Mark Drakeford, a prominent Welsh politician, has held the esteemed office of First Minister of Wales and Leader of the Welsh Labour Party since 2018.
Prior to his current role, he served in the Welsh Government as Finance Minister from 2016 to 2018; prior to that, he served as Minister for Health and Social Services from 2013 to 2016.
With an extensive political background and extensive experience in a variety of government roles, Drakeford has proven himself to be a dedicated civil servant, committed to serving the people of Wales.
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- Full name: Mark Drakeford
- Stage Name: Mark Drakeford
- Date of birth: September 19, 1954
- Age: 69 years old
- Place of birth: Carmarthenshire, United Kingdom
- Nationality: UK
- Occupation: politician
- Height: 1.75m
- Parents: Mr. and Mrs. Drakeford
- Siblings: Unknown
- Spouse: Clare Buckle
- Children: Jonathan, James and Elin
- Relationship: Married
- Net worth: £1 million to £5 million
Early life and education
Mark Drakeford, born 19 September 1954 in Carmarthen, West Wales, attended Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Carmarthen. He then studied Latin at the University of Kent before graduating from the University of Exeter.
Although little is known about his parents or siblings, they are known as Mr. and Mrs. Drakeford.
Career
Before pursuing a career in politics, Mark Drakeford gained valuable experience in a variety of areas, including working as a probation officer and youth justice officer, as well as leading projects at Barnardos in Ely and Caerau.
He also contributes to academia as Professor of Social Policy and Applied Social Science at Cardiff University.
This diverse background has equipped Drakeford with a deep understanding of social issues and the practical skills to address them effectively in his political career.
Drakeford, originally elected to the Senedd in 2011 as representative for Cardiff West, took up the position of Minister for Health and Social Services in 2013 under Premier Carwyn Jones.
During his tenure, Drakeford made many changes to the Welsh National Health Service, such as introducing a unified health board system and expanding access to free childcare services.
Drakeford took up the role of Finance Minister in 2016, where he was responsible for managing the Welsh Government’s budget and overseeing the government’s economic strategies.
During his time as Chancellor of the Exchequer, Drakeford oversaw a period of austerity; however, he secured additional funding for Wales from the UK government.
Drakeford was elected Leader of the Welsh Labour Party and became First Minister of Wales in 2018, replacing Carwyn Jones. Since taking office, Drakeford has prioritised tackling poverty and inequality, promoting sustainable economic growth and improving public services. He also disapproved of the UK government’s handling of Brexit.
Social media
- Twitter: @PrifWeinidog
- Facebook: @MarkDrakefordFM
- Instagram: @markdrakefordfm
Personal life
Mark Drakeford, 69, was married to Clare Buckle for 46 years until her death in 2023. They had three children, Jonathan, James and Elin. During their marriage, they lived in the beautiful Pontcanna neighbourhood of Cardiff for more than three decades.
In a show of immense love and care during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, Drakeford made the selfless decision to move into a building in the back garden of his home. The move was motivated by a desire to protect Clare and her mother, who were considered vulnerable to the virus.
Net worth
Mark Drakeford’s net worth remains unknown as he is not obliged to disclose his financial information due to his status as a public servant.
However, considering his publicly disclosed salary and assets, experts speculate that his net worth is between £1 million and £5 million.
