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William Graham (Welsh politician)
Encyclopedia
William Graham JP
(born 18 November 1949 in Newport
, Monmouthshire
) is a Conservative
politician
, currently European Affairs spokesman for the Official Opposition in the National Assembly for Wales
and Conservative group chairman and Chief Whip
.
He is a fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
, and has been Chairman of Newport Harbour Commission and Rougemont School Trust, Newport. He is also a member of numerous organisations, including the Listed Building Advisory Committee and the Rent Assessment Committee for Wales.
until standing down in 2004.
Graham has been an active member of the National Assembly for South Wales East since the first Assembly elections in May 1999. He contested the Newport West
Constituency in the 1999 and 2003 Assembly elections. As a result of changes to the election rules in the Government of Wales Act 2006
, he was selected as leading Conservative List Candidate for South Wales East for the May 2007
Assembly elections.
In the First Assembly was appointed as Committee Chair of the Pre 16 Education, Schools and Early Learning Committee. In the Second Assembly he was Chair of the Committee on School Funding and of the House Committee from 9 Nov 2006; Member of the Assembly Shadow Commission, set up to prepare the way for the Third Assembly; and Conservative education spokesman in the National Assembly, Chairman of the Conservative Group and Chief Whip.
In the Third Assembly he was appointed European Affairs spokesman for the Official Opposition and Conservative group chairman and Chief Whip
. He was also appointed as the Conservative representative on the Assembly Commission
. On 11 July 2007 he was appointed Shadow Leader of the House and Shadow Chief Whip.
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
(born 18 November 1949 in Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
, Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire (historic)
Monmouthshire , also known as the County of Monmouth , is one of thirteen ancient counties of Wales and a former administrative county....
) is a 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...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, currently European Affairs spokesman for the Official Opposition 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...
and Conservative group chairman and Chief Whip
Chief Whip
The Chief Whip is a political office in some legislatures assigned to an elected member whose task is to administer the whipping system that ensures that members of the party attend and vote as the party leadership desires.-The Whips Office:...
.
Background
Educated at Blackfriars School, and the College of Estate Management. William Graham is married with three children. He is the sixth generation principal of a family firm of surveyors in Newport established in 1844.He is a fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors is an independent, representative professional body which regulates property professionals and surveyors in the United Kingdom and other sovereign nations....
, and has been Chairman of Newport Harbour Commission and Rougemont School Trust, Newport. He is also a member of numerous organisations, including the Listed Building Advisory Committee and the Rent Assessment Committee for Wales.
Political career
He has been an active Conservative politician from the 1980s when he was elected to the Monmouthshire County Council, then a Newport councillor and Leader of the Conservative Group on the City CouncilNewport City Council
Newport City Council is the governing body for the city of Newport, one of the subdivisions of Wales within the United Kingdom. It consists of 50 councillors, representing the city's 20 wards. Since the 2008 election, the council has been controlled jointly by the Conservatives and Liberal...
until standing down in 2004.
Graham has been an active member of the National Assembly for South Wales East since the first Assembly elections in May 1999. He contested the Newport West
Newport West (National Assembly for Wales constituency)
Newport West is a constituency of the National Assembly for Wales. It elects one Assembly Member by the first past the post method of election...
Constituency in the 1999 and 2003 Assembly elections. As a result of changes to the election rules in the Government of Wales Act 2006
Government of Wales Act 2006
The Government of Wales Act 2006 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reforms the National Assembly for Wales and allows further powers to be granted to it more easily...
, he was selected as leading Conservative List Candidate for South Wales East for the May 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...
Assembly elections.
In the First Assembly was appointed as Committee Chair of the Pre 16 Education, Schools and Early Learning Committee. In the Second Assembly he was Chair of the Committee on School Funding and of the House Committee from 9 Nov 2006; Member of the Assembly Shadow Commission, set up to prepare the way for the Third Assembly; and Conservative education spokesman in the National Assembly, Chairman of the Conservative Group and Chief Whip.
In the Third Assembly he was appointed European Affairs spokesman for the Official Opposition and Conservative group chairman and Chief Whip
Chief Whip
The Chief Whip is a political office in some legislatures assigned to an elected member whose task is to administer the whipping system that ensures that members of the party attend and vote as the party leadership desires.-The Whips Office:...
. He was also appointed as the Conservative representative on the Assembly Commission
Assembly Commission
The National Assembly for Wales Commission is the corporate body for the National Assembly for Wales. The Commission is responsible for ensuring the property, staff and services are provided for the Assembly...
. On 11 July 2007 he was appointed Shadow Leader of the House and Shadow Chief Whip.