# First Frontbench Team of Mike German

Mike German, the leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrat Group in the National Assembly for Wales, formed his frontbench team of party spokespeople on 13 May 1999. German had led his party into the 1999 National Assembly for Wales election after being elected as leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrat Group in 1998. This was his first frontbench team in the assembly, with it dissolving after the party entered government in October 2000. He formed a second frontbench team after his party returned to opposition in May 2003.
German's first frontbench served through the resignation of First Secretary Alun Michael and the fall of his Labour administration. German negotiated a coalition deal with Michael's successor Rhodri Morgan in the months following his ascension to the premiership. After gaining the approval of their respective parties, German's Liberal Democrats formed a coalition government with Morgan's Labour Party, with German becoming the first deputy first minister of Wales. The coalition government was dissolved by Morgan after Labour made gains in the 2003 National Assembly for Wales election, with German's party returning to opposition and German forming a new frontbench team in May.

## History

German formed his frontbench team of party spokespeople on 13 May 1998, on the same day as Rod Richards's Welsh Conservatives. All six assembly members (AMs) from the Welsh Liberal Democrat Group were given frontbench roles, including German's' leadership rival Christine Humphreys, who became the group's spokesperson for education and training. German appointed himself as the group's spokesperson for economic development and European affairs. Other appointments included Jenny Randerson as its chief whip and spokesperson for education and childcare, Kirsty Williams as spokesperson for health and social services, Peter Black as spokesperson for environment, local government and planning, and Mick Bates as spokesperson for agriculture and rural economy.
On the formation of his frontbench team, German criticised Alun Michael's decision to appoint two education secretaries to his cabinet, stating that the division of responsibility for pre-16 and post-16 education policy between two different ministerial posts was "ridiculous", and that instead "we should be looking to provide education and training from cradle to work to retirement". From October to February 2000, Michael's administration faced a political crisis which resulted in his resignation after the opposition parties, including the Liberal Democrats, worked together to pass a motion of no confidence in his premiership. Rhodri Morgan was elected unopposed to succeed him as Labour leader and he was nominated by the assembly as the new first secretary shortly afterwards.
In the months that followed Morgan's ascension to the premiership, German engaged in negotiations with him to form a coalition between Labour and the Liberal Democrats. After the coalition was approved by their respective parties, a new coalition government between the parties was formed on 16 October 2000, with German becoming the first deputy first minister of Wales under Morgan, whose office was renamed to first minister. The Liberal Democrats left opposition and remained in government until May 2003, when Morgan ended the coalition after his party made gains in the 2003 National Assembly for Wales election. The Liberal Democrats returned to opposition with German forming a second frontbench team as Morgan formed his new cabinet in May.

## Members

| Portfolio | Spokesperson | Constituency | Term |
| Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrat Group | Mike German AM | South Wales East | May 1999–December 2008 |
| Spokesperson for Economic Development and European Affairs | Mike German AM | South Wales East | May 1999–October 2000 |
| Welsh Liberal Democrat Group Chief Whip Spokesperson for Education and Childcare | Jenny Randerson AM | Cardiff Central | May 1999–October 2000 |
| Spokesperson for Education and Training | Christine Humphreys AM | North Wales | May 1999–October 2000 |
| Spokesperson for Health and Social Services | Kirsty Williams AM | Brecon and Radnorshire | May 1999–October 2000 |
| Spokesperson for Environment, Local Government and Planning | Peter Black AM | South Wales West | May 1999–October 2000 |
| Spokesperson for Agriculture and Rural Economy | Mick Bates AM | Montgomeryshire | May 1999–October 2000 |