Skip to main content

The Corbyn crony who plunged Wales into lockdown: First Minister Mark Drakeford backs 'radical socialist traditions' and thinks it's 'fantastic' to destroy English road signs

The man responsible for plunging Wales into a 17-day lockdown is an atheist, a republican – and, perhaps most surprisingly of all, a keen player of the ukulele.

But then, First Minister Mark Drakeford is not your typical politician.

He promised to follow 'radical socialist traditions' when he was elected Welsh Labour leader in 2018 and, as a long-time supporter of Jeremy Corbyn, backed his bid for the Labour leadership in 2015.

At the time, he said Mr Corbyn was the candidate 'whose views most closely reflect my own'.

But the similarities don't end there, as Mr Drakeford, 66, also shares the ex-Labour leader's passion for allotments. 

First Minister Mark Drakeford with former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in Barry, South Wales, in 2019

First Minister Mark Drakeford with former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in Barry, South Wales, in 2019 

Mr Drakeford's 17-day 'fire break,' lockdown has seen supermarkets cordon and screen off aisles and items that are deemed 'non-essential'. The First Minister promised to follow 'radical socialist traditions' when he was elected Welsh Labour leader in 2018

Mr Drakeford's 17-day 'fire break,' lockdown has seen supermarkets cordon and screen off aisles and items that are deemed 'non-essential'. The First Minister promised to follow 'radical socialist traditions' when he was elected Welsh Labour leader in 2018

One of his key campaign pledges in the Welsh Labour Party leadership contest was to double the number of plots across Wales.

During the March lockdown, Mr Drakeford cycled to his allotment in Cardiff, joking that he had to 'dig very fast' because of the one-hour exercise restriction. He once boasted he was the only Welsh politician to have milked a cow.

He was born and brought up in Carmarthenshire. As a boy, he developed a love for cricket and learned to play the clarinet and ukulele.

Mark Drakeford said he would review how a ban on the sale of non-essential items has gone since, ensuring that 'common sense' is applied. Tesco in Cardff blocked off its Home department on Friday

Mark Drakeford said he would review how a ban on the sale of non-essential items has gone since, ensuring that 'common sense' is applied. Tesco in Cardff blocked off its Home department on Friday

Patriotic Welsh fervour swept his home town when Gwynfor Evans was elected as nationalist Plaid Cymru's first MP in 1966. 

Having attended an all-boys grammar school, Mr Drakeford later recalled groups of pupils marching around chanting political slogans, with English-only road signs, torn down the night before, piled on the ground.

In an interview with the BBC last year, Mr Drakeford said he thought trashing road signs was a 'fantastic thing to be doing'. He later decided that class was more important than nationality, and he became a socialist and joined the Labour Party.

Coronavirus infections, broken down by the Upper Tier Local Authority (UTLA) show the highest rates are in the North and South

Coronavirus infections, broken down by the Upper Tier Local Authority show the highest rates are in the North and South

In the final year of his Latin degree at the University of Kent in Canterbury, he answered an advert in The Guardian to become a probation officer. 

After becoming disillusioned with the substandard council houses the offenders he encountered lived in, he moved into politics.

At the same time, he lectured on social policy at Cardiff University, keeping his academic post until his appointment as a Welsh Government minister in 2013. 

Mens' pants and vests are among the items that Tesco has stopped selling as part of lockdown restrictions, which began on Friday. Mark Drakeford revealed earlier this year he had spent part of lockdown living in a 'miniature hut' at the bottom of his garden to protect his wife and mother-in-law

Mens' pants and vests are among the items that Tesco has stopped selling as part of lockdown restrictions, which began on Friday. Mark Drakeford revealed earlier this year he had spent part of lockdown living in a 'miniature hut' at the bottom of his garden to protect his wife and mother-in-law

Pallets of stock block access to non essential goods at the Sainsburys store in Crindau, Newport at the start of the firebreak lockdown

