Preceded by Karen Sinclair Political party Labour Party Welsh Labour First Minister Carwyn Jones | First Minister Carwyn Jones Role Politician Majority 2,659 (13.3%) Name Ken Skates Succeeded by Julie James | |
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Alma mater University of Cambridge Profiles | ||
Education University of Cambridge | ||
Ken Skates AM, Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure.
Ken Skates AM is a Welsh Labour politician, who has represented the constituency of Clwyd South since the National Assembly for Wales election of 2011. He is an alumnus of the University of Cambridge, and worked as a journalist prior to becoming a politician. In September 2014 he became the deputy minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport. Since May 2016 he has been the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure in the Welsh Government.
Contents
- Ken Skates AM Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure
- Early life and career
- Politics
- References
Early life and career
Skates was born in Wrexham, Wales, and attended Ysgol y Waun in Gwernaffield and the Alun School, Mold, where he studied A-levels in physics, maths, English and politics. After achieving four A grades he went to Cambridge University to study social and political science, specialising in European regional policy and economics.
After graduating, Skates took a gap-period in the United States, before joining The Leader (Wrexham) newspaper. He studied for his NVQ in journalism at Yale College, Wrexham, and then went freelance working for the Daily Express.
Politics
Whilst working as a freelance journalist, Skates began working as office manager for Mark Tami, Welsh Labour MP for Alyn and Deeside. Skates was the lead Labour candidate for the North Wales regional seat in 2007 but wasn't elected. In 2011 he stood and was elected with 42% of the vote in Clwyd South, and was successfully re-elected in 2016.
In 2012 he was one of four AMs to stand up in the Senedd chamber to talk about their experiences with mental health problems.
In June 2013, Skates was appointed by Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones as Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology. In a reshuffle in September 2014 he was made Deputy Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport in September 2014, replacing John Griffiths.
Following his re-election as AM for Clwyd South in the May 2016 Assembly elections, Ken Skates was promoted to Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure in the Welsh Government.