifetime of action and service” and would now be able to influence UK Government decisions affecting Wales directly.

Stephen Kinnock described becoming Welsh Secretary as “the privilege of my life” and promised to provide a strong voice for Wales around the Cabinet table.

He said he would work with the Welsh Government, councils and institutions across the country to secure better outcomes for Welsh communities.

Mr Kinnock added: “Wales succeeds when we all pull in the same direction.

“As Welsh Secretary, I will ensure that the Wales Office continues to champion Wales within the UK Government and that the needs of the Welsh people are prioritised.”

He said his ambition was to help build “a strong Wales within a strong United Kingdom”, with economic growth reaching communities across the country.

The appointment comes at a politically important time for Labour following the party’s heavy defeat in the Senedd election in May.

Plaid Cymru now leads the Welsh Government under First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth, while Welsh Labour is attempting to rebuild under its new leader, Ken Skates.

Gower MP Tonia Antoniazzi described the Cabinet reshuffle as a “brutal 24 hours” for some Labour colleagues.

She said Mr Burnham and Mr Kinnock faced the task of winning back voters who had switched from Labour to Plaid Cymru or Reform UK.

The new Welsh Secretary is also likely to face immediate pressure over further devolution.

During his first conversation with Mr Burnham as Prime Minister, Mr ap Iorwerth called for powers over policing, justice, rail infrastructure and the Crown Estate to be transferred to Wales.

The First Minister said the change of leadership at Westminster presented an opportunity to redefine relations between the UK and Welsh governments.

He urged Mr Burnham to turn his support for devolution into action by strengthening the Senedd rather than bypassing it.

Downing Street said the Prime Minister wanted a “collaborative, practical and pragmatic” relationship with the devolved administrations.

Plaid Cymru’s Westminster leader, Liz Saville Roberts, congratulated Mr Kinnock but repeated her party’s view that the position of Welsh Secretary had become an “anachronism” following devolution.

She said Plaid would nevertheless seek a constructive working relationship with him and press the UK Government over rail funding, the Crown Estate, justice and policing.

Ms Saville Roberts said Plaid’s Senedd election victory had given it a clear mandate which Westminster should respect.

Jo Stevens held the Welsh Secretary post from July 2024 until Mr Burnham’s reshuffle.

She said serving in the role had been “a privilege and an honour” and pointed to what she described as major achievements during her time in office.

These included a record devolution-era funding settlement for Welsh public services, support for the steel industry, investment in a proposed new nuclear development at Wylfa and a £14bn commitment for Welsh railways.

Ms Stevens wished both the new Prime Minister and her successor well, saying she believed they would work with Ken Skates to deliver for Wales.

Who is Stephen Kinnock?

Stephen Kinnock was born in Tredegar in 1970 and is the son of Neil Kinnock and the late Glenys Kinnock, who served as an MEP, government minister and member of the House of Lords.

He is married to former Danish prime minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt, with whom he has two children.

Before entering Parliament, he worked for the British Council and held senior roles in international business and public affairs.

He was first elected as MP for Aberavon in 2015 and continued to represent the area when the constituency became Aberafan Maesteg following boundary changes.

Mr Kinnock served as a junior health minister after Labour returned to power at Westminster in 2024.

He now takes charge of the Wales Office and becomes Wales’ principal representative within the new Prime Minister’s Cabinet.

A CALL for an impartial investigation into the contentious closure of Manorbier school, is to be heard by senior councillors.

Back in June, the final decision to close fire-ravaged Manorbier school was given the go-ahead, despite a heartfelt last-minute plea by local councillor Phil Kidney to keep it open.

Manorbier Church in Wales VC School and its adjoining schoolhouse was severely damaged by a fire in October 2022, which broke out in the school roof space.

After that, a ‘school from school’ was set up in Jameston Village Hall.

It had been hoped the school would be rebuilt, but last year councillors backed a statutory consultation on proposals to discontinue Manorbier Church in Wales Voluntary Controlled School.

The decision attracted strong local opposition, with more than 1,500 people signing a petition on the council’s own website calling for the school to be rebuilt.

At a special extraordinary council meeting held on June 15, members made the final decision on discontinuation of the school, backed by 30 votes to 23, with four abstentions.