Pallets of stock block access to non essential goods at the Sainsburys store in Crindau, Newport at the start of the firebreak lockdown

Lidl closed off all their 'non-essential' aisles in Porthmadog before 6pm on Friday with the ban set to last for the full lockdown

Lidl closed off all their 'non-essential' aisles in Porthmadog before 6pm on Friday with the ban set to last for the full lockdown

Mr Drakeford, who coined the phrase 'clear red water' to represent the different direction Welsh Labour took to the Tony Blair government of the time, served as an adviser to former First Minister Rhodri Morgan, later claiming that he wanted to remain 'out of the public eye as much as possible'.

However, that ambition didn't last long and he became the first candidate to throw his hat in the ring after the resignation in 2018 of Carwyn Jones, his predecessor as First Minister.

During his leadership bid, he admitted taking illegal drugs at university, but insisted it was nothing stronger than cannabis. 

He promised to follow 'radical socialist traditions' when he was elected Welsh Labour leader in 2018

He promised to follow 'radical socialist traditions' when he was elected Welsh Labour leader in 2018

He also revealed that he did not support the monarchy, having become a republican at 14.

Mr Drakeford won the support of the Corbynista pressure group Momentum, which campaigned on his behalf. He also defended the Welsh NHS when it was criticised for its performance by the then premier David Cameron.

Mr Drakeford, who has three children, revealed in July that he he had spent part of lockdown living in a 'miniature hut' at the bottom of his garden to protect his wife and mother-in-law, who had been shielding.

Popular posts from this blog

Study Abroad USA, College of Charleston, Popular Courses, Alumni

Thinking for Study Abroad USA. School of Charleston, the wonderful grounds is situated in the actual middle of a verifiable city - Charleston. Get snatched up by the wonderful and customary engineering, beautiful pathways, or look at the advanced steel and glass building which houses the School of Business. The grounds additionally gives students simple admittance to a few major tech organizations like Amazon's CreateSpace, Google, TwitPic, and so on. The school offers students nearby as well as off-grounds convenience going from completely outfitted home lobbies to memorable homes. It is prepared to offer different types of assistance and facilities like clubs, associations, sporting exercises, support administrations, etc. To put it plainly, the school grounds is rising with energy and there will never be a dull second for students at the College of Charleston. Concentrate on Abroad USA is improving and remunerating for your future. The energetic grounds likewise houses various

Best MBA Online Colleges in the USA

“Opportunities never open, instead we create them for us”. Beginning with this amazing saying, let’s unbox today’s knowledge. Love Business and marketing? Want to make a high-paid career in business administration? Well, if yes, then mate, we have got you something amazing to do!   We all imagine an effortless future with a cozy house and a laptop. Well, well! You can make this happen. Today, with this guide, we will be exploring some of the top-notch online MBA universities and institutes in the USA. Let’s get started! Why learn Online MBA from the USA? Access to More Options This online era has given a second chance to children who want to reflect on their careers while managing their hectic schedules. In this, the internet has played a very crucial in rejuvenating schools, institutes, and colleges to give the best education to students across the globe. Graduating with Less Debt Regular classes from high reputed institutes often charge heavy tuition fees. However onl

Sickening moment maskless 'Karen' COUGHS in the face of grocery store customer, then claims she doesn't have to wear a mask because she 'isn't sick'

A woman was captured on camera following a customer through a supermarket as she coughs on her after claiming she does not need a mask because she is not sick.  Video of the incident, which has garnered hundreds of thousands of views on Twitter alone, allegedly took place in a Su per Saver in Lincoln, Nebraska according to Twitter user @davenewworld_2. In it, an unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of the customer recording her. Scroll down for video An unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of a woman recording her A woman was captured on camera following a customer as she coughs on her in a supermarket without a mask on claiming she does not need one because she is not sick @chaiteabugz #karen #covid #karens #karensgonewild #karensalert #masks we were just wearing a mask at the store. ¿ o