Carwyn Jones
Encyclopedia
Carwyn Howell Jones is a Welsh
politician and the First Minister of Wales. The third official to lead the Welsh Government, Jones has been Assembly Member
for Bridgend
since 1999. In the coalition government of Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru
, he was appointed Counsel General for Wales
and Leader of the House on 19 July 2007. Along with a number of other Assembly Members, he is a fluent Welsh
speaker, and is also a member of Amnesty International
and the Fabian Society
. He was elected Leader of Welsh Labour on 1 December 2009. On 9 December he was nominated as First Minister and unanimously elected by the National Assembly. He was sworn into office the following day.
, he was raised in Bridgend in a fluent Welsh speaking family. He was a pupil at Brynteg Comprehensive School
in Bridgend
, and then studied at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth
, where he joined the Labour Party
during the Miners' Strike.
at the Inns of Court School of Law
, London
, and was called to the Bar at Gray's Inn
in 1989.
He became a practising barrister, who specialised in Family, Criminal and Personal Injury law; he was in legal practice for ten years at Gower Chambers, Swansea. For two years, he also worked as a Professional Tutor at Cardiff University
on the Bar Vocational Course.
, Northern Ireland
), the couple have two children, Seren and Ruairi. Jones enjoys sport, following both codes of rugby
in Bridgend. He also enjoys walking, cycling and golf. Jones is patron of Kenfig Hill Male Voice Choir.
for five years, where he eventually chaired the Labour group.
Jones became a Member of the National Assembly of Wales for Bridgend
in 1999
.
Jones was appointed Deputy Secretary in the National Assembly for Wales
in March 2000. In July 2000, he was appointed to the Cabinet as Secretary for Agriculture and Rural Development in the Welsh Government, before the title was changed to Minister in October 2000. His responsibilities in this role included the environment, countryside issues, town and country planning, sustainable development, agriculture and rural development. In June 2002, his brief was expanded when he was appointed Minister for Open Government in addition to his other duties. During this time, he was responsible for the Welsh response to the 2001 Foot and Mouth disease outbreak.
After the 2007 election, he was appointed Minister for Education, Culture and the Welsh Language, responsible for the Department for Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills and the Culture, Welsh Language and Sport portfolios. After his party entered into coalition with Plaid Cymru
, Jones was reappointed as Counsel General for Wales and Leader of the House.
Following the announcement of Welsh Labour Leader and First Minister
Rhodri Morgan
in September 2009 that he would be resigning both posts in December 2009, Jones entered the subsequent election to become his successor, where his opponents were Edwina Hart
and Huw Lewis
. On 1 December 2009, Jones was elected the new Leader with over 50% of the vote.
as Prime Minister
, Jones has become the most senior Labour elected representative and government minister in the United Kingdom.
He was appointed as a Privy Counsellor
on 9 June 2010.
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
politician and the First Minister of Wales. The third official to lead the Welsh Government, Jones has been Assembly Member
Members of the National Assembly for Wales
The National Assembly for Wales is composed of 60 members known as AMs or Assembly Members...
for Bridgend
Bridgend (National Assembly for Wales constituency)
Bridgend is a constituency of the National Assembly for Wales. It elects one Assembly Member by the first past the post method of election. Also, however, it is one of seven constituencies in the South Wales West electoral region, which elects four additional members, in addition to seven...
since 1999. In the coalition government of Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru
Plaid Cymru
' is a political party in Wales. It advocates the establishment of an independent Welsh state within the European Union. was formed in 1925 and won its first seat in 1966...
, he was appointed Counsel General for Wales
Counsel General for Wales
The Counsel General for Wales advises the Welsh Government on Welsh legislative matters and advises on legislative competency. The position of the Counsel General for Wales is described in the Government of Wales Act 2006 and controlled in Standing Order 5 ....
and Leader of the House on 19 July 2007. Along with a number of other Assembly Members, he is a fluent Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
speaker, and is also a member of Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
and the Fabian Society
Fabian Society
The Fabian Society is a British socialist movement, whose purpose is to advance the principles of democratic socialism via gradualist and reformist, rather than revolutionary, means. It is best known for its initial ground-breaking work beginning late in the 19th century and continuing up to World...
. He was elected Leader of Welsh Labour on 1 December 2009. On 9 December he was nominated as First Minister and unanimously elected by the National Assembly. He was sworn into office the following day.
Biography
Born in SwanseaSwansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
, he was raised in Bridgend in a fluent Welsh speaking family. He was a pupil at Brynteg Comprehensive School
Brynteg Comprehensive School
Brynteg Comprehensive School is one of the largest secondary schools in Wales. It is located on Ewenny Road in the town of Bridgend, Wales...
in Bridgend
Bridgend
Bridgend is a town in the Bridgend County Borough in Wales, west of the capital, Cardiff. The river crossed by the original bridge, which gave the town its name, is the River Ogmore but the River Ewenny also passes to the south of the town...
, and then studied at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth
University of Wales, Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth University is a university located in Aberystwyth, Wales. Aberystwyth was a founding Member Institution of the former federal University of Wales. As of late 2006, the university had over 12,000 students spread across seventeen academic departments.The university was founded in 1872 as...