At the meeting, local councillor Phil Kidney, who has been a staunch supporter of keeping the school open, said: “We’ve all let these people down, the way this council has handled this situation is appalling; from day one not one of the executives came up to see these children, no-one came out; if that was Haverfordwest or Tenby they’d be all over the place.”

Following that decision, issues around the contentious closure were heard at the July 16 meeting of the council.

In a notice of motion before councillors, Cllr Kidney proposed: “That council considers a full impartial investigation into the process of closing Manorbier school, specifically the time it has taken, broken promises, inadequate insurance, and the involvement of HR department.”

A supporting statement for his motion said: “The review should be carried out by someone not employed by the authority, with powers to recommend disciplinary action if they deem necessary.

“A full impartial review should hopefully stop another school being treated so appallingly.”

Cllr Kidney also, in a submitted question, sought an apology from the deputy leader, who now has responsibility for education: “Would the Cabinet Member for Education [Cllr Paul Miller] like to apologise to the staff and parents of Manorbier School for his comments at the last council meeting, where he stated children would get a better education in St Florence and children in Manorbier were being taught in one room?

“This is both factually wrong and insulting to staff, who have worked tirelessly to provide teaching of an excellent standard, and if he had taken the time to read the last Estyn report, he may not have made these derogatory comments.”

Members agreed Cllr Kidney’s notice of motion would be heard at a future Cabinet meeting.

In response to Cllr Kidney’s question, said he “had no intention of insulting staff,” who were “doing a great job in very difficult circumstances”.

He went on to say that if he had said the words quoted by Cllr Kidney, he would apologise for them but stressed: “I do believe it will be better for them [the pupils] to be in a larger school.”

On July 16, with the summer holidays approaching, the doors of Manorbier Church in Wales Primary School closed for the final time.

Friends of Manorbier School posted on social media: “This isn’t the ending that our children, families, staff, and community hoped for. Yet as we reach this difficult milestone, we are reminded that Manorbier School has always been so much more than a building. For generations, it has been a place filled with friendship, laughter, learning, kindness, and unforgettable memories.”

It added: “As we say goodbye, we do so with immense gratitude and pride.

“Thank you, Manorbier School, for the memories, the laughter, the kindness, and the community you created.”

SUMMER recess is here, meaning Senedd Members will not formally meet in Cardiff Bay for the next eight weeks – so what will they do instead?

The Senedd has largely got back into the full swing of things following May’s election.

Over the last three months, the new First Minister was sworn in, the Llywydd was chosen, and committees have been formed – but, with recess now here, the Senedd will break until September.

Recess is the term for the periods where the Senedd does not formally sit, meaning MSs do not meet in Cardiff Bay for First Minister’s Questions, debates, or committee meetings.

Recesses happen throughout the year, with the largest being the multi-week break in the summer – running from the end of July until early September.

Other breaks include Christmas, Easter, and Whitsun.

The 2026 summer recess began on Monday July 20 and runs until Sunday September 13.

However, Senedd Members are not simply on holiday during the recess, with representatives often using the time to carry out work in their constituencies.

Senedd Members each have an office within their constituency where they employ staff to help them with their work and to help constituents.

During each recess, members will typically return to their constituencies and focus on public engagement and local issues.

However, due to the longer length of the summer recess compared to the smaller breaks, it is likely some MSs will take some holiday too.

Recess does not mean MSs simply stop working, in fact with them heading home to their constituencies you might see them about more than during term time when their time is split between the constituency and Cardiff Bay.

Following the 2026 election, each constituency now has six MSs and you can contact any of them – regardless of what party you voted for.

The Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni constituency is represented by Delyth Jewell, Lindsay Whittle, Niamh Salkeld (all Plaid Cymru), and Llyr Powell, Catherine Cullen, and Joshua Kim (all Reform).

The Casnewydd Islwyn seat is represented by Dan Thomas and Art Wright (Reform), Peredur Owen Griffiths and Lyn Ackerman (Plaid Cymru), Jayne Bryant (Welsh Labour) and Natasha Asghar (Welsh Conservatives).

The business committee confirmed the recess dates for the remainder of the year:

• Autumn half-term: Monday October 26 to Sunday November 1.

Provisional dates for the Christmas and spring half-term 2027 recesses have also been provided by the Business Committee:

• Christmas recess: Monday December 21, 2026 to Sunday January 10, 2027.
• Spring half-term: Monday February 8, 2027 to Sunday February 14 2027.