Jane Hutt

Jane Hutt AM
Member of the Welsh Assembly for Vale of Glamorgan
Incumbent
Assumed office 6 May 1999
Preceded by	Position established
Leader of the House and Chief Whip
In office 19 May 2016 – 3 November 2017
First Minister	Carwyn Jones
Preceded by	Janice Gregory (as Whip)
Succeeded by	Julie James
Minister for Education and Skills
In office 19 July 2007 – 10 December 2009
First Minister	Rhodri Morgan
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Leighton Andrews
Personal details
Born	(1949-12-15) 15 December 1949 Epsom, England
Political party	Welsh Labour
Spouse(s)	Michael Trickey
Children	2 daughters
Alma mater	University of Kent, London School of Economics, University of Bristol
Occupation	Councillor, trade unionist
Website	Welsh Labour

Jane Hutt AM (born 15 December 1949) is a Welsh Labour^[1] politician and former Minister in the Welsh Government. Hutt has represented the Vale of Glamorgan constituency since the National Assembly for Wales was established in 1999.

She served as a government Minister continually from May 1999 until November 2017 making her the longest serving Labour Government Minister in history.^[2]

Early years

Born in Epsom, Surrey, on 15 December 1949, Hutt's Welsh-speaking grandparents are from North Wales,^[3] and her father was the pathologist Michael Hutt.^[4] Hutt graduated from the University of Kent, Canterbury in 1970 with a BA (Hons), gained a Certificate of Qualification in Social Work at the London School of Economics in 1972 and an MSc at the University of Bristol in 1995.

Professional career

Hutt was one of the founder members of Welsh Women's Aid, a feminist organisation campaigning on behalf of women who are victims of domestic violence. She was appointed as a coordinator of the group in January 1978.

Hutt held non-political appointments as director of the equal opportunities organisation Chwarae Teg and non-executive director of the Cardiff Community Health Care Trust. Member New Deal Task Force. School Governor. Welsh member on the New Opportunities (UK) Fund.

Political career

Hutt was a councillor on South Glamorgan County Council and a former vice-chair of the Social Services Committee. She unsuccessfully stood for election to the British Parliament in 1983 in Cardiff North.

Hutt was elected to the National Assembly for Wales in 1999 and has been re-elected at every subsequent election. She served as a government minister for a total of 18 years, 5 months, 23 days (or 6,751 days) from 12 May 1999 to 3 November 2017 making her the longest serving Labour Minister in UK history. She made her first appearance on the back benches on 14 November 2017.^[5]

Ministerial Roles

Following the Assembly's creation in 1999 she immediately became Health Minister. She remained in post until January 2005 when she was removed from the position, following strong criticism over long hospital waiting lists.^[7] An independent report showed that even though waiting list time targets were higher than in England and Scotland, Hutt had still failed to meet them.^[8] As a result, she faced criticism from all the major political parties in Wales, with the strongest coming from within her own party. As a result, her position became untenable, as some became worried that the problems could even damage the case for further Welsh devolution.^[9]

She became Minister for Assembly Business and Chief Whip, with additional responsibility for Openness in Government; Communications Strategy; co-ordinating Government policy in relation to children and Equality of Opportunity. In the first Cabinet of the Third Assembly, she was appointed Minister for Budget and Assembly Business (31 May 2007). In the coalition, Cabinet announced on 19 July 2007 she became Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills.

Personal life

In July 1984 Hutt married Labour councillor Michael Trickey, they have two daughters.^[10]

Offices held

References

External links

• Personal Website
• Biography at the Welsh Assembly Government
• Profile on BBC Website