Kirsty Williams
Encyclopedia
Victoria Kirsty Williams (born 19 March 1971) is a British
politician
. She is the leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats
and the Member of the Welsh Assembly
for Brecon and Radnorshire.
and Liverpool
before the family moved to Bynea, Carmarthenshire
when Williams was three. After being educated at the village primary school, Kirsty had a private secondary education and attended St. Michael's School in Llanelli
. She attended the University of Manchester
where she received a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies
. The course included studying for a year at the University of Missouri
.
After graduation she worked in the learning resources department of Carmarthenshire College in her home town Llanelli, before taking up a post as a marketing and public relations executive. She went to the same school as former Catatonia
singer Cerys Matthews
.
Williams joined the Liberal Party
at the age of 15 and held numerous party posts in her home town of Llanelli, in the Welsh Liberal Democrats and the Liberal Democrat Youth and Students
. She was Deputy President of the Welsh Liberal Democrats between 1998 and 2000.
In the 1997 General Election
she contested the constituency of Ogmore
coming third. For a long time she was a keen advocate of a Welsh Assembly, and campaigned hard in the 1997 referendum for the creation of the National Assembly for Wales
. She was subsequently appointed to the National Assembly Advisory Group by Welsh Secretary Ron Davies.
In 1998 she succeeded in being selected as the Liberal Democrat Welsh Assembly candidate for the constituency of Brecon and Radnorshire. In 1999 she was elected for the constituency in the first ever
Welsh Assembly elections. Although there was a slight swing towards the Conservatives
, her majority was 5,852 (20.0%).
In her first term she became her party's health spokesman. She also served as Chair of the Welsh Assembly Health and Social Care Committee between 1999 and 2003.
In 2003
she defended the Brecon and Radnorshire constituency with an increased share of the vote, mainly at the expense of the Labour Party
.
In the 2006 Welsh Yearbook Political Awards, she was voted "Member to Watch 2006" In a poll at the end of 2006, Williams was voted "Sexiest female Liberal Democrat" on the award-winning blog by Stephen Tall
. She backed Sir Menzies Campbell in the 2006 Liberal Democrat leadership election
and Nick Clegg
in the 2007 Liberal Democrat leadership election
.
In the Welsh Assembly elections of 2007, Williams retained the seat of Brecon and Radnorshire polling over 50% of the vote, beating Conservative
candidate Suzy Davies into second place. She was the only member of the Welsh Assembly to have increased her share of the vote in each of the first three elections.
On 8 December 2008 Williams became leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, having defeated Cardiff Central Assembly Member Jenny Randerson. She is the first female leader of any of the four big Welsh political parties.
In the Welsh Assembly elections of 2011, Williams retained her seat, with the Conservatives again second, but her share of the vote dropped by 9.2%. The votes lost went largely to Labour, with some to Plaid Cymru, showing that the loss was due to dissatisfaction with the policies of the Coalition government at Westminster, and not to specifically Welsh or constituency matters. Nevertheless, Williams had been elected in 2008 with a pledge to revitalise the party's fortunes in Wales. Her electoral record as leader, however, remains poor. Espcially when compared with her predecessor, Mike German
under whom the party saw a steady series of gains at all levels, excluding the European Parliament
. In the 2009 European elections the Welsh Liberal Democrats failed once more to win a seat, losing out to UKIP. In the 2010 general election they failed to make any gains and made one lose in Montgomeryshire
. In the 2011 Welsh Assembly elections, they lost one Assembly Member overall and gained their lowest share of the Welsh vote since the European elections of 1989. At a local government level the party has only held one of the local council by-elections it contested as the incumbant, and has made no gains since Williams took office. In the Coalition government in Westminster the Welsh Liberal Democrats
MPs and peers took no government posts, in sharp contrast to the party in Scotland.
in the heart of her constituency. They have three daughters: Angharad (born 2001), Carys (born 2004) and Rachel (born 2006).
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. She is the leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats
Welsh Liberal Democrats
The Welsh Liberal Democrats are one of the three state parties of the federal Liberal Democrats and operate within Wales, the others being the Scottish Liberal Democrats and the Liberal Democrats in England....
and the Member of the Welsh Assembly
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...
for Brecon and Radnorshire.
