Cabinet meeting: 15 December 2025

• Rt Hon Eluned Morgan MS (Chair)
• Huw Irranca-Davies MS
• Jayne Bryant MS
• Mark Drakeford MS
• Rebecca Evans MS
• Jane Hutt MS
• Jeremy Miles MS
• Julie James MS
   
• Dawn Bowden MS
• Vikki Howells MS
• Sarah Murphy MS
• Jack Sargeant MS

Apologies

• Lynne Neagle MS
• Ken Skates MS

Officials

• Andrew Goodall, Permanent Secretary
• Rachel Garside-Jones, Director Office of the First Minister and Delivery
• Rebecca Dunn, Head of Cabinet Division
• Victoria Jones, Principal Private Secretary First Minister
• Toby Mason, Head of Strategic Communications
• Sinead Gallagher, Deputy Director Cabinet Office
• Luke Young, Special Adviser
• Sarah Dickins, Special Adviser
• Madeleine Brindley, Special Adviser
• Haf Davies, Special Adviser
• Victoria Evans, Special Adviser
• David Hooson, Special Adviser
• Nadila Hussein, Special Adviser
• Kirsty Keenan, Special Adviser
• Jackie Jones, Special Adviser
• Stephen Jones, Special Adviser
• Philippa Marsden, Special Adviser
• Tal Michael, Special Adviser
• Mary Wimbury, Special Adviser
• Christopher W Morgan, Head of Cabinet Secretariat (minutes)
• Damian Roche, Cabinet Secretariat
• Helena Bird, Permanent Secretary’s office
• Carwyn Wycherley, Cabinet Office
• Kath Hallett, First Minister’s Office
• Tracey Burke, Director General Climate Change & Rural Affairs
• Sioned Evans, Chief Operating Officer
• Judith Paget, Director General Strategy
• Andrew Slade, Director General Economy, Energy and Transport
• Jacqueline Totterdell, Director General Health
• Emma Williams, Director General Education, Culture & Welsh Language
• Nicola Williams, Director Legal Services
• Andrew Jeffreys, Director Treasury (item 4)
• Emma Watkins, Deputy Director, Budget and Government Business (item 4)

1.1 Cymeradwyodd y Cabinet gofnodion 8 Rhagfyr 2025 / Cabinet approved the minutes of 8 December 2025.

Violence at the Hanukkah event in Sydney, Australia

2.1 The First Minister put on record that her thoughts, and those of Cabinet, were with all those affected by the violence at the Hanukkah, Chanukah by the Sea, event in Sydney on Sunday. Such acts of hatred and terror could never be justified.

2.2 The government’s commitment to the Jewish community and community cohesion in Wales was unwavering. The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice had recently spoken to Jewish community leaders, and Welsh Ministers maintained active engagement with faith leaders through the Faith Communities Forum.

2.3 It was noted that 2 men had recently appeared in court accused of planning terrorist attacks against Jewish and Muslim targets in Cardiff.

2026-2027 Budget deal

2.4 The First Minister referred to the recent deal with Plaid Cymru to secure agreement on the 2026-2027 Budget.

Weather warnings

2.5 The First Minister informed Cabinet that a number of weather warnings relating to rain and potential flooding had been issued that day and into Tuesday and there were likely to be similar events later in the week.

Cabinet paper and guidance for staff on conduct during the Senedd pre-election period 2026

2.6 The First Minister informed Cabinet that a paper on Ministerial and Staff Conduct during the Senedd Pre-Election Period 2026 would be circulated in correspondence for consideration over recess. The aim was to publish the guidance in the New Year.

3.1 Cabinet considered the Plenary Grid and noted voting time was scheduled for 7:10pm on Tuesday and would be around 6:30pm on Wednesday. 

4.1 The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language provided Cabinet with an update on the Draft Budget Negotiations following the agreement with Plaid Cymru.

4.2 The allocation of the remaining capital and resource amounts were being finalised with the aim of Cabinet considering the Final Budget package in the first sitting week following recess.

4.3 Cabinet noted the update.

Cabinet Secretariat
December 2025