Trish Law
Encyclopedia
Patricia Law, née Bolter (born 17 March 1954) was the Blaenau Gwent People's Voice AM
for Blaenau Gwent
in Wales
between 2006 and 2011.
, Blaenau Gwent
, in 1954. She was educated in Nantyglo Junior School, Glanyravon Secondary Modern School and Ebbw Vale College. She trained as a Nursing Assistant in an EMI unit for Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust, before marrying Peter Law
. The couple were married for 30 years and had five children and one grandchild.
During Peter Law's term as AM and MP, Trish Law worked in his constituency office. She was Mayoress of Blaenau Gwent in 1988-89, Secretary of Abertillery and Blaina Inner Wheel Club (Rotary) and for a short period of time was Secretary of the League of Friends at Blaina Hospital.
, the group formed by those who helped Peter Law overturn a 19,000 Labour majority at the 2005 General Election
. She won the seat at a by-election
on 29 June 2006. Labour also failed to regain the Westminster
seat as Peter Law's former campaign manager, Dai Davies
, was elected to replace him.
Following her election, the National Assembly for Wales
became the first UK legislature to have a female majority of representatives. Although an independent, Law backed Labour's Assembly Budget after Finance Minister Sue Essex
accepted two of her demands: a commitment that women's refuges will be set up in all Welsh counties that don't currently have one; and the opening of a therapy centre in Blaenau Gwent for people suffering from depression, stress and low self-esteem. This and other campaigns meant Law won the BBC Wales
award for Campaigning Politician of the Year.
Law won re-election as an independent at the National Assembly for Wales election, 2007
.
In November 2008, Law attempted to prevent a reading by poet Patrick Jones, arranged by Liberal Democrat AM Peter Black and scheduled to take place in the buildings of the Welsh Assembly on 11 December 2008. Jones had been invited by Black to give a reading from his book 'Darkness Is Where The Stars Are', after the bookseller Waterstone's had cancelled a launch event for the book following threats to disrupt the event from Christian fundamentalist group Christian Voice, led by Stephen Green.
Notwithstanding that the UK's blasphemy law had been repealed, Law wrote to Welsh Assembly
Presiding Officer Lord Elis-Thomas to ask him to forbid the reading, saying: “I am disgusted that, two weeks before Christmas Day, it is proposed to proceed with the reading of blasphemous poems which are an insult to Jesus Christ and to all his followers.”
Her request for censorship was refused, Assembly Commission chief executive Claire Clancy saying: “Neither officials nor the Assembly Commission make judgments on the nature or purpose of these events, except to ensure they would not give rise to any legal problems. Assembly buildings are public buildings, and secular in character. It is our responsibility to ensure that events sponsored by any Assembly Members are always allowed to take place without fear of disruption or intimidation, while respecting the right to peaceful protest.”
In August 2010 Ms Law indicated that she will not seek re-election at the 2011 Assembly election.
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 Blaenau Gwent
Blaenau Gwent (National Assembly for Wales constituency)
Blaenau Gwent is a constituency of the National Assembly for Wales. It elects one Assembly Member by the first past the post method of election...
in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
between 2006 and 2011.
Background
Patricia Bolter was born in NantygloNantyglo
Nantyglo is a village in the ancient parish of Aberystruth and county of Monmouth situated deep within the South Wales Valleys between Blaina and Brynmawr in the county borough of Blaenau Gwent.- Places of interest in Nantyglo :...
, Blaenau Gwent
Blaenau Gwent
Blaenau Gwent is a county borough in South Wales, sharing its name with a parliamentary constituency. It borders the unitary authority areas of Monmouthshire and Torfaen to the east, Caerphilly to the west and Powys to the north. Its main towns are Abertillery, Brynmawr, Ebbw Vale and...
, in 1954. She was educated in Nantyglo Junior School, Glanyravon Secondary Modern School and Ebbw Vale College. She trained as a Nursing Assistant in an EMI unit for Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust, before marrying Peter Law
Peter Law
Peter John Law was a Welsh politician.- Labour Co-operative AM and Independent MP :For most of his career Law sat as a Labour Councillor and subsequently Labour Co-operative Assembly Member for Blaenau Gwent...
