THE WELSH PETER MANDELSON?

Having read some the commentariat’s response to Carwyn Jones’ new cabinet, I am surprised how much of the focus has been on Edwina Hart’s position in the photoshoot rather than what this will do for Wales.

Certainly, one of the issues that seems to have passed many people by is the change in the Deputy Ministers’ portfolios.

Under the previous Cabinet, it was generally agreed that Leighton Andrews did more than expected with his position as Deputy Minister for Regeneration, driving forward key projects on the ground that had made a tangible difference to local economies and generally overshadowing Ieuan Wyn Jones.

Indeed, the Cardiff Bay rumour mill seems to suggest that whilst civil servants in DET were generally ambivalent towards the Plaid’s leader authority, they would all chorus together "how high" when asked to jump by Mr Andrews (which happened frequently).

Many do not like Mr Andrews' abrasive and confrontational style and whilst I have been subject to it once in a while, this does not detract from the fact that his political skills are probably are second to none in Wales.

The fact that he has managed to manoevre himself into the position of effectively being the 'kingmaker' in the Welsh Labour Party speaks volumes.

Under the One Wales agreement, the economic development portfolio was out of Mr Andrews’ reach given that this was firmly in the hands of the Deputy First Minister. However, it is clear that this is the one portfolio in which Mr Andrews believes he has the necessary experience and expertise to make a difference.

Whilst some may feel that education is a poor second, it must be remembered that the new First Minister’s primary economic policy announced during the leadership campaign was to:

“Use the larger companies in Wales as a basis for attracting more business and more investment, using sector-based clusters, such as the opto-electronics sector around St Asaph and co-operating with universities on research and development and with colleges on skills and training.”

That seems to give an unequivocal indication that economic policy in Wales, under this new administration will not be driven by the Department for Economy and Transport, but by the education portfolio under which universities and skills currently fall.

To support this development, Lesley Griffiths has been appointed to take Mr Andrews' role within the Cabinet. Interestingly, she will not be replacing him as Deputy Minister for Regeneration as this role has now been abolished.

Instead, she will be undertaking a new dual role straddling both education and economic development. Indeed, the job of Deputy minister for skills, innovation and science will be key in driving forward the knowledge-based agenda in Wales highlighted by the new First Minister.

The political question is whether Ms Griffiths will be answerable to the Minister for Economic Development or the Minister for Education?

I think we all know the answer to that and it is clear that through this arrangement, Mr Andrews will effectively be driving forward the key portfolio that will ensure (or not), if Wales merges strongly out of the recession.

Of course, having political power is not the same as having the right strategy which will actually make a difference - the fact that Wales still languishes at the bottom of the UK economic league table demonstrates that despite hundreds of millions of pounds of spending by WAG on trying to get universities and industry to work together during the last decade, very little tangible difference has been made to the economy.

Whether this appointment now means that Leighton Andrews has followed Peter Mandelson and become de facto First Secretary is clearly up to others with a far greater political awareness than myself to decide.

However, one thing is for sure - his appointment will ensure that the next eighteen months in Cardiff Bay will not be boring.