Lynne Neagle (born 18 January 1968) is a Welsh Labour & Co-operative[1] politician serving as Cabinet Secretary for Education since 2024.[2] Born in Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan, Wales, Neagle has been the Member of the Senedd (MS) for the constituency of Torfaen since the Senedd was established in 1999.
Lynne Neagle | |
---|---|
![]() Official portrait, 2024 | |
Cabinet Secretary for Education | |
Assumed office 21 March 2024 | |
First Minister | Vaughan Gething |
Preceded by | Jeremy Miles |
Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing | |
In office 13 May 2021 – 21 March 2024 | |
First Minister | Mark Drakeford |
Preceded by | The Baroness Morgan of Ely |
Succeeded by | Jayne Bryant |
Member of the Senedd for Torfaen | |
Assumed office 6 May 1999 | |
Preceded by | Office Created |
Majority | 5,321 (22.2%) |
Personal details | |
Born | Merthyr Tydfil, Wales | 18 January 1968
Political party | Welsh Labour Co-operative |
Spouse | Huw Lewis |
Children | 2 |
Alma mater | University of Reading |
Occupation | Political advisor |
Website | Welsh Labour |
Background
editNeagle was educated at Cyfarthfa High School, Merthyr Tydfil, and the University of Reading, where she read French and Italian.
She is a former Voluntary Sector Carer and Careers Development Officer. Neagle was also a research assistant to Glenys Kinnock MEP[3] from 1994 to 1997.[4]
Political career
editFirst and Second Senedds (1999-2007)
editNeagle was elected to the Senedd in 1999 as a Labour candidate to represent Torfaen. Neagle was an ally of Alun Michael during his leadership of the Welsh Labour party.[5]
Later in the first term, she was appointed to the role of Chair of the Welsh Labour group in the Senedd.[6] She initially opposed coalition with the Welsh Liberal Democrats, and supported a motion that would have required any coalition from the 2003 Assembly election onward to go to a vote of Welsh Labour members.[7] However, she later said that the 'alternative was worse' and supported the formation of a coalition.[8]
She was occasionally critical of policy of the Morgan government, including the party's health policy, around a lack of targets[6][9] and around funding,[10] and the elimination of school league tables.[11]
She was re-elected in 2003 with a majority of 6,964 votes.[12] She was a member of the Standards committe during the Second Assembly.[13]
Third Senedd (2007-2011)
editNeagle was critical of the creation of a coalition with Plaid Cymru.[14][15][16] In emails leaked to the Western Mail at the time, she stated she wanted "no stone left unturned" in terms of avoiding a Labour-Plaid coalition, by re-engaging the Welsh Liberal Democrats in talks.[17] She wrote to criticise the coalition in the Western Mail, saying "The facts as I see them in the One Wales document points to a fundamental and detrimental change in direction for Welsh politics. They are not facts I can ignore."[15][14]
Neagle was appointed a member of the Finance committee in the Third Assembly.[18] She was also appointed as one of four Labour AMs to sit on the steering group of the 2007 Constitutional Convention on Wales' future, chaired by Sir Emyr Jones Parry.[19]
In 2009 Neagle proposed to make the MMR vaccine compulsory, amid an outbreak of Measles in Wales.[20]
She supported her husband, Huw Lewis's effort to become leader of the Welsh Labour Party in the 2009 leadership contest.[21] He was not successful, with Carwyn Jones being selected to lead the party.
Ahead of the 2011 elections she was adopted as a Labour & Co-operative candidate.[22]
Fourth and Fifth Senedd (2011-2021)
editNeagle was re-elected at the 2011 Assembly elections, with a majority of 6,088 votes.[23] She was appointed to the Children and young people and Health and social care committees for the fourth assembly.[24]
At the 2016 Senedd election she was again re-elected, with a majority of 4,498 votes.[25] She was appointed to chair the children, young people and education committee.[26]
Neagle was one of a number of AMs to back a statement calling for the UK to remain within the European Economic Area.[27]
She supported Vaughan Gething in the 2018 Welsh Labour leadership election.[28]
Sixth Senedd (2021-)
editNeagle was re-elected at the 2021 Senedd election, with a majority of 5,321 votes.[29] Neagle was appointed as Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing by First Minister Mark Drakeford shortly after.[30]
Neagle supported Vaughan Gething in the February-March 2024 Welsh Labour leadership election.[31] After Gething won the leadership election, Neagle was appointed as Cabinet Secretary for Education in the Gething government.[32]
Personal life
editNeagle is married to Huw Lewis, the former Senedd Member for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney.[33] They have two children, James and Sam.[34]
References
edit- ^ "Lynne Neagle MS". senedd.wales.
