View source for Secretary of State for Wales

{{Short description|Member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{more citations needed|date=May 2010}}
{{Infobox Political post
| post = [[United Kingdom]]<br> Secretary of State for Wales
| nativename = 
| insignia = Coat of arms of the United Kingdom (2022, lesser arms).svg
| insigniacaption = [[Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom|Royal Arms]] of [[Government of the United Kingdom|His Majesty's Government]]
| department = [[Wales Office|Office of the Secretary of State for Wales]]
| image = File:Jo Stevens Official Cabinet Portrait, July 2024 (cropped).jpg
| alt = 
| incumbent = [[Jo Stevens]]
| incumbentsince = 5 July 2024
| style = {{ubl|'''Welsh Secretary''' (informal)|[[The Right Honourable]] (within the UK and Commonwealth)}}
| type = [[Minister of the Crown]]
| status = [[Secretary of State (United Kingdom)|Secretary of State]]
| member_of = {{ubl|[[Cabinet of the United Kingdom|Cabinet]]|[[Privy Council of the United Kingdom|Privy Council]]}}
| reports_to = [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|The Prime Minister]]
| seat = [[Westminster]]
| nominator = The Prime Minister
| appointer = [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|The Monarch]]
| appointer_qualified = (on the advice of the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]])
| termlength = [[At His Majesty's pleasure]]
| formation = {{ubl|28 October 1951 (as Minister of Welsh Affairs)|18 October 1964: (as Secretary of State for Wales)}}
| salary = £159,038 per annum (2022)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Salaries of Members of His Majesty's Government – Financial Year 2022–23 |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1124173/2022-12-07-Ministerial-Salaries-22-23-table.pdf |date=15 December 2022}}</ref><br />(including £86,584 [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MP]] salary)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pay and expenses for MPs |url=https://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/members/pay-mps/ |access-date=15 December 2022 |website=parliament.uk}}</ref>
| website = {{URL|https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/wales-office }}
| first = [[David Maxwell Fyfe]] (as Minister of Welsh Affairs)
}}
{{Politics of Wales}}

The '''secretary of state for Wales''' ({{langx|cy|ysgrifennydd gwladol Cymru}}), also referred to as the '''Welsh secretary''', is a [[Secretary of State (United Kingdom)|secretary of state]] in the [[Government of the United Kingdom]], with responsibility for the [[Wales Office]]. The incumbent is a member of the [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom]].

The officeholder works alongside the other Wales Office ministers. The corresponding [[shadow minister]] is the [[Shadow Secretary of State for Wales|shadow secretary of state for Wales]]. The position is currently held by [[Jo Stevens]] having been appointed by [[Keir Starmer]] in July 2024.

==Creation==
In the first half of the 20th century, a number of politicians had supported the creation of the post of Secretary of State for Wales as a step towards [[home rule]] for Wales.  A post of Minister of Welsh Affairs was created in 1951 under the [[Home Secretary|home secretary]] and was upgraded to [[minister of state]] level in 1954.

The [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] proposed the creation of a [[Welsh Office]] run by a Secretary of State for Wales in their manifesto for the [[1959 United Kingdom general election|1959 general election]]. When they came to power in 1964 this was soon put into effect.

The post of Secretary of State for Wales came into existence on 17 October 1964; the first incumbent was [[Jim Griffiths]], MP for [[Llanelli (UK Parliament constituency)|Llanelli]]. The position entailed responsibility for Wales, and expenditure on certain public services was delegated from [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Westminster]]. In April 1965 administration of Welsh affairs, which had previously been divided between a number of [[departments of the British Government|government department]]s, was united in a newly created [[Welsh Office]] with the secretary of state for Wales at its head, and the Welsh secretary became responsible for education and training, health, trade and industry, environment, transport and agriculture within Wales.

