Drakeford resigns: Jeremy Miles joins leadership racePublished2 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Jeremy Miles, like Vaughan Gething, has long been seen as a potential future Welsh Labour leaderBy David DeansBBC Wales political reporterWales’ education minister has secured enough backers on Friday to earn a place in the Welsh Labour leadership race.Three more Senedd members have declared their support for Jeremy Miles, enough for him to put his name forward for the ballot of party members, but he is yet to confirm he will stand.His rival, Vaughan Gething, announced he was standing on Thursday.The contest was triggered after Mark Drakeford announced he will quit.MSs can join the contest if they can get the backing of five of their colleagues in the Welsh Parliament, also known as Senedd Cymru.Mr Gething won eight supporters from the Labour Senedd group on Thursday.As of Friday morning Mr Miles, who is expected to confirm his candidacy in the coming days, has the required five.Ministers Julie James and Lesley Griffiths declared their support on Thursday, while Rhondda MS Buffy Williams, Ogmore MS Huw Irranca Davies and Senedd deputy presiding officer David Rees announced they were backing him overnight. Ms Williams said: “We need to be grown ups, we need to work together, we need to build on the relationships we have already developed with opposition parties to make it through this difficult time.”For me, this can only be achieved with Jeremy Miles as our first minister.”Mr Miles’ campaign has also been backed by the former Welsh secretary Lord Hain.The contenders to be the next Welsh first ministerVaughan Gething announces Welsh first minister bid Wales’ First Minister Mark Drakeford resignsMr Miles, 52, has served as the education minister since May 2021.Born and brought up in Pontarddulais, he studied law in Oxford and worked in legal and commercial jobs in media organisations including ITV and NBC Universal.He was elected to the Senedd in 2016 for the constituency of Neath.A Welsh Labour committee will agree the timetable for the election on Friday.Mr Drakeford plans to resign in March, with a new first minister set to be in place before the Senedd’s Easter recess.Related TopicsWalesJeremy MilesWelsh LabourMore on this storyWales’ First Minister Mark Drakeford resignsPublished1 day agoThe contenders to be the next Welsh first ministerPublished1 day agoVaughan Gething announces Welsh first minister bidPublished15 hours ago