- ^ "First Minister Vaughan Gething announces new Welsh Government Cabinet | GOV.WALES". www.gov.wales. 21 March 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ "TORFAEN: Constituency profile". South Wales Argus. 28 April 2011.
- ^ Mulholland, Hélène (13 November 2018). "Lynne Neagle: 'Building resilience in young people is vital'". The Guardian. London.
- ^ Lyons, Jamie (10 February 2000). "Labour whips resign as Michael goes". Press Association.
- ^ a b Betts, Clive (15 February 2001). "Steady as you go, Morgan Cautions". Western Mail. p. 8.
- ^ "Labour grassroots to rebel against coalition". Western Mail. 27 February 2001. p. 2.
- ^ "'No alternative to coalition'". Western Mail. 5 March 2001. p. 8.
- ^ Betts, Clive (14 February 2001). "AMs refuse to back strategy for NHS". Western Mail. p. 5.
- ^ "Pressure mounts of Hutt to boost funding to cut waiting lists". Western Mail. 13 February 2003. p. 9.
- ^ "Schools tables row". Daily Post (North Wales). 2 November 2001. p. 3.
- ^ "BBC NEWS | VOTE 2003 | Torfaen". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ Shipton, Martin (5 July 2004). "'Shocking' email intervention". Western Mail. p. 2. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ a b Shipton, Martin (4 July 2007). "Howells in attack on Plaid pact". The Western Mail. p. 1. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ a b Davies, Daniel (4 July 2007). "Neagle breaks ranks over coalition deal". Press Association Newswire: Wales.
- ^ Shipton, Martin; Brindley, Madeleine (29 June 2007). "Labour row over coalition deal". The Western Mail. p. 2.
- ^ Shipton, Martin (15 June 2007). "Emails expose Labour rift". The Western Mail. p. 1. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ Livingstone, Tomos (3 December 2007). "'Rethink Budget or NHS and council cash could run dry'". The Western Mail. p. 1.
- ^ Livingstone, Tomos (18 December 2007). "'We must engage with the people of Wales over a referendum'". The Western Mail. p. 6.
- ^ Brindley, Madeleine (2 June 2009). "Support grows for AM's big to make MMR jabs compulsory". The Western Mail. p. 14. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ Williamson, David (3 October 2009). "The race is on as would-be leaders bid for support". The Western Mail. p. 4.
- ^ "Annual Report 2011". Co-operative Party. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ "BBC News - Election 2011 - Wales - Torfaen". BBC News. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ Wright, Benjamin (22 June 2011). "Full list of committees". Press Association Newswire: Wales.
- ^ "Election results for Torfaen, 6 May 2016". business.senedd.wales. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ Craig, Ian (29 June 2016). "Gwent AMs to head Assembly committees". South Wales Argus.
- ^ Williamson, David (26 February 2018). "Labour backs UK staying in customs union on heels of a Welsh warning". The Western Mail. pp. 6–7.
- ^ "Labour AMs back Vaughan Gething for Welsh Labour leadership in open letter". ITV News Wales. 25 May 2018.
- ^ "Election results for Torfaen, 6 May 2021". business.senedd.wales. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ "Written Statement: Cabinet appointments to the new Welsh Government (13 May 2021)". Welsh Government. 13 May 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ "Vaughan Gething announces Welsh first minister bid". BBC News. 14 December 2023. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ Mosalski, Ruth (21 March 2024). "Vaughan Gething confirms new-look Welsh Government cabinet". Wales Online. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ Shipton, Martin (21 May 2009). "Married AMs speak out over second home expense claims". WalesOnline.
- ^ "Lewis pitches as 'radical' leader". BBC News. 9 October 2009.
External links
editOffices held
edit