| Cabinet Name: | Wood Shadow Cabinet |
| Cabinet Type: | Shadow Cabinet |
| Jurisdiction: | Wales |
| Flag Border: | true |
| Incumbent: | May 2016 - October 2016 |
| Government Head Title: | Leader of the Opposition and Shadow First Minister |
| Government Head: | Leanne Wood |
| State Head Title: | Monarch |
| State Head: | Elizabeth II |
| Legislature Status: | Official Opposition (2016) |
| Election: | 2016 assembly election |
| Legislature Term: | 5th National Assembly for Wales |
| Previous: | First Shadow Cabinet of Andrew RT Davies |
| Successor: | Second Shadow Cabinet of Andrew RT Davies |
Leanne Wood became Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly for Wales after Plaid Cymru became the largest party not in government after the 2016 National Assembly for Wales election.[1] 12 Plaid Cymru AMs were elected, as opposed to 11 Welsh Conservative AMs.[2]
Plaid Cymru had not formed the official opposition since the Shadow Cabinet of Ieuan Wyn Jones, ending in 2007, having been in government from 2007-2011 and the third largest party from 2011-2016.[3] [4] Wood had served as leader of Plaid Cymru since 2012, and appointed her Shadow Cabinet in May 2016.[5]
In October 2016, Dafydd Elis-Thomas left Plaid Cymru, moving to sit as an independent AM.[6] This tied Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Conservatives on 11 seats, meaning no official opposition was formed. In April 2017, Mark Reckless joined the Welsh Conservative group in the Senedd,[7] meaning the Welsh Conservatives now formed the official opposition, leading Andrew RT Davies to form his Second Shadow Cabinet.
On the 25 May 2016, Leanne Wood announced her Shadow Cabinet. She appointed Adam Price as Shadow Minister for Business, Economy and Finance, Llyr Gruffydd to the role of Shadow Minister for Education, Rhun ap Iorwerth to the role of Shadow Minister for Health and Dafydd Elis-Thomas as Government Liason and also responsbility for the then in development Wales Bill. She also appointed Simon Thomas to the position of Shadow Minister for Energy, Bethan Sayed in the role of Shadow Minister for Housing, Siân Gwenllian as Shadow Minister for Local Government, Neil McEvoy as Shadow Minister for Sport and Tourism, Dai Lloyd as Plaid Cymru Assembly Group Chair and Shadow Minister for Culture and Infrastructure, and Steffan Lewis as Shadow Minister for External Affairs, non-devolved matters, police, criminal justice and social protection. Wood's Shadow cabinet did not change before it concluded in October 2016.
| Portfolio | Shadow Minister | Constituency | Term | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leader of the Opposition Leader of Plaid Cymru | Leanne Wood AM | Rhondda | May 2016 - October 2016 | ||
| Shadow Minister for Business, Economy and Finance | Adam Price AM | Carmarthen East and Dinefwr | May 2016 - October 2016 | ||
| Shadow Minister for Education | Llyr Gruffydd AM | North Wales | May 2016 - October 2016 | ||
| Shadow Minister for Health | Rhun ap Iorwerth AM | Ynys Môn | May 2016 - October 2016 | ||
| Shadow Minister for Energy | Simon Thomas AM | Mid and West Wales | May 2016 - October 2016 | ||
| Shadow Minister for Housing | Bethan Sayed AM | South Wales West | May 2016 - October 2016 | ||
| Government Liaison Responsibility for the Wales Bill | Dafydd Elis-Thomas AM | Dwyfor Meirionnydd | May 2016 - October 2016 | ||
| Shadow Minister for Local Government | Siân Gwenllian AM | Arfon | May 2016 - October 2016 | ||
| Shadow Minister for Sport and Tourism | Neil McEvoy AM | South Wales Central | May 2016 - October 2016 | ||
| Plaid Cymru Welsh Assembly Group Chair Shadow Minister for Culture and Infrastructure | Dai Lloyd AM | South Wales West | May 2016 - October 2016 | ||
| Shadow Minister for External Affairs, non-devolved matters, police, criminal justice and social protection | Steffan Lewis AM | South Wales East | May 2016 - October 2016 | ||