==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=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/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=https://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>
{{clear}}

==Ministers and secretaries of state==
'''Colour key'''<br/>
{{Legend2|{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}|[[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{Legend2|{{Party color|National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)}}|[[National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)|National Liberal]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{Legend2|{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}|[[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan=10 |

===Ministers of Welsh Affairs (1951–1964)===

|- style="height:1em"
! colspan=3 | Secretary of State
! colspan=2 | Term of office
! Political party
!Cabinet
! colspan=2 | Prime Minister

|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" | 
| [[File:David Maxwell Fyfe, Nuremberg, 1946 (Art. IWM ART LD 5863).jpg|60px]]
| width=200 | [[David Maxwell Fyfe, 1st Earl of Kilmuir|David Maxwell Fyfe]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Liverpool West Derby (UK Parliament constituency)|Liverpool West Derby]]}}<br/>{{Small|(also [[Home Secretary]])}}
| 28 October 1951
| 18 October 1954
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| [[Third Churchill ministry|Churchill III]]
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[Winston Churchill]]

|- style="height:1em"
! rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)}}" | 
| rowspan=2 | [[File:Gwilym Lloyd George cropped.png|60px]]
| rowspan=2 | [[Gwilym Lloyd George, 1st Viscount Tenby|Gwilym Lloyd George]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Newcastle upon Tyne North (UK Parliament constituency)|Newcastle North]]}}<br/>{{Small|(also [[Home Secretary]])}}
| rowspan=2 | 18 October 1954
| rowspan=2 | 13 January 1957
| rowspan=2 | [[National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)|Liberal & Conservative]]
| [[Third Churchill ministry|Churchill III]]
|-
| [[Eden ministry|Eden]] 
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Anthony Eden]]

|- style="height:1em"
! rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" | 
| rowspan=2 | [[File:Blank.png|60px]]
| rowspan=2 | [[Henry Brooke, Baron Brooke of Cumnor|Henry Brooke]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Hampstead (UK Parliament constituency)|Hampstead]]}}<br/>{{Small|(also [[Ministry of Housing and Local Government|Min. of Housing & Local Govt.]])}}
| rowspan=2 | 13 January 1957
| rowspan=2 | 9 October 1961
| rowspan=2 | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| [[First Macmillan ministry|Macmillan I]]
| rowspan=4 style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=4 |[[Harold Macmillan]]
|-
| [[Second Macmillan ministry|Macmillan II]]

|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{Party color|National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)}}" |
| [[File:Blank.png|60px]]
| [[Charles Hill, Baron Hill of Luton|Charles Hill]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Luton (UK Parliament constituency)|Luton]]}}<br/>{{Small|(also [[Ministry of Housing and Local Government|Min. of Housing & Local Govt.]])}}
| 9 October 1961
| [[Night of the Long Knives (1962)|13 July 1962]]
| [[National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)|National Liberal & Conservative]]
| [[Second Macmillan ministry|Macmillan II]]

|- style="height:1em"
! rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:Blank.png|60px]]
| rowspan=2 |[[Keith Joseph]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Leeds North East (UK Parliament constituency)|Leeds North East]]}}<br/>{{Small|(also [[Ministry of Housing and Local Government|Min. of Housing & Local Govt.]])}}
| rowspan=2 |[[Night of the Long Knives (1962)|13 July 1962]]
| rowspan=2 |16 October 1964
| rowspan=2 |[[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| [[Second Macmillan ministry|Macmillan II]]
|-
| [[Douglas-Home Ministry|Douglas-Home]]
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Alec Douglas-Home]]
|-
! colspan=10 |

===Secretaries of State for Wales (1964–present)===

|- style="height:1em"
! colspan=3 | Secretary of State
! colspan=2 |Term of office
! Political party
!Cabinet
! colspan=2 |Prime Minister

|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Blank.png|60px]]
| [[Jim Griffiths]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Llanelli (UK Parliament constituency)|Llanelli]]}}
| 18 October 1964
| 5 April 1966
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| [[First Wilson ministry|Wilson I]]
| rowspan=3 style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=3 |[[Harold Wilson]]

|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Blank.png|60px]]
| [[Cledwyn Hughes]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Anglesey (UK Parliament constituency)|Anglesey]]}}
| 5 April 1966
| 5 April 1968
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| [[Second Wilson ministry|Wilson II]]

|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Blank.png|60px]]
| [[George Thomas, 1st Viscount Tonypandy|George Thomas]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Cardiff West (UK Parliament constituency)|Cardiff West]]}}
| 5 April 1968
| 20 June 1970
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| [[Second Wilson ministry|Wilson II]]

|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Blank.png|60px]]
| [[Peter Thomas, Baron Thomas of Gwydir|Peter Thomas]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Hendon South (UK Parliament constituency)|Hendon South]]}}
| 20 June 1970
| 5 March 1974
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| [[Heath ministry|Heath]] 
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Edward Heath]]

