Jane Hutt
Jane Elizabeth Hutt MS (born 15 December 1949) is a Welsh Labour Party[1] politician and Chief Whip in the Welsh Government. Hutt has represented the Vale of Glamorgan constituency since the Senedd Cymru was established in 1999.
Jane Hutt MS | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Government Chief Whip | |
Assumed office 13 December 2018 | |
First Minister | Mark Drakeford |
Preceded by | Julie James |
In office 19 May 2016 – 3 November 2017 | |
First Minister | Carwyn Jones |
Preceded by | Janice Gregory |
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 |
Member of the Senedd for Vale of Glamorgan | |
Assumed office 6 May 1999 | |
Preceded by | Office established |
Personal details | |
Born | Epsom, England | 15 December 1949
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 |
She served as a Minister continually from May 1999 until November 2017, making her at the time the longest serving Labour Government Minister in history, before being succeeded by former First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones.[2] She was reappointed to government by First Minister Mark Drakeford in December 2018 as Chief Whip, a role now classified as a junior ministerial position.[3] In mid-2019 she again became the longest serving Minister in the cabinet.
Early years
Born in Epsom, Surrey, on 15 December 1949, Hutt's Welsh-speaking grandparents are from North Wales,[4] and her father was the pathologist Michael Hutt.[5] 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 Senedd Cymru 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 then longest serving Labour Minister in UK history. Her record was surpassed in 2018 by Carwyn Jones who served a total of 6,868 days.
She made her first appearance on the back benches on 14 November 2017.[6]
She again returned to the government as Chief Whip on 13 December 2018.
Ministerial Roles
Position | Entered office | Left office | Governments | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Minister for Health and Social Services | 12 May 1999 [7] | 2005 | Michael | ||
Minister for Assembly Business and Chief Whip | 2005 | 31 May 2007 | 2nd Morgan | ||
Minister for Budget and Assembly Business | 31 May 2007 | 19 July 2007 | 3rd Morgan | ||
Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills | 19 July 2007 | Dec 2009 | 4th Morgan | ||
Minister for Budget and Assembly Business | Dec 2009 | May 2011 | 1st Jones | ||
Leader of the House and Minister for Finance | May 2011 | May 2016 | 2nd Jones | ||
Leader of the House and Chief Whip | May 2016 | 3 November 2017 | 3rd Jones | ||
Deputy Minister and Chief Whip | 13 December 2018 | Present | Drakeford |
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.[8] 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.[9] 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.[10]
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.
She left the government during the November 2017 reshuffle, but returned as Chief Whip thirteen months later under new First Minister Mark Drakeford. As of 2020 she is the only MS to have served under all four First Secretaries/Ministers.
Personal life
In July 1984 Hutt married Labour councillor Michael Trickey, they have two daughters.[11]
Offices held
Senedd Cymru | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by (new post) |
Member of the Senedd for Vale of Glamorgan 1999–present |
Incumbent |
Political offices | ||
Preceded by (new post) |
Minister for Health and Social Services 1999–2005 |
Succeeded by Brian Gibbons |
Preceded by Karen Sinclair |
Minister for Assembly Business and Chief Whip 2005–2007 |
Succeeded by (post re-organised) |
Preceded by (new post) |
Minister for Budget and Assembly Business 2007 (31 May to 19 July) |
Succeeded by (post re-organised) |
Preceded by (new post) |
Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills 2007–2009 |
Succeeded by Leighton Andrews |
Preceded by (new post) |
Minister for Business and Budget 2009–2011 |
Succeeded by (post re-organised) |
Preceded by (new post) |
Minister for Finance 2011–2016 |
Succeeded by Mark Drakeford |
Preceded by Janice Gregory |
Leader of the House and Chief Whip 2016–2017 |
Succeeded by Julie James |
Preceded by (post split, Julie James as whip) |
Chief Whip 2018–Present |
Incumbent |
References
- "Member Profile". National Assembly for Wales.
- "Welsh Government cabinet reshuffle". BBC News.
- https://gov.wales/newsroom/firstminister/2018/181213-first-minister-announces-new-cabinet/?lang=en
- "Jane Hutt Biography". Jane Hutt's constituency website. Jane Hutt. 2009. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
- "Munks Roll Details for Michael Stewart Rees Hutt". Munks Roll. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
- "Plenary 14/11/2017". National Assembly for Wales.
- http://www.assembly.wales/Record%20of%20Proceedings%20Documents/The%20Record-12051999-9193/bus-CHAMBER-3986F34C000EB0C00000534000000000-English.pdf
- "Hutt is sacked as health minister". BBC News. 10 January 2005.
- "Minister pledges 'new phase' NHS". BBC News. 14 January 2005.
- "News: The latest news, sport, weather and events from WalesOnline". www.walesonline.co.uk.
- "Jane Hutt". BBC News. 12 May 1998.