Editing Secretary of State for Wales (section)

==History==
During the 1980s and 1990s, as the number of [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] MPs for Welsh constituencies dwindled almost to zero, the office fell into disrepute. [[Nicholas Edwards]], MP for [[Pembrokeshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Pembrokeshire]], held the post for eight years. On his departure, the government ceased to look within Wales for the secretary of state, and the post was increasingly used as a way of getting junior high-fliers into the [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom|Cabinet]]. [[John Redwood]] in particular caused embarrassment when he publicly demonstrated his inability to sing "[[Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau]]", the Welsh [[national anthem]], at a conference.

The introduction of the [[National Assembly for Wales]] and the [[Welsh Government]], after the [[devolution]] [[referendum]] of 1997, was the beginning of a new era. On 1 July 1999 the majority of the functions of the Welsh Office transferred to the new assembly. The Welsh Office was disbanded, but the post of Secretary of State for Wales was retained, as the head of the newly created Wales Office.

Since 1999 there have been calls for the office of Welsh secretary to be scrapped or merged with the posts of [[Secretary of State for Scotland]] and [[Secretary of State for Northern Ireland]], to reflect the lesser powers of the role since devolution.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/1228468.stm |title='Scrap Welsh secretary' demand |publisher=BBC News |date=19 March 2001 |access-date=7 June 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/2978760.stm |title=Wales Office in melting pot |publisher=BBC News |date=12 June 2003 |access-date=7 June 2010}}</ref> Those calling for a Secretary of State for the Union include Robert Hazell,<ref>{{Cite news|title=Times letters: Mark Sedwill's call for a cull of the cabinet|newspaper=[[The Times]]|language=en|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/times-letters-mark-sedwills-call-for-a-cull-of-the-cabinet-6x2kgqdhc|date=2020-07-30|issn=0140-0460}}</ref> in a department into which [[Rodney Brazier]] has suggested adding a Minister of State for England with responsibility for [[Local government in England|English local government]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-09-07|title=Rodney Brazier: Why is Her Majesty's Government so big?|url=https://ukconstitutionallaw.org/2020/09/07/rodney-brazier-why-is-her-majestys-government-so-big/|access-date=2020-11-30|website=UK Constitutional Law Association|language=en}}</ref>

In June 2024, [[Plaid Cymru]], the Welsh nationalist party, called for the position's abolishment describing it as "outdated", that it "entrench[es]" a power imbalance, and its powers should be devolved. The party's representatives accused the [[Shadow Secretary of State for Wales|shadow Labour holder]], [[Jo Stevens]], of having a "contemptuous attitude towards devolution" based on Stevens' comments relating to [[High Speed 2]] and [[Proposed Welsh justice system|justice and policing]]. The Conservative incumbent [[David TC Davies]] expressed his surprise, stating that the "so-called 'party of Wales' is now wanting to silence Wales' voice [in the cabinet]".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Price |first=Emily |date=2024-06-25 |title=Plaid Cymru calls for next UK Govt to axe Secretary of State for Wales role |url=https://nation.cymru/news/plaid-cymru-calls-for-next-uk-govt-to-axe-secretary-of-state-for-wales-role/ |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=Nation.Cymru |language=en-GB}}</ref> In Plaid Cymru's motion on 26 June, calling for the post's abolishment, leader of the [[Welsh Conservatives]], [[Andrew RT Davies]], supported the motion after being confused it was a Tory amendment being voted on.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Price |first=Emily |date=2024-06-27 |title=Andrew RT Davies votes to abolish Secretary of State role |url=https://nation.cymru/news/andrew-rt-davies-votes-to-abolish-secretary-of-state-role/ |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=Nation.Cymru |language=en-GB}}</ref>
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