|- style="height:1em"
! rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 |[[File:Official portrait of Lord Morris of Aberavon crop 2.jpg|60px]]
| rowspan=2 |[[John Morris, Baron Morris of Aberavon|John Morris]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Aberavon (UK Parliament constituency)|Aberavon]]}}
| rowspan=2 |5 March 1974
| rowspan=2 |4 May 1979
| rowspan=2 |[[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| [[Third Wilson ministry|Wilson III]]
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Harold Wilson]]
|-
| [[Callaghan ministry|Callaghan]]
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[James Callaghan]]

|- style="height:1em"
! rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:Blank.png|60px]]
| rowspan=2 | [[Nicholas Edwards, Baron Crickhowell|Nicholas Edwards]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Pembrokeshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Pembrokeshire]]}}
| rowspan=2 | 4 May 1979
| rowspan=2 | 13 June 1987
| rowspan=3 | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| [[First Thatcher ministry|Thatcher I]]
| rowspan=4 style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=4 |[[Margaret Thatcher]]
|-
| [[Second Thatcher ministry|Thatcher II]]

|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Blank.png|60px]]
| [[Peter Walker, Baron Walker of Worcester|Peter Walker]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Worcester (UK Parliament constituency)|Worcester]]}}
| 13 June 1987
| 4 May 1990
| [[Third Thatcher ministry|Thatcher III]]

|- style="height:1em"
! rowspan=3 style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=3 | [[File:Lord Hunt of Wirral, 2023.jpg|60px]]
| rowspan=3 | [[David Hunt, Baron Hunt of Wirral|David Hunt]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Wirral West (UK Parliament constituency)|Wirral West]]}}
| rowspan=3 | 4 May 1990
| rowspan=3 | 27 May 1993
| rowspan=3 | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| [[Third Thatcher ministry|Thatcher III]]
|-
| [[First Major ministry|Major I]]
| rowspan=5 style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=5 |[[John Major]]
|-
| [[Second Major ministry|Major II]]
|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Official portrait of Rt Hon John Redwood MP crop 2.jpg|60px]]
| [[John Redwood]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Wokingham (UK Parliament constituency)|Wokingham]]}}
| 27 May 1993
| 26 June 1995<ref group="fn">Redwood resigned to stand in the [[1995 Conservative Party leadership election|1995 Conservative leadership election]]. During the election, Hunt acted as Secretary of State.</ref>
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| [[Second Major ministry|Major II]]

|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Lord Hunt of Wirral, 2023.jpg|60px]]
| [[David Hunt, Baron Hunt of Wirral|David Hunt]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Wirral West (UK Parliament constituency)|Wirral West]]}}<br/>{{Small|(''acting'')}}
| 26 June 1995
| 5 July 1995
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| [[Second Major ministry|Major II]]

|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:William Hague 2010 cropped.jpg|60px]]
| [[William Hague]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Richmond (Yorks) (UK Parliament constituency)|Richmond (Yorks)]]}}
| 5 July 1995
| 2 May 1997
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| [[Second Major ministry|Major II]]

|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Rondavies1998 (cropped).jpg|60px]]
| [[Ron Davies (Welsh politician)|Ron Davies]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Caerphilly (UK Parliament constituency)|Caerphilly]]}}
| 2 May 1997
| 27 October 1998<ref group="fn">Resigned following what he described as a [[Ron Davies (Welsh politician)#"Moment of Madness" and resignation|"moment of madness"]] on [[Clapham Common]].</ref>
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| [[First Blair ministry|Blair I]]
| rowspan=6 style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=6 |[[Tony Blair]]

|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Alun Michael election infobox.png|60px]]
| [[Alun Michael]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Cardiff South and Penarth (UK Parliament constituency)|Cardiff South and Penarth]]}}
| 27 October 1998
| 28 July 1999<ref group="fn">Following implementation of the [[Government of Wales Act 1998]], and the [[1999 National Assembly for Wales election|1999 Assembly election]], Michael held office as inaugural [[First Minister of Wales|First Secretary for Wales]] from 12 May 1999.</ref>
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| [[First Blair ministry|Blair I]]

