| The Right Honourable Carwyn Jones AM |
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First Minister for Wales
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| Taking office 9 December 2009 |
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| Succeeding | Rhodri Morgan |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 1 December 2009 |
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| Preceded by | Rhodri Morgan |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 19 July 2007 |
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| First Minister | Rhodri Morgan |
| Preceded by | Office Created |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 6 May 1999 |
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| Preceded by | Constituency Created |
| Majority | 2,556 (10.4%) |
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| Born | 21 March 1967 Swansea, Wales, UK |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Labour |
| Alma mater | University of Wales |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Barrister |
Carwyn Howell Jones (born 21 March 1967) is a Welsh Labour politician, who has been the Assembly Member for Bridgend since 1999. In the coalition government of 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 the Welsh Labour Party on 1 December 2009, and is expected to be confirmed as First Minister on 9 December.[1]
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Biography
Born in Swansea, he was raised in Bridgend in a fluent Welsh speaking family.[2] He was a pupil at Brynteg Comprehensive School in Bridgend, and then studied at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth,[3] where he joined the Labour Party during the Miners' Strike.[2]
Professional career
Jones trained as a barrister at the Inns of Court School of Law, London,[3] 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;[4] he was in legal practice for ten years at Gower Chambers, Swansea, before becoming a door tenant at Temple Chambers in Cardiff. For two years, he also worked as a Professional Tutor at Cardiff University on the Bar Vocational Course.[3]
Personal life
Married to Lisa (originally born in Ireland),[4] the couple have two children, Seren and Ruairi. Jones enjoys sport, following both codes of rugby in Bridgend. He also enjoys walking, cycling, golf.[2] Jones is patron of Kenfig Hill Male Voice Choir.[3]
Political career
Jones was a County Borough Councillor for Bridgend for five years, where he eventually led the Labour group.[3]
Jones become a Member of the National Assembly of Wales for Bridgend in 1999.[3]
Jones was appointed Deputy Secretary in the National Assembly for Wales in March 2000. In July 2000, he was appointed to the Assembly Cabinet as Assembly Secretary for Agriculture and Rural Development in the Welsh Assembly Government, before the title was changed to Assembly 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.[2]
After the 2007 election, he was appointed Assembly 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.[1][5] Jones was helped in his campaign by Alun Davies AM[6] who has had to apologise to his party for getting involved in a petty row with actor Rhys Ifans and has also faced questions over his companies links with the Tobacco Manufacturers' Association.[7][8]
First Minister for Wales
After winning the leadership election in 2009, Jones is expected to be confirmed as the third First Minister for Wales on 9 December 2009.[1][9]
References
- ^ a b c "Jones is new Welsh Labour leader". BBC Wales. 2009-12-01. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/wales_politics/8389178.stm. Retrieved 2009-12-01.
- ^ a b c d "Profile: Carwyn Jones". BBC Wales. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/wales_politics/8388696.stm. Retrieved 2009-12-01.
- ^ a b c d e f "Profile of Carwyn Jones". Wales Online. http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/welsh-politics/welsh-politics-news/2009/12/01/profile-of-carwyn-jones-91466-25292414/. Retrieved 2009-12-01.
- ^ a b "5mins with Carwyn Jones". BBC Wales. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8353738.stm. Retrieved 2009-12-01.
- ^ "Carwyn Jones clinches leadership in Wales". Wales Online. 2009-12-01. http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/12/01/carwyn-jones-victorious-91466-25299305/. Retrieved 2009-12-01.
- ^ http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2009/12/02/new-welsh-labour-leader-carwyn-jones-i-ll-unite-north-south-wales-55578-25300674/
- ^ http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/tm_objectid=16823029&method=full&siteid=50082&headline=labour-picks-davies-to-fight-for-key-seat-name_page.html
- ^ http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-131330080.html
- ^ "Carwyn Jones clinches leadership in Wales". Wales Online. 2009-12-01. http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/12/01/carwyn-jones-victorious-91466-25299305/. Retrieved 2009-12-01.
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
| National Assembly for Wales | ||
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| Preceded by Office Created |
Assembly Member for Bridgend 1999–present |
Incumbent |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Andrew Davies |
Minister for Assembly Business 2002 – 2003 |
Succeeded by Karen Sinclair |
| Preceded by Office Created |
Minister for Environment, Planning and Countryside 2000 – 2007 |
Succeeded by Jane Davidson |
| Preceded by Office Created |
Minister for Education, Culture and the Welsh Language 2007 |
Succeeded by Office Abolished |
| Preceded by Office Created |
Leader of the House 2007–present |
Incumbent |
| Legal offices | ||
| Preceded by Office Created |
Counsel General for Wales 2007–present |
Incumbent |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by Rhodri Morgan |
Leader of the Welsh Labour Party 2009–present |
Incumbent |
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