 Following Rhodri Morgan’s appointment as First Minister in 2000, Drakeford became the Welsh Government’s special advisor on health and social policy, and later served as the head of Morgan’s political office.He had been close with Morgan for a number of years, having been Morgan's election agent when he was elected to the UK Parliament.In his role as a special advisor, Drakeford was one of the principal architects of the 'clear red water' philosophy, which made a distinction between Labour Party policy under Morgan in Wales and under Tony Blair in Westminster.