|- style="height:1em"
! rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:Official portrait of Lord Murphy of Torfaen 2020 crop 2.jpg|60px]]
| rowspan=2 | [[Paul Murphy, Baron Murphy of Torfaen|Paul Murphy]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Torfaen (UK Parliament constituency)|Torfaen]]}}
| rowspan=2 | 28 July 1999
| rowspan=2 | 24 October 2002
| rowspan=2 | [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| [[First Blair ministry|Blair I]]
|-
| [[Second Blair ministry|Blair II]]

|- style="height:1em"
! rowspan=3 style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=3 |[[File:Official portrait of Lord Hain crop 2, 2019.jpg|60px]]
| rowspan=3 |[[Peter Hain]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Neath (UK Parliament constituency)|Neath]]}}<br/>{{Small|(also [[Leader of the House of Commons|Ldr. of the Commons]] 2003–05<br/>[[Secretary of State for Northern Ireland|Northern Ireland Sec.]] 2005–07<br/>[[Secretary of State for Work and Pensions|Work & Pensions Sec.]] 2007–08)}}
| rowspan=3 |24 October 2002
| rowspan=3 |24 January 2008
| rowspan=3 |[[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| [[Second Blair ministry|Blair II]]
|-
| [[Third Blair ministry|Blair III]]
|-
| [[Brown ministry|Brown]]
| rowspan=3 style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=3 |[[Gordon Brown]]

|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Official portrait of Lord Murphy of Torfaen 2020 crop 2.jpg|60px]]
| [[Paul Murphy, Baron Murphy of Torfaen|Paul Murphy]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Torfaen (UK Parliament constituency)|Torfaen]]}}
| 24 January 2008
| 5 June 2009
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| [[Brown ministry|Brown]]

|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Official portrait of Lord Hain crop 2, 2019.jpg|60px]]
| [[Peter Hain]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Neath (UK Parliament constituency)|Neath]]}}
| 5 June 2009
| 11 May 2010
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| [[Brown ministry|Brown]]

|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Official portrait of Rt Hon Dame Cheryl Gillan MP crop 2.jpg|60px]]
| [[Cheryl Gillan]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Chesham and Amersham (UK Parliament constituency)|Chesham and Amersham]]}}
| 11 May 2010
| [[2012 British cabinet reshuffle|4 September 2012]]
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| [[Cameron–Clegg coalition|Coalition]]
| rowspan=5 style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=5 | [[David Cameron]]

|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Official portrait of Rt Hon David Jones MP crop 2.jpg|60px]]
| [[David Jones (MP for Clwyd West)|David Jones]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Clwyd West (UK Parliament constituency)|Clwyd West]]}}
| [[2012 British cabinet reshuffle|4 September 2012]]
| [[2014 British cabinet reshuffle|14 July 2014]]
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| [[Cameron–Clegg coalition|Coalition]]

|- style="height:1em"
! rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:Official portrait of Rt Hon Stephen Crabb MP crop 2.jpg|60px]]
| rowspan=2 | [[Stephen Crabb]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Preseli Pembrokeshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Preseli Pembrokeshire]]}}
| rowspan=2 | [[2014 British cabinet reshuffle|15 July 2014]]
| rowspan=2 | [[Second Cameron ministry#Changes|19 March 2016]]
| rowspan=2 | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| [[Cameron–Clegg coalition|Coalition]]
|-
| [[Second Cameron ministry|Cameron II]]

