Events from the year 2022 in Wales.
Incumbents
First Minister – Mark Drakeford
Secretary of State for Wales – Simon Hart (until 6 July) and Robert Buckland (until 25 October) David T. C. Davies (from 25 October) Archbishop of Wales – Andy John, Bishop of Bangor Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales – Myrddin ap Dafydd National Poet of Wales – Ifor ap Glyn
Events
1 January – The 2022 New Year Honours List includes Olympic sportswomen Hannah Mills (OBE) and Lauren Price (MBE). Chief Medical Officer for Wales Dr Frank Atherton receives a knighthood, and Professor Julie Lydon becomes a Dame. 14 January – First Minister Mark Drakeford announces that COVID restrictions in Wales are to be eased, following a fall in case numbers, and the country will move gradually towards level zero. 21 January – At a press conference in Cardiff, Mark Drakeford makes an outspoken attack on UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson for failing to take appropriate precautionary measures against COVID-19. Drakeford suggests that Johnson's government is trying to protect Johnson's position by distracting attention from his record. 4 February – "Dydd Miswig Cymru" (Welsh Music Day) is celebrated. 10 February – The Welsh Government announces that social care workers in Wales will receive a one-off £1000 payment in April. 14 February – The Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, Sophie Howe, proposes that a four-day working week be trialled by the Welsh Government. 16 February – The Welsh Government announces a payment of £1,600 per month for young people leaving care when they turn 18. The Welsh Conservatives say it is "a waste of money". 23 February – Two members of the Welsh Parliament, Adam Price and Mick Antoniw are reprimanded by the UK Foreign Office for visiting Ukraine. 27 February – Four children are rescued from rocks in the River Rhondda by a coastguard helicopter. 12 March – At the start of the Welsh Labour Party conference in Llandudno, Mark Drakeford criticises the UK government's response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, saying: "This is a government which worries about the human rights of oligarchs but the Home Secretary sends exhausted refugees on a European hunt for a bureaucrat willing to accept their visa application." It is the first Welsh Labour conference to be attended by Sir Keir Starmer in his role as UK Labour leader. 30 March – Bridgend MP Jamie Wallis states that he is suffering from gender dysphoria, and claims that he left the scene of a road accident the previous November because he was "not OK" after being raped two months earlier. 4 April – Senedd members Paul Davies, Darren Millar, Nick Ramsay and Alun Davies are cleared of breaking the law by drinking alcohol on the premises, in a report by the Senedd standards commissioner, Douglas Bain. 28 April – South Wales Police charge Bridgend MP Jamie Wallis with careless driving, failing to report an accident, and leaving a vehicle in a dangerous position, following the incident in November 2021. 5 May – The 2022 Welsh local elections are contested under new boundaries. This was the first time Welsh councils could choose between the current first-past-the-post system and a proportional single transferable vote (STV) system, but councils need to give advance notice of such a change. Overall, Welsh Labour gain control of one council and Plaid Cymru three, whilst the Welsh Conservatives lose one and Independents two. 2 June – Welsh people receiving awards in the Queen's Platinum Jubilee birthday honours include actor Jonathan Pryce (knighthood), singer Beverley Humphreys (MBE) and rugby player Ryan Jones (MBE). Footballer Gareth Bale and singer Bonnie Tyler also receive the MBE, while weather presenter Derek Brockway gets the BEM. 4 June – The 2022 Urdd eisteddfod ends in Denbighshire, having attracted record crowds. 22 June – Labour MS Eluned Morgan is censured by the Senedd after being banned from driving for six months for repeated speeding offences. Morgan was formally reprimanded after the censure motion was passed unanimously. 11 July – Bridgend MP Jamie Wallis is fined £2,500 and disqualified from driving for six months after being found guilty of motoring offences. District Judge Tan Ikram said he "didn't find the defendant credible". 18 July – The Royal Welsh Show opens at its permanent showground in Builth Wells. 8 August – Former Wales footballer and manager Ryan Giggs appears at Manchester Crown Court on a charge of assault. 19 August – Following a prolonged period of dry weather, a drought is declared in north Ceredigion, Teifi, Pembrokeshire, Carmarthen, Swansea, Llanelli, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend. 31 August – A major fire breaks out at Mumbles Pier.