Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford is widely regarded as having had a good pandemic. Re-elected in May with an increased Labour representation in the Senedd, the member for Cardiff West has earned plaudits for his un-showy style of leadership.
Still, Mr S can’t help but wonder how Drakeford would fare if his gaffes were treated in the way that the London press pack jumps on those by ministers in SW1. A typical example of this came just a fortnight ago, at a Senedd session that went largely unnoticed by the Welsh media, when the minister was asked by James Evans MS about restrictions on hard-pressed pubs.
Given the dire financial pressures on restaurants, bars and eateries this past year, Drakeford might have been expected to begin a reply by noting his concerns for the country’s hospitality and tourism sector, worth an estimated £3 billion and employing 140,000 people.
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