Early life
Williams was born in Taunton, Somerset to Welsh parents. She spent a few years living in SomersetSomerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
and Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
before the family moved to Bynea, Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire is a unitary authority in the south west of Wales and one of thirteen historic counties. It is the 3rd largest in Wales. Its three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford...
when Williams was three. After being educated at the village primary school, Kirsty had a private secondary education and attended St. Michael's School in Llanelli
Llanelli
Llanelli , the largest town in both the county of Carmarthenshire and the preserved county of Dyfed , Wales, sits on the Loughor estuary on the West Wales coast, approximately west-north-west of Swansea and south-east of the county town, Carmarthen. The town is famous for its proud rugby...
. She attended the University of Manchester
Victoria University of Manchester
The Victoria University of Manchester was a university in Manchester, England. On 1 October 2004 it merged with the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology to form a new entity, "The University of Manchester".-1851 - 1951:The University was founded in 1851 as Owens College,...
where she received a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies
American studies
American studies or American civilization is an interdisciplinary field dealing with the study of the United States. It traditionally incorporates the study of history, literature, and critical theory, but also includes fields as diverse as law, art, the media, film, religious studies, urban...
. The course included studying for a year at the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
.
After graduation she worked in the learning resources department of Carmarthenshire College in her home town Llanelli, before taking up a post as a marketing and public relations executive. She went to the same school as former Catatonia
Catatonia (band)
Catatonia were an alternative rock band from Wales who gained a national following in the United Kingdom in the mid to late 1990s. The band consisted of Cerys Matthews on vocals, Mark Roberts on guitar, Paul Jones on bass , Owen Powell on...
singer Cerys Matthews
Cerys Matthews
Cerys Elizabeth Matthews is a Welsh singer and songwriter. She is known as the lead singer of the Welsh rock band Catatonia, her more recent bilingual solo career, and for a 1998 Christmas duet with Tom Jones.-Biography:...
.
Political career
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
at the age of 15 and held numerous party posts in her home town of Llanelli, in the Welsh Liberal Democrats and the Liberal Democrat Youth and Students
Liberal Democrat Youth and Students
Liberal Youth is the youth and student group of the Liberal Democrats, a political party in the United Kingdom.Liberal Democrat members who are under 26 years old or attending higher education institutions are automatically members of Liberal Youth if they agree to share this information at...
. She was Deputy President of the Welsh Liberal Democrats between 1998 and 2000.
In the 1997 General Election
United Kingdom general election, 1997
The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general...
she contested the constituency of Ogmore
Ogmore (UK Parliament constituency)
Ogmore is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.- Boundaries :Taking its name from the River Ogmore, the constituency is situated close to the source of the river in the Ogwr valley and excludes the village of Ogmore-by-Sea, which is the...
coming third. For a long time she was a keen advocate of a Welsh Assembly, and campaigned hard in the 1997 referendum for the creation of 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...
. She was subsequently appointed to the National Assembly Advisory Group by Welsh Secretary Ron Davies.
In 1998 she succeeded in being selected as the Liberal Democrat Welsh Assembly candidate for the constituency of Brecon and Radnorshire. In 1999 she was elected for the constituency in the first ever
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...
Welsh Assembly elections. Although there was a slight swing towards the Conservatives
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
, her majority was 5,852 (20.0%).
In her first term she became her party's health spokesman. She also served as Chair of the Welsh Assembly Health and Social Care Committee between 1999 and 2003.
In 2003
Welsh Assembly election, 2003
The National Assembly for Wales election, 2003 was the second general election to the National Assembly for Wales. It was held on 1 May 2003.The election was characterised by a resurgence for the Labour Party, whilst Plaid Cymru saw a reduction in support and the number of Assembly Members they...
she defended the Brecon and Radnorshire constituency with an increased share of the vote, mainly at the expense of 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...
.
