Jane Elizabeth Hutt CBE (born 15 December 1949) is a Welsh Labour politician serving as Welsh Government Chief Whip since 2023, Trefnydd of the Senedd since March 2024 and Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice since July 2024.[a][1][2] She has served as the Member of the Senedd (MS) for the Vale of Glamorgan since 1999.[3]
Jane Hutt | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Official portrait, 2024 | |
| Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice[a] | |
| Assumed office 17 July 2024 | |
| First Minister | Vaughan Gething Eluned Morgan |
| Preceded by | Lesley Griffiths |
| In office 13 May 2021 – 20 March 2024 | |
| First Minister | Mark Drakeford |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Lesley Griffiths |
| Trefnydd of the Senedd | |
| Assumed office 21 March 2024 | |
| First Minister | Vaughan Gething Eluned Morgan |
| Preceded by | Lesley Griffiths |
| In office 10 December 2009 – 3 November 2017 | |
| First Minister | Carwyn Jones |
| Preceded by | Carwyn Jones |
| Succeeded by | Julie James |
| In office 10 September 2005 – 19 July 2007 | |
| First Minister | Rhodri Morgan |
| Preceded by | Karen Sinclair |
| Succeeded by | Carl Sargeant |
| Welsh Government Chief Whip | |
| Assumed office 2 May 2023 | |
| First Minister | Mark Drakeford Vaughan Gething Eluned Morgan |
| Preceded by | Dawn Bowden |
| In office 13 December 2018 – 13 May 2021 | |
| First Minister | Mark Drakeford |
| Preceded by | Julie James |
| Succeeded by | Dawn Bowden |
| In office 19 May 2016 – 3 November 2017 | |
| First Minister | Carwyn Jones |
| Preceded by | Janice Gregory |
| Succeeded by | Julie James |
| Minister for Finance | |
| In office 10 December 2009 – 19 May 2016 | |
| First Minister | Carwyn Jones |
| Preceded by | Andrew Davies |
| Succeeded by | Mark Drakeford |
| In office 31 May 2007 – 19 July 2007 | |
| First Minister | Rhodri Morgan |
| Preceded by | Sue Essex |
| Succeeded by | Andrew Davies |
| Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills | |
| In office 19 July 2007 – 10 December 2009 | |
| First Minister | Rhodri Morgan |
| Preceded by | Carwyn Jones (Education, Culture and the Welsh Language) |
| Succeeded by | Leighton Andrews (Children, Education and Lifelong Learning) |
| Minister for Equalities and Children | |
| In office 10 September 2005 – 31 May 2007 | |
| First Minister | Rhodri Morgan |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Office abolished |
| Minister for Health and Social Services | |
| In office 12 May 1999 – 10 September 2005 | |
| First Minister | Rhodri Morgan Alun Michael |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Brian Gibbons |
| Member of the Senedd for Vale of Glamorgan | |
| Assumed office 6 May 1999 | |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Majority | 3,270 (7.6%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 December 1949 Epsom, England |
| Political party | Welsh Labour |
| Spouse | Michael Trickey |
| Children | 2 daughters |
| Alma mater | University of Kent London School of Economics University of Bristol |
| Occupation | Politician, trade unionist |
| Website | janehutt.wales |
A member of the Parliament since its creation, Hutt holds the record for the longest serving Welsh Government minister and has served in every administration to date. She served continually in government from May 1999 until the November 2017 reshuffle, returning in December 2018. Hutt has held several of the most senior government offices, including Minister for Finance, Minister for Health and Social Services, and Minister for Education.
Early years
editBorn 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 was educated at Surbiton High School and 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 M.Sc. at the University of Bristol in 1995.[6]
Professional career
editHutt 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
editHutt 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 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.[7]
She again returned to the government as Chief Whip on 13 December 2018.
Ministerial roles
editFollowing 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. She is the only MS to have served as a Minister in every Welsh Government to date, serving in the cabinet of six First Ministers.
Hutt was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2023 Birthday Honours for political and public service.[11]
Personal life
editIn July 1984, Hutt married Labour councillor Michael Trickey. They have two daughters.[12]
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ "First Minister Vaughan Gething announces new Welsh Government Cabinet | GOV.WALES". www.gov.wales. 21 March 2024. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
- ^ "Vaughan Gething: Jeremy Miles likely to bid to be Wales first minister". BBC News. 16 July 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
- ^ "Member Profile". National Assembly for Wales.
- ^ "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. Archived from the original on 10 August 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
- ^ Anderson, Linda; Bright, Bob; Kimber, Jon (2 March 1983). General Election Guide, 1983. BBC Data Publications. ISBN 9780946358151 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Plenary 14/11/2017". National Assembly for Wales.
- ^ "Hutt is sacked as health minister". BBC News. 10 January 2005.
- ^ "Minister pledges 'new phase' NHS". BBC News. 14 January 2005.
- ^ Shipton, Martin (11 January 2005). "Attacks forced Rhodri to ditch Hutt". WalesOnline. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
- ^ "No. 64082". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 June 2023. p. B9.
- ^ "Jane Hutt". BBC News. 12 May 1998.