|- style="height:1em"
! rowspan=4 style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=4 |[[File:Official portrait of Rt Hon Alun Cairns MP crop 2.jpg|60px]]
| rowspan=4 |[[Alun Cairns]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Vale of Glamorgan (UK Parliament constituency)|Vale of Glamorgan]]}}
| rowspan=4 |[[Second Cameron ministry#Changes|19 March 2016]]
| rowspan=4 |[[First Johnson ministry#Changes|6 November 2019]]
| rowspan=4 |[[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| [[Second Cameron ministry|Cameron II]]
|-
| [[First May ministry|May I]]
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[Theresa May]]
|-
| [[Second May ministry|May II]]
|-
| [[First Johnson ministry|Johnson I]]
| rowspan=4 style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=4 |[[Boris Johnson]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:Official portrait of Simon Hart crop 2.jpg|60px]]
| rowspan=2 | [[Simon Hart]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire]]}}
| rowspan=2 | 16 December 2019<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-50809649|title=Cabinet reshuffle: Simon Hart appointed new Welsh secretary|work=BBC News|date=16 December 2019|access-date=17 December 2019}}</ref>
| rowspan=2 | [[July 2022 British cabinet reshuffle|6 July 2022]]
| rowspan=2 | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| [[First Johnson ministry|Johnson I]]
|-
| [[Second Johnson ministry|Johnson II]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:Official portrait of Rt Hon Robert Buckland MP crop 2.jpg|60px]]
| rowspan=2 | [[Robert Buckland]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[South Swindon (UK Parliament constituency)|South Swindon]]}}
| rowspan=2 | [[July 2022 British cabinet reshuffle|7 July 2022]]
| rowspan=2 | 25 October 2022
| rowspan=2 | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| [[Second Johnson ministry|Johnson II]]
|-
| [[Truss ministry|Truss]]
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Liz Truss]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Official portrait of David T C Davies MP crop 2.jpg|60px]]
| [[David TC Davies]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Monmouth (UK Parliament constituency)|Monmouth ]]}}
| 25 October 2022
| 5 July 2024
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| [[Sunak ministry|Sunak]]
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Rishi Sunak]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Official portrait of Jo Stevens MP crop 2, 2024.jpg|60px]]
| [[Jo Stevens]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Cardiff East (UK Parliament constituency)|Cardiff East]]}}
| 5 July 2024
| ''Incumbent''
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| [[Starmer ministry|Starmer]]
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Keir Starmer]]
|}

== Timeline ==
{{#tag:timeline|ImageSize=width:1100 height:auto barincrement:13
TimeAxis   = orientation:horizontal
AlignBars  = late
PlotArea   = width:87% left:15 top:10 bottom:80
Legend     = columns:1 left:120 top:50 columnwidth:175

Define $today = {{#time:d/m/Y}}

DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
Period     = from:01/01/1950 till:31/12/{{#time:Y|+1 year}}
TimeAxis   = orientation:horizontal

Colors     =
  id:conservative value:rgb(0,0.53,0.86)      legend: Conservative_and_Unionist_Party
  id:natliberal   value:rgb(0,0.83,0.90)      legend: National_Liberal_Party
  id:labour       value:rgb(0.86,0.08,0.18)   legend: Labour_Party
  id:libdem       value:rgb(0.98,0.651,0.102) legend: Liberal_Democrats
  id:independent  value:rgb(0.6,0.6,0.6)      legend: Independent_or_no_party
  id:liteline     value:rgb(0.9,0.9,0.9)
  id:line         value:rgb(0.8,0.8,0.8)

ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line     unit:year increment:10 start:1950
ScaleMinor = gridcolor:liteline unit:year increment:2  start:1950

TextData =
  pos:(20,55) textcolor:black fontsize:M
  text:"Political parties:"

BarData = 
 bar:Fyfe
 bar:Lloyd_George
 bar:Brooke
 bar:Hill
 bar:Joseph
 bar:Griffiths
 bar:Hughes
 bar:GThomas
 bar:PThomas
 bar:Morris
 bar:Edwards
 bar:Walker
 bar:Hunt
 bar:Redwood
 bar:Hague
 bar:Davis
 bar:Michael
 bar:Murphy
 bar:Hain
 bar:Gillan
 bar:Jones
 bar:Crabb
 bar:Cairns
 bar:Hart
 bar:Buckland
 bar:Davies
 bar:Stevens

