Prime Minister Andy Burnham promoted Aberafan Maesteg MP Stephen Kinnock to Welsh secretary on Monday, July 20, 2026.
Kinnock succeeds Cardiff East MP Jo Stevens in his first cabinet position.
>>> US Imposes 50% Tariffs on Canadian Products, Effective August 19
Former Labour leader Lord Neil Kinnock praised his son's promotion.
The 84-year-old said Stephen earned the appointment through "a lifetime of action and service" and described the news as "a delight."
Recalling a late-night phone call after the announcement, Lord Kinnock said his son was "thrilled to bits."
He added, "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."
Stephen Kinnock welcomed his cabinet appointment, calling it the "privilege of my life."
He pledged to advocate for local interests and deliver for communities, aiming to build "a strong Wales within a strong United Kingdom."
Outgoing Secretary Defends Record
Outgoing Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens faced past criticism from some Welsh Labour politicians who described her as "anti-devolution" over her stance on policing powers.
Stevens defended her record, citing historic public investment and major infrastructure commitments.
"Wales has seen the biggest budget settlement for our public services in the history of devolution, our steel industry saved and transformed for the future, the largest public investment in Wales in history through new nuclear at Wylfa, a generational commitment of £14bn for our Welsh railways, the best local growth fund settlement of any of the UK nations and so much more," Stevens said.
