Former Labour leader Lord Neil Kinnock is “thrilled to bits” that his son Stephen Kinnock has been promoted to the cabinet as Secretary of State for Wales, appointed on Monday by the new prime minister, Andy Burnham.
Stephen Kinnock, the son of Lord Kinnock and the late former MEP Glenys Kinnock, was a junior health minister in the UK Labour government before replacing Cardiff East MP Jo Stevens in the role.
“Stephen Kinnock appointed Welsh secretary by new PM Andy Burnham; father Lord Kinnock says 'thrilled to bits'.”
“We had our midnight conversation, not the first in our lives it has to be said, and usually that was because he came home late,” Lord Kinnock said. “He earned it, both with a lifetime of action and service and in the last two years as the Minister of State for Health. Now as Secretary of State he’ll be in a position to directly influence UK affairs in a way that benefits our country.”
The promotion comes amid a reshuffle by Burnham, who became prime minister on Monday. Jo Stevens, who held the Welsh secretary role since Labour came to power in 2024, described it as “a privilege and an honour”. She highlighted achievements under her tenure: the biggest budget settlement for public services in the history of devolution, the saving and transformation of the steel industry, the largest public investment in Wales through new nuclear at Wylfa, a £14bn commitment for Welsh railways, and the best local growth fund settlement of any UK nation.
Stevens also praised former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, saying he “leaves with the country in a much better place than he found it”. However, she faced criticism from some Welsh Labour politicians for not supporting more powers for the Welsh government, with one former minister describing her as “anti-devolution”.
First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth said the new Welsh secretary must be “someone who respects and wants to see devolution work”. He said he had not yet spoken to Burnham but plans were in place for a conversation.
Lord Kinnock, who led the Labour Party from 1983 to 1992, expressed confidence his son would “press the case for Welsh interests” in his new cabinet role.