. The couple were married for 30 years and had five children and one grandchild.
During Peter Law's term as AM and MP, Trish Law worked in his constituency office. She was Mayoress of Blaenau Gwent in 1988-89, Secretary of Abertillery and Blaina Inner Wheel Club (Rotary) and for a short period of time was Secretary of the League of Friends at Blaina Hospital.
Political career
After Peter Law's resignation from the Labour Party due to the imposition of an all-women candidate list, and later death from a brain tumour on 25 April 2006, Trish Law was supported by Blaenau Gwent People's Voice GroupBlaenau Gwent People's Voice Group
The Blaenau Gwent People's Voice Group was a political party based in the Blaenau Gwent area of Wales.The group was formed in the aftermath of the election to the House of Commons of Peter Law as an independent Member of Parliament, beating the official Labour candidate. Peter Law stood against the...
, the group formed by those who helped Peter Law overturn a 19,000 Labour majority at the 2005 General Election
United Kingdom general election, 2005
The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
. She won the seat at a by-election
Blaenau Gwent by-elections, 2006
Two by-elections were held for the constituency of Blaenau Gwent in Wales following the death of Member of Parliament and Assembly Member Peter Law on 25 April 2006. As Law was the MP and Assembly Member , his death required by-elections in both the parliamentary seat and the equivalent Welsh...
on 29 June 2006. Labour also failed to regain the Westminster
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
seat as Peter Law's former campaign manager, Dai Davies
Dai Davies (politician)
David Clifford Davies, commonly known as Dai Davies, was the Blaenau Gwent People's Voice Member of Parliament for the Blaenau Gwent constituency in South Wales from 2006 to 2010...
, was elected to replace him.
Following her election, 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...
became the first UK legislature to have a female majority of representatives. Although an independent, Law backed Labour's Assembly Budget after Finance Minister Sue Essex
Sue Essex
Sue Essex is the Welsh Labour politician who was a Member of the National Assembly for Wales for Cardiff North from 1999 to 2007...
accepted two of her demands: a commitment that women's refuges will be set up in all Welsh counties that don't currently have one; and the opening of a therapy centre in Blaenau Gwent for people suffering from depression, stress and low self-esteem. This and other campaigns meant Law won the BBC Wales
BBC Wales
BBC Cymru Wales is a division of the British Broadcasting Corporation for Wales. Based at Broadcasting House in the Llandaff area of Cardiff, it directly employs over 1200 people, and produces a broad range of television, radio and online services in both the Welsh and English languages.Outside...
award for Campaigning Politician of the Year.
Law won re-election as an independent at the National Assembly for Wales election, 2007
National Assembly for Wales election, 2007
The 2007 National Assembly election was held on Thursday 3 May 2007 to elect members to the National Assembly for Wales. It was the third general election. On the same day local elections in England and Scotland, and the Scottish Parliament election took place...
.
In November 2008, Law attempted to prevent a reading by poet Patrick Jones, arranged by Liberal Democrat AM Peter Black and scheduled to take place in the buildings of the Welsh Assembly on 11 December 2008. Jones had been invited by Black to give a reading from his book 'Darkness Is Where The Stars Are', after the bookseller Waterstone's had cancelled a launch event for the book following threats to disrupt the event from Christian fundamentalist group Christian Voice, led by Stephen Green.
Notwithstanding that the UK's blasphemy law had been repealed, Law wrote to Welsh Assembly
Presiding Officer Lord Elis-Thomas to ask him to forbid the reading, saying: “I am disgusted that, two weeks before Christmas Day, it is proposed to proceed with the reading of blasphemous poems which are an insult to Jesus Christ and to all his followers.”
Her request for censorship was refused, Assembly Commission chief executive Claire Clancy saying: “Neither officials nor the Assembly Commission make judgments on the nature or purpose of these events, except to ensure they would not give rise to any legal problems. Assembly buildings are public buildings, and secular in character. It is our responsibility to ensure that events sponsored by any Assembly Members are always allowed to take place without fear of disruption or intimidation, while respecting the right to peaceful protest.”
In August 2010 Ms Law indicated that she will not seek re-election at the 2011 Assembly election.