, where he joined the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
during the Miners' Strike.
Professional career
Jones trained as a barristerBarrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
at the Inns of Court School of Law
Inns of Court School of Law
The Inns of Court School of Law, often abbreviated to ICSL is a professional legal training institution based in London in Gray's Inn...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and was called to the Bar at Gray's Inn
Gray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in 1989.
He became a practising barrister, who specialised in Family, Criminal and Personal Injury law; he was in legal practice for ten years at Gower Chambers, Swansea. For two years, he also worked as a Professional Tutor at Cardiff University
Cardiff University
Cardiff University is a leading research university located in the Cathays Park area of Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. It received its Royal charter in 1883 and is a member of the Russell Group of Universities. The university is consistently recognised as providing high quality research-based...
on the Bar Vocational Course.
Personal life
Married to Lisa (a native of BelfastBelfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
), the couple have two children, Seren and Ruairi. Jones enjoys sport, following both codes of rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
in Bridgend. He also enjoys walking, cycling and golf. Jones is patron of Kenfig Hill Male Voice Choir.
Political career
Jones was a County Borough Councillor for BridgendBridgend
Bridgend is a town in the Bridgend County Borough in Wales, west of the capital, Cardiff. The river crossed by the original bridge, which gave the town its name, is the River Ogmore but the River Ewenny also passes to the south of the town...
for five years, where he eventually chaired the Labour group.
Jones became a Member of the National Assembly of Wales for Bridgend
Bridgend
Bridgend is a town in the Bridgend County Borough in Wales, west of the capital, Cardiff. The river crossed by the original bridge, which gave the town its name, is the River Ogmore but the River Ewenny also passes to the south of the town...
in 1999
Welsh Assembly election, 1999
The first National Assembly for Wales elections were held on 6 May 1999. The overall turnout of voters was 46.3%. Although the Welsh Labour Party were the biggest party, they did not gain enough seats to form a majority government and instead entered into coalition with the Liberal Democrats...
.
Jones was appointed Deputy Secretary in the National Assembly for Wales
National Assembly for Wales
The National Assembly for Wales is a devolved assembly with power to make legislation in Wales. The Assembly comprises 60 members, who are known as Assembly Members, or AMs...
in March 2000. In July 2000, he was appointed to the Cabinet as Secretary for Agriculture and Rural Development in the Welsh Government, before the title was changed to Minister in October 2000. His responsibilities in this role included the environment, countryside issues, town and country planning, sustainable development, agriculture and rural development. In June 2002, his brief was expanded when he was appointed Minister for Open Government in addition to his other duties. During this time, he was responsible for the Welsh response to the 2001 Foot and Mouth disease outbreak.
After the 2007 election, he was appointed Minister for Education, Culture and the Welsh Language, responsible for the Department for Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills and the Culture, Welsh Language and Sport portfolios. After his party entered into coalition with Plaid Cymru
Plaid Cymru
' is a political party in Wales. It advocates the establishment of an independent Welsh state within the European Union. was formed in 1925 and won its first seat in 1966...
, Jones was reappointed as Counsel General for Wales and Leader of the House.
Following the announcement of Welsh Labour Leader and First Minister
First Minister for Wales
The First Minister of Wales is the leader of the Welsh Government, Wales' devolved administration, which was established in 1999. The First Minister is responsible for the exercise of functions by the Cabinet of the Welsh Government; policy development and coordination; relationships with the...
Rhodri Morgan
Rhodri Morgan
Hywel Rhodri Morgan is a Welsh Labour politician who, as First Secretary for Wales, and subsequently First Minister, was leader of the Welsh Assembly Government from 2000 to 2009. A former leader of Welsh Labour, he was the Assembly Member for Cardiff West from 1999 to 2011...
in September 2009 that he would be resigning both posts in December 2009, Jones entered the subsequent election to become his successor, where his opponents were Edwina Hart
Edwina Hart
Edwina Hart, MBE, AM is a Welsh Labour politician who has represented the constituency of Gower since the National Assembly for Wales was established in 1999. Hart was appointed Minister for Health and Social Services in the Welsh Government in May 2007.-Background:Hart was born and raised in...
and Huw Lewis
Huw Lewis
Huw Lewis AM is a Welsh Labour Co-operative politician. Born in Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan, Lewis has represented the Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney constituency since the National Assembly for Wales was established in 1999.-Early life:...
. On 1 December 2009, Jones was elected the new Leader with over 50% of the vote.
First Minister of Wales
After winning the leadership election in 2009, Jones was confirmed as the third First Minister of Wales on 9 December 2009. Since the defeat of the Labour Party in the 2010 United Kingdom general election, and the resignation of Gordon BrownGordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
as Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
, Jones has become the most senior Labour elected representative and government minister in the United Kingdom.
He was appointed as a Privy Counsellor
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
on 9 June 2010.
External links
- Carwyn Jones AM Website
- Blog of Carwyn Jones AM
- Biography at the Welsh Assembly Government
- Carwyn Jones profile at Wales Online
- 5minutes with Carwyn Jones
Offices held
|-|-
|-
|-
|-
|-