WALES' finance secretary Mark Drakeford has become the first to announced he will stand to replace Carwyn Jones as leader of Welsh Labour and first minister.

The announcement comes after Mr Jones, who has been first minister since December 2009, shocked the Welsh Labour conference at the weekend by announcing he planned to stand down in the autumn, with a replacement to be elected by the end of the year.

Mr Drakeford, who has been AM for Cardiff West since 2011 and has held a series of senior roles in the Welsh Government cabinet, was immediately tipped as a possible replacement, and has now confirmed he will stand for the role.

Speaking to the BBC this morning, Mr Drakeford, who worked for Rhodri Morgan as a special adviser before being elected to the Assembly, said he had decided to run after some serious consideration.

"It is an enormous job," he said. "It takes a lot out of anyone who does it, it has an impact not only on their lives but the lives of their family as well.

"Nobody I think could put their name forward in a frivolous way for such a job, that’s why I had to think about it."

Mr Drakeford, who describes himself as "belonging to the centre-left of the party", has been a keen supporter of Jeremy Corbyn.

He also paid tribute to Mr Jones, calling his decision to stand down "immensely courageous and mature".

A number of AMs had already said they would back him if he chose to run, including Newport East's John Griffiths and Islwyn's Rhianon Passmore. Vale of Glamorgan AM Jane Hutt, Swansea East AM Mike Hedges and Cardiff North AM Julie Morgan are among others who have also backed him.