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.
