Jeffrey Cuthbert Explained

Jeff Cuthbert
Office:Gwent Police and Crime Commissioner
Term Start:12 May 2016
Term End:8 May 2024
Predecessor:Ian Johnston
Successor:Jane Mudd
Constituency Am4:Caerphilly
Assembly4:National Assembly for WalesWelsh
Term Start4:1 May 2003
Term End4:6 April 2016
Predecessor4:Ron Davies
Successor4:Hefin David
Office2:Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty
Firstminister2:Carwyn Jones
Deputy2:Vaughan Gething
Term Start2:26 June 2013 [1]
Term End2:11 September 2014 [2]
Predecessor2:Huw Lewis
Successor2:Lesley Griffiths
Office3:Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology
Firstminister3:Carwyn Jones
Term Start3:14 March 2012 [3]
Term End3:26 June 2013
Predecessor3:Huw Lewis
Successor3:Lesley Griffiths
Birth Date:1948 6, df=yes
Birth Place:Glasgow, Scotland
Party:Welsh Labour[4]
Alma Mater:University College, Cardiff
Occupation:Trade unionist
Portfolio:Deputy Minister for Skills
Website:Welsh Labour

Jeffrey Hambley Cuthbert (born 4 June 1948) is a Welsh politician. He served as Gwent Police and Crime Commissioner from 2016 to 2024. Cuthbert served as a Labour Party member of the National Assembly for Wales for Caerphilly from 2003 to 2016. He began his career in the mining industry and later worked for the Welsh Joint Education Committee (as it was then) as head of the Asset to Industry Unit.

Biography

Cuthbert was born in Glasgow to a Welsh mother and Scottish father, but brought up in Cardiff, where he attended Whitchurch County Secondary Modern followed by studying mining engineering at University College, Cardiff. He joined the Labour Party in the mid-1960s. As a mining engineer he worked at Markham and Oakdale pits.

A member of the Militant group from the mid-60s to early-80s,[5] [6] Cuthbert later became Chair of Caerphilly Constituency Labour Party. He left the mining industry to develop qualifications for Modern Apprenticeships with WJEC, and became a Corporate Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. He was a governor of the Lewis School, Pengam, and served as principal of a part-time Adult Education Centre at Aberbargoed.

In the 2003 election to the National Assembly for Wales, Cuthbert was selected at the last minute to replace Ron Davies who stood down following a sex scandal. He increased the Labour majority in the Caerphilly constituency.

Cuthbert was appointed chair of the Objective One Programme Monitoring Committee for Wales in 2004, and subsequently chair of its All-Wales successor body in 2007. He is a chair of the Assembly's Cross-Party Groups on Healthy Living and the Built Environment; and is co-chair of the Cross-Party Group on Beer and the Pub. As an active trade unionist, he is co-ordinator of the UNITE Group of Labour Assembly Members. At the 2007 election he successfully defended his seat after Ron Davies, challenged to regain it as an Independent candidate.

At the 2011 Welsh General Election, Cuthbert successfully defended his seat once again, after another challenge from Davies, who this time stood for Plaid Cymru.

In March 2012 he was appointed Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology and joined the Cabinet in June 2013 as Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty in the Welsh Government.[7] [8]

In September 2014 he announced his decision to stand down as Caerphilly AM at the 2016 elections. Because of that, he also stood down from the Welsh Government Cabinet.[9]

Between May 2016 and May 2024 Cuthbert was Gwent Police and Crime Commissioner.[10] On 2 May 2024 he was replaced by Labour's Jane Mudd.[11]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Huw Lewis is named Wales education minister. BBC News . 26 June 2013.
  2. News: Leighton Andrews rejoins cabinet in reshuffle. BBC News . 11 September 2014.
  3. News: Welsh government reshuffle: Mark Drakeford new health minister. BBC News . 14 March 2013.
  4. Web site: National Assembly for Wales - Assembly Member details - Jeff Cuthbert . 9 May 2011 . 24 May 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110524105257/http://senedd.assemblywales.org/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=139 . dead .
  5. Matthew Brown, "ILP@120: Growing Up in an ILP Household ", Independent Labour Publications website 27 February 2013
  6. Kevin Maguire, "Plunge in turnout undermines assembly status", The Guardian, 2 May 2003.
  7. National Assembly for Wales Website http://senedd.assemblywales.org/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=139
  8. Web site: Promotions for Caerphilly County Borough AMs. 28 June 2013.
  9. Web site: Caerphilly AM Jeff Cuthbert to stand down at 2016 Assembly Election. 11 September 2014.
  10. Web site: Jeff Cuthbert - Choose My Police and Crime Commissioner. www.choosemypcc.org.uk.
  11. Web site: 2024-05-03 . First female police and crime commissioner elected in Wales . BBC News . 9 May 2024.