# Third Jones government

The third Jones government was a Labour–Liberal Democrat coalition government formed after the 2016 general election in Wales. On 14 October 2016, Dafydd Elis-Thomas left Plaid Cymru in order to support the coalition government and to give them a ruling majority; he later sat as an independent in the Senedd. The government was replaced by the Drakeford government on 13 December 2018, following the resignation of Carwyn Jones as First Minister the previous day.

## Appointment

Following a vote in the Assembly to nominate an individual to become First Minister on 11 May 2016 both Jones and Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood tied on 29 votes each and another vote was automatically scheduled for the following week.
2016 Nomination of First Minister :
| Date: | Date: | 11 May 2016 |
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes |
| | Carwyn Jones (Labour) | 29 / 58 |
| | Leanne Wood (Plaid Cymru) | 29 / 58 |
| | Abstentions | 0 / 56 |
| Source: Senedd |||
Under the Government of Wales Act 2006, if a First Minister is not elected within 28 days of the Assembly elections, those elections would need to be repeated.
Following negotiations with the Plaid Cymru leader, a second vote on 18 May saw Jones re-elected unopposed as First Minister, enabling him to begin the process of forming a minority government. He was sworn in as First Minister on 19 May, after which he said that he was "delighted to introduce the team who will be taking Wales forward over the next five years". Among his appointments was the former Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams, who became Minister for Education.

## Cabinet

| Office | Name | Term (in this govt) | Party |
| First Minister | Rt. Hon Carwyn Jones AM | 2016–18 | Labour |
| Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure (2016–17) Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport (2017–18) | Ken Skates AM | 2016–18 | Labour |
| Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport (2016–17) Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services (2017–18) | Vaughan Gething AM | 2016–18 | Labour |
| Cabinet Secretary for Education | Kirsty Williams AM | 2016–18 | Liberal Democrats |
| Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children (2016–17) Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services (2017–18) | Carl Sargeant AM | 2016–17 | Labour |
| Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children (2016–17) Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services (2017–18) | Alun Davies AM | 2017–18 | Labour |
| Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government (2016–17) Cabinet Secretary for Finance (2017–18) | Mark Drakeford AM | 2016–18 | Labour |
| Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs (2016–17) Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs (2017–18) | Lesley Griffiths AM | 2016–18 | Labour |
| Leader of the House and Chief Whip | Jane Hutt AM | 2016–17 | Labour |
| Leader of the House and Chief Whip | Julie James AM | 2017–18 | Labour |

## Ministers

| Office | Name | Term | Party |
| Minister for Skills and Science | Julie James AM | 2016–17 | Labour |
| Minister for Lifelong Learning and Welsh Language | Alun Davies AM | 2016–17 | Labour |
| Minister for Lifelong Learning and Welsh Language | Rt. Hon Eluned Morgan AM | 2017–2018 | Labour |
| Minister for Social Services and Public Health (2016–17) Minister for Children and Social Care (2017–) | Rebecca Evans AM | 2016–17 | Labour |
| Minister for Social Services and Public Health (2016–17) Minister for Children and Social Care (2017–) | Huw Irranca-Davies AM | 2017–18 | Labour |
| Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport | Rt. Hon Dafydd Elis-Thomas AM | 2017–18 | Independent |
| Minister for Housing and Regeneration | Rebecca Evans AM | 2017–18 | Labour |
| Minister for the Environment | Hannah Blythyn AM | 2017–18 | Labour |

## Counsel General

| Name | Name | Term | Party | Image |
| | Mick Antoniw AM | 2016–17 | Labour | |
| | Jeremy Miles AM | 2017–18 | Labour | |