Name Veronica German Children Three children Role Politician | Residence Newport, Wales Spouse Mike German, Baron German Religion Christian | |
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Succeeded by Lindsay Whittle (Plaid) Born 12 February 1957 (age 67) ( 1957-02-12 ) Portfolio Health, Local Government and Equalities | ||
Preceded by Mike German (Lib Dem) Political party Welsh Liberal Democrats | ||
Veronica Kathleen German (née Hopkins; born 12 February 1957) is a Liberal Democrat politician and a former member of the National Assembly of Wales. She was a list member for South Wales East between 2010 and 2011.
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Background
German has lived in the Newport and Cwmbran area for nearly 30 years. She graduated at Aston University where she studied Chemical Engineering, as well as achieving a Masters in Biochemical Engineering at the University of Birmingham. While a third year student as part of her "sandwich degree" course, she was assigned to the pilot plant at Cadburys Bournville when they were developing the production of bubbles into the Cadbury Wispa chocolate bar where she "served" under her head of Dept. Dave Green.
She was a teacher for 25 years, where she taught Science, Maths and ICT in many schools across the former Gwent LEA area.
German has three children by her previous marriage, all born and brought up in the Newport West constituency and educated locally at schools in Caerleon.
Political career
German served as a Newport Liberal Democrat councillor between 2004 and 2008. In May 2008, she was elected as a Torfaen councillor representing the people of Llanyrafon North.
In May 2010, the then Assembly Member for South Wales East, Mike German, was named to the House of Lords as a 'working peer' in the Dissolution Honours list. She succeeded him, as she was the next candidate on the regional party list in 2007.
German took up her seat as Assembly Member for South Wales East in July 2010, making her the first new member of the Assembly since 2007. Immediately after taking up her new position, German pledged to continue to campaign for the tolls at Severn Bridge to be reduced.
Whist an Assembly Member, she was the Welsh Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Health, Local Government and Equalities, as well as a member of the Petitions Committee; the Equal Opportunities Committee; the Health, Wellbeing and Local Government Committee; and Legislation Committee No. 3.
She failed to retain her list seat in the 2011 election. She contested the Monmouth assembly constituency during the National Assembly for Wales election, 2016 but came sixth and lost her deposit.