Wales’ First Minister Mark Drakeford has announced he will stand down as Welsh Labour leader.

A new party leader will be elected before Easter, Mr Drakeford said in a statement.

He said he will remain as first minister until his successor is picked by his party.

Mr Drakeford was first elected to the role in 2018, succeeding former FM Carwyn Jones, before being elected for a second term in 2021.

In a resignation statement Mr Drakeford said: "I have today formally notified the chair of the Welsh executive committee of my intention to stand down as Leader of Welsh Labour in March of next year.

"When I stood for the leadership of the Labour Party in Wales, I said that if I were to be elected, I would aim to serve for five years and exactly five years have passed to the day since I was confirmed as First Minister in 2018."

"Now nominations for my successor as Welsh Labour leader will open shortly and I am confident that the process can be concluded by the end of the spring term.

"And that will enable the name of the winner of that contest to be put to the Sennedd before the Easter recess.”

The leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Jane Dodds MS has paid tribute to the First Minister Mark Drakeford, following his announcement that he will be retiring from the role.

“I’d like to personally thank the First Minister for his leadership and dedication to Wales throughout his five years in the role,” she said.

“Whether you disagree or not with the First Minister and his government’s decisions, it would be untrue to say that Mark has lacked any passion for his job.

“Throughout his time in office, he was provided consistent and clear leadership that has steered this country through some difficult times and for that we owe him a debt of gratitude.

“On a personal level, Mark has shown nothing but kindness and support to me throughout my time in the Senedd and for that I will forever be grateful.

“I wish him all the very best in his future endeavours.

“My message to the new First Minister is a simple one, set a new vision for Wales.

“We as a nation are facing multiple crises, in our NHS, our schools, our economy and with the cost of living.

“We desperately need fresh ideas and a real drive to radically change the future of our country for the better,” she added.

Responding to Mark Drakeford’s announcement, Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth MS said: “As he announces his departure I recognise and pay tribute to the First Minister’s dedication to public life and in particular the tone of his leadership through the pandemic.

“We have been able to build a constructive relationship in delivering transformative policies through the Co-Operation agreement between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru. Be it with Mark Drakeford or his successor, our priority has been and will be to deliver for Wales. That will continue to be our guiding principle.

“When he took office, the First Minister spoke of the opportunities that came with the position of Leading the Welsh Government. Regrettably, those opportunities have been squandered, resulting in longer waiting lists, falling educational standards and a stagnant economy.

“The First Minister told me in the Senedd yesterday that the question of his successor was “nothing to do” with me. But who can become First Minister through an internal Labour party election matters to all of us.

“However, whoever is in charge of Labour in Wales, there’s no taking away from the fact that they take their orders from Keir Starmer, who has a blind spot to Wales’ and offers nothing to address our needs and aspirations.

“Unlike other parties, Plaid Cymru will always prioritise fairness and ambition for Wales.