Preceded by John Marek Succeeded by Mark Drakeford Party Welsh Labour Preceded by Edwina Hart Role Politician | First Minister Carwyn Jones Name Lesley Griffiths Majority 3,337 (17.9%) Political party Welsh Labour | |
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Building bridges am lesley griffiths address to the delegates
Susan Lesley Griffiths AM (known as Lesley Griffiths, born 1960) is a Welsh Labour politician. She worked as a secretary to John Marek and the constituency assistant to Ian Lucas, successive Members of Parliament for Wrexham, and was elected to the National Assembly for Wales from the Wrexham constituency in 2007. She has held a number of cabinet positions in the Welsh Assembly Government. In December 2009 she was appointed Deputy Minister for Science, Innovation and Skills. In 2011, she was appointed Minister for Health and Social Services. She was then appointed Minister for Local Government and Government Business in March 2013. In September 2014 she was appointed Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty. She is currently Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs following re-election in May 2016.
Contents
- Building bridges am lesley griffiths address to the delegates
- 2003 campaign
- Subsequent elections
- Ministerial responsibility
- References
2003 campaign
After a Labour Party inquiry, where Marek was first contacted by telephone half an hour before the result was announced, the non-selection was upheld, and Marek decided to fight to retain his seat as an Independent. Griffiths faced an uphill battle during the campaign; an early poll showed Marek beating her by 40% to 29%. On polling day, Griffiths had closed the gap but was beaten by 973 votes.
Subsequent elections
Having been a supporter of Wrexham Football Club, Griffiths was elected to the board of the Wrexham Supporters Trust. In December 2005 she was selected again as Labour candidate for the Wrexham constituency for the 2007 Assembly elections. She benefited from high-profile support as the party saw an opportunity to recapture the seat; John Marek appealed to the large Polish immigrant population by translating his election material into Polish. However, Griffiths increased her numerical vote while Marek's vote fell, and she won the seat by 1,250.
In 2011, Griffiths faced Marek for a third time, though by now Marek had joined the Conservatives. Both of them saw increases in their votes compared to 2007, but Griffiths held the seat with an increased majority of 3,337. Griffiths has been re-selected to defend her seat at the 2016 election.
Ministerial responsibility
Griffiths was appointed Deputy Minister for Science, Innovation and Skills in December 2009. After the 2011 election, she was promoted to the Minister for Health and Social Services, a post she held until March 2013 when she was appointed Minister for Local Government and Government Business. In September 2014 she was appointed Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty. She is currently Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs following re-election in May 2016.