Mick Antoniw

Mick Antoniw (Ukrainian: Мік Антонів; born 1 September 1954) is a Welsh Labour & Co-operative politician who has been the Member of the Senedd for Pontypridd since 2011.

Mick Antoniw
MS
Мік Антонів
Member of the Senedd
for Pontypridd
Assumed office
6 May 2011
First MinisterCarwyn Jones
Preceded byJane Davidson
Majority7,694 (33%)
Counsel General for Wales
In office
27 June 2016 – 14 November 2017
Preceded byTheodore Huckle
Succeeded byJeremy Miles
Personal details
Born (1954-09-01) 1 September 1954
Political partyLabour Co-operative
Alma materUniversity of Wales
OccupationLawyer
WebsiteWelsh Labour

Early life

Antoniw comes from a Ukrainian family[1] and came to the UK as a result of his father seeking refugee status in the UK following World War II. [2]

Antoniw came to Wales to study law at the Cardiff Law School, University of Wales in 1973.[3] He was President of the National Union of Students Wales from 1977 to 1979.[3]

Professional career

He was a practising solicitor before his election to the Senedd, specialising in personal injury. Antoniw was a partner in Thompsons Solicitors, the specialist trade union solicitors, with whom he began his training in 1980.[4] He is a trustee of the Welsh Refugee Council.[3][4]

Personal life

Antoniw has fostered dozens of other people's children in the 15 years prior to his election, saying "I know from my own experience of fostering how rewarding it is - and while often very challenging, the one thing it teaches is how quickly children can suddenly bloom when they are in a loving and caring environment."[5]

Political career

Antoniw was a leading member of the Wales Anti-apartheid Movement (WAAM) during the 1980s.[6] In 1981 he was elected as a Labour councilor to the South Glamorgan County Council for the Court ward, gaining the seat from the Conservatives. He was re-elected in 1985 but did not seek re-election in 1989.

At the 2011 Welsh Assembly election, Antoniw increased the Labour vote with a swing of 18.8%. His 11,864 votes amounted to over 50% of the poll; his majority over the second-placed Welsh Liberal Democrats candidate, Mike Powell, was 7,694.[7] At the 2016 Welsh Assembly election Antoniw's vote fell to 9,986 and his majority was reduced.[8]

He was appointed as Counsel General for Wales in June 2016. However, he departed from this role in November 2017 as part of a Government reshuffle, being replaced by Jeremy Miles.[9]

Antoniw is a fluent Ukrainian speaker and has used his knowledge of the language when meeting with Ukrainian officials including deputy prime minister Volodymyr Groysman at international summits, such as the European Union Committee of the Regions. He has stated that he is a supporter of Ukrainian accession to the European Union, a supporter of the country joining NATO, and does not support Ukrainian federalism.[10]

Honours and Awards

References
  1. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-wales-politics-35326649/am-mick-antoniw-ukrainian-festivities-for-new-year
  2. https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/ukrainian-speaking-welsh-am-mick-antoniw-6915032
  3. "Mick Antoniw - about me". Mick Antoniw. 2011. Archived from the original on 21 August 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2011.
  4. "Mick Antoniw - Pontypridd". Welsh Labour website. Welsh Labour. 2011. Archived from the original on 3 May 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2011.
  5. "'Urgent' for call for foster parents". South Wales Echo.
  6. "Wales Anti-Apartheid Movement Papers". National Library of Wales. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  7. www.walesonline-Labour AM Mick Antoniw accused of blocking employee from attending council meetings
  9. Williamson, David (3 November 2017). "The full details of Carwyn Jones' Welsh Government reshuffle". Walesonline. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  10. https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/ukrainian-speaking-welsh-am-mick-antoniw-6915032
  11. "Jack Laurenson: Ukraine's Friend and Foe of the Week | KyivPost - Ukraine's Global Voice". KyivPost. Retrieved 25 February 2020.

Offices held
Senedd Cymru
Preceded by
Jane Davidson		 [[Member of the Senedd]] for Pontypridd
2011–present		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
Legal offices
Preceded by
Theodore Huckle		 Counsel General for Wales
2016–2017		 Succeeded by
Jeremy Miles
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