Christina Rees

Christina Rees (born 21 February 1954)[1] is a British Labour Co-operative Party politician who served as Shadow Secretary of State for Wales in the Shadow Cabinet of Jeremy Corbyn from 2017 to 2020, and has served as MP for Neath since 2015.[2][3]

Christina Rees

MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Wales
In office
9 February 2017 – 6 April 2020
LeaderJeremy Corbyn
Preceded byJo Stevens
Succeeded byNia Griffith
Member of Parliament
for Neath
Assumed office
7 May 2015
Preceded byPeter Hain
Majority5,637 (15.3%)
Personal details
Born (1954-02-21) 21 February 1954
Kenfig Hill, Bridgend, Wales
Political partyLabour and Co-operative
Spouse(s)Ron Davies
(div. 1999)
Alma materYstrad Mynach College
University of Wales
WebsiteOfficial website

Early life

Rees was born in the village of Kenfig Hill in south Wales. Her father died when she was a young teenager and she was brought up by her mother.[4]

Rees became head girl of Cynffig Comprehensive School and has excelled at a number of sports. Speaking as an adult, she explained that:

'I was very shy when I was a child and was bullied, so my mother sent me to judo classes to strengthen me up. I got a black belt first dan when I was 13'.[4]

Rees has represented Wales Schools at tennis, hockey and athletics. Rees was also a member of the Great Britain Youth Team that competed at the Munich Olympics.[4]

Rees was most successful at squash, a sport for which she has represented Wales over 100 times.[4]

Career

Rees is a qualified barrister.

Rees stood as the Labour candidate for Arfon in the Welsh Assembly elections in May 2011, and was placed fourth on the Labour's Wales wide list for the 2014 European Elections.

Rees first became MP for Neath following the UK general election of 2015.

Rees was appointed a Shadow Justice Minister in January 2016, but quit her position during the mass resignation of Shadow ministers following the EU referendum. She supported Owen Smith in the 2016 Labour Party (UK) leadership election.[5] She later became one of 33 Labour MPs to return to the front bench, again in the position of Shadow Justice Minister. In February 2017, she was appointed to the position of Shadow Secretary of State for Wales.[1]

Rees was reelected at the 2019 general election but with a majority half of that she had in 2017.[6]

In the 2020 Labour Party leadership election, Rees endorsed Keir Starmer for Labour Leader. She also endorsed Angela Rayner for deputy leader.[7]

In April 2020, Rees announced that she wouldn't be returning to the Official Opposition frontbench under Keir Starmer.[8] Rees was replaced in the new Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Welsh Secretary by Nia Griffith.[9]

Personal life

Rees was married to Welsh politician and former Secretary of State for Wales, Ron Davies. The couple divorced in 1999 and have one daughter.[4]

Rees is a vegan.[10]

References
  1. "Christina Rees MP". myparliament.info. MyParliament. Archived from the original on 11 August 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  2. "Election 2015: Neath parliamentary constituency". BBC News. 8 May 2015. Archived from the original on 30 December 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  3. "Election 2017: Neath parliamentary constituency". BBC News. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  4. "Profile: New Shadow Welsh Secretary Christina Rees". BBC News. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  5. Smith, Mikey; Bloom, Dan (20 July 2016). "Which MPs are nominating Owen Smith in the Labour leadership contest?". Mirror. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
  6. Mosalski, Ruth; Bellis, Katie (13 December 2019). "General Election 2019 result for Neath". walesonline. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  7. "Weekly Round-up". Christina Rees. 10 January 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  8. Bartlett, Nicola; Bloom, Dan; Milne, Oliver (6 April 2020). "Keir Starmer's new Labour shadow cabinet unveiled LIVE - with Corbyn allies out". mirror. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  9. "Nia Griffith appointed shadow Welsh secretary". BBC News. 6 April 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  10. "Jeremy Corbyn and other famous vegetarian politicians". BBC News. 28 November 2019.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Peter Hain		 Member of Parliament
for Neath
2015–present		 Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by
Jo Stevens		 Shadow Secretary of State for Wales
2017–2020

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