PlotData=
  width:5 align:left fontsize:S shift:(5,-4) anchor:till

 bar:Fyfe
  from: 28/10/1951 till: 18/10/1954 color:Conservative text:"[[David Maxwell Fyfe]]"
 bar:Lloyd_George
  from: 18/10/1954 till: 13/01/1957 color:NatLiberal   text:"[[Gwilym Lloyd George]]"
 bar:Brooke
  from: 13/01/1957 till: 09/10/1961 color:Conservative text:"[[Henry Brooke, Baron Brooke of Cumnor|Henry Brooke]]"
 bar:Hill
  from: 09/10/1961 till: 13/07/1962 color:NatLiberal   text:"[[Charles Hill, Baron Hill of Luton|Charles Hill]]"
 bar:Joseph
  from: 13/07/1962 till: 16/10/1964 color:Conservative text:"[[Keith Joseph]]"
 bar:Griffiths
  from: 18/10/1964 till: 05/04/1966 color:Labour       text:"[[Jim Griffiths]]"
 bar:Hughes
  from: 05/04/1966 till: 05/04/1968 color:Labour       text:"[[Cledwyn Hughes]]"
 bar:GThomas
  from: 05/04/1968 till: 20/06/1970 color:Labour       text:"[[George Thomas, 1st Viscount Tonypandy|George Thomas]]"
 bar:PThomas
  from: 20/06/1970 till: 05/03/1974 color:Conservative text:"[[Peter Thomas, Baron Thomas of Gwydir|Peter Thomas]]"
 bar:Morris
  from: 05/03/1974 till: 04/05/1979 color:Labour       text:"[[John Morris, Baron Morris of Aberavon|John Morris]]"
 bar:Edwards
  from: 04/05/1979 till: 13/06/1987 color:Conservative text:"[[Nicholas Edwards]]"
 bar:Walker
  from: 13/06/1987 till: 04/05/1990 color:Conservative text:"[[Peter Walker, Baron Walker of Worcester|Peter Walker]]"
 bar:Hunt
  from: 04/05/1990 till: 27/05/1993 color:Conservative
  from: 26/06/1995 till: 05/07/1995 color:Conservative text:"[[David Hunt, Baron Hunt of Wirral|David Hunt]]"
 bar:Redwood
  from: 27/05/1993 till: 26/06/1995 color:Conservative text:"[[John Redwood]]"
 bar:Hague
  from: 05/07/1995 till: 02/05/1997 color:Conservative text:"[[William Hague]]"
 bar:Davis
  from: 02/05/1997 till: 27/10/1998 color:Labour       text:"[[Ron Davies (Welsh politician)|Ron Davies]]"
 bar:Michael
  from: 27/10/1998 till: 28/07/1999 color:Labour       text:"[[Alun Michael]]"
 bar:Murphy
  from: 28/07/1999 till: 24/10/2002 color:Labour
  from: 24/01/2008 till: 05/06/2009 color:Labour       text:"[[Paul Murphy, Baron Murphy of Torfaen|Paul Murphy]]"
 bar:Hain
  from: 24/10/2002 till: 24/01/2008 color:Labour
  from: 05/06/2009 till: 11/05/2010 color:Labour       text:"[[Peter Hain]]"
 bar:Gillan
  from: 11/10/2010 till: 04/09/2012 color:Conservative text:"[[Cheryl Gillan]]"
 bar:Jones
  from: 04/09/2012 till: 14/07/2014 color:Conservative text:"[[David Jones (Clwyd West MP)|David Jones]]"
 bar:Crabb
  from: 15/07/2014 till: 19/03/2016 color:Conservative text:"[[Stephen Crabb]]"
 bar:Cairns
  from: 19/03/2016 till: 06/11/2019 color:Conservative text:"[[Alun Cairns]]"
 bar:Hart
  from: 16/12/2019 till: 06/07/2022 color:Conservative text:"[[Simon Hart]]"
 bar:Buckland
  from: 07/07/2022 till: 25/10/2022 color:Conservative text:"[[Robert Buckland]]"
 bar:Davies
  from: 25/10/2022 till: 05/07/2024 color:Conservative text:"[[David TC Davies]]"
 bar:Stevens
  from: 05/07/2024 till: $today     color:Labour text:"[[Jo Stevens]]"
}}

==Note==
{{Reflist|group="fn"}}

==See also==
* [[First Minister for Wales]]
* [[Secretary of State for Northern Ireland]]
* [[Secretary of State for Scotland]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.caorc.org/fellowships/mellon/pubs/Richova.pdf Labour Party in Wales – covers the history of the post]
*[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/6248656.stm Hain promoted in Brown's cabinet], BBC News Online, 28 June 2007
*[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/6248798.stm Hain takes work and pensions job], BBC News Online, 28 June 2007

{{Secretaries of State for Wales}}
{{Wales Office}}
{{Cabinet positions in the United Kingdom}}{{Welsh devolution}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Secretary of State For Wales}}
[[Category:Politics of Wales]]
[[Category:Lists of government ministers of the United Kingdom|Wales]]
[[Category:Government of Wales]]
[[Category:Secretaries of state for Wales| ]]
[[Category:Ministerial offices in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:1964 establishments in the United Kingdom]]