In the 2006 Welsh Yearbook Political Awards, she was voted "Member to Watch 2006" In a poll at the end of 2006, Williams was voted "Sexiest female Liberal Democrat" on the award-winning blog by Stephen Tall
Stephen Tall
Stephen Tall was the most common pseudonym of American science fiction writer Compton Newby Crook .Born in Rossville, Tennessee, Crook studied biology at Peabody College, and did graduate work at Arizona State University and Johns Hopkins University...
. She backed Sir Menzies Campbell in the 2006 Liberal Democrat leadership election
Liberal Democrats leadership election, 2006
In the 2006 Liberal Democrats leadership election, Sir Menzies Campbell was elected to succeed Charles Kennedy as Leader of the Liberal Democrats, the third-largest political party in the United Kingdom....
and Nick Clegg
Nick Clegg
Nicholas William Peter "Nick" Clegg is a British Liberal Democrat politician who is currently the Deputy Prime Minister, Lord President of the Council and Minister for Constitutional and Political Reform in the coalition government of which David Cameron is the Prime Minister...
in the 2007 Liberal Democrat leadership election
Liberal Democrats leadership election, 2007
The 2007 Liberal Democrats leadership election was held following the resignation of Sir Menzies Campbell as leader on 15 October 2007, after 19 months as leader of the Liberal Democrats, the third-largest political party in the United Kingdom. Vincent Cable, the deputy leader of the parliamentary...
.
In the Welsh Assembly elections of 2007, Williams retained the seat of Brecon and Radnorshire polling over 50% of the vote, beating Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
candidate Suzy Davies into second place. She was the only member of the Welsh Assembly to have increased her share of the vote in each of the first three elections.
On 8 December 2008 Williams became leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, having defeated Cardiff Central Assembly Member Jenny Randerson. She is the first female leader of any of the four big Welsh political parties.
In the Welsh Assembly elections of 2011, Williams retained her seat, with the Conservatives again second, but her share of the vote dropped by 9.2%. The votes lost went largely to Labour, with some to Plaid Cymru, showing that the loss was due to dissatisfaction with the policies of the Coalition government at Westminster, and not to specifically Welsh or constituency matters. Nevertheless, Williams had been elected in 2008 with a pledge to revitalise the party's fortunes in Wales. Her electoral record as leader, however, remains poor. Espcially when compared with her predecessor, Mike German
Mike German
Michael James German, Baron German, OBE , usually known as Mike German, is a member of the House of Lords and former member of the National Assembly for Wales for the South Wales East Region. He was leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats from 2007–08...
under whom the party saw a steady series of gains at all levels, excluding the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
. In the 2009 European elections the Welsh Liberal Democrats failed once more to win a seat, losing out to UKIP. In the 2010 general election they failed to make any gains and made one lose in Montgomeryshire
Montgomeryshire
Montgomeryshire, also known as Maldwyn is one of thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. Montgomeryshire is still used as a vice-county for wildlife recording...
. In the 2011 Welsh Assembly elections, they lost one Assembly Member overall and gained their lowest share of the Welsh vote since the European elections of 1989. At a local government level the party has only held one of the local council by-elections it contested as the incumbant, and has made no gains since Williams took office. In the Coalition government in Westminster the Welsh Liberal Democrats
Welsh Liberal Democrats
The Welsh Liberal Democrats are one of the three state parties of the federal Liberal Democrats and operate within Wales, the others being the Scottish Liberal Democrats and the Liberal Democrats in England....
MPs and peers took no government posts, in sharp contrast to the party in Scotland.
Personal
Williams married Richard Rees in September 2000, and they now live at his family's farm just outside BreconBrecon
Brecon is a long-established market town and community in southern Powys, Mid Wales, with a population of 7,901. It was the county town of the historic county of Brecknockshire; although its role as such was eclipsed with the formation of Powys, it remains an important local centre...
in the heart of her constituency. They have three daughters: Angharad (born 2001), Carys (born 2004) and Rachel (born 2006).
External links
- Kirsty Williams AM official site
- Kirsty Williams AM Profile at the site of Welsh Liberal Democrats
- National Assembly for Wales Website
- News Feeds from the Welsh Liberal Democrats
- Profile on BBC website September 1999