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'''Victoria Kirstyn Williams''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR-cats|CBE|AM}} (born 19 March 1971) is a [[Wales|Welsh]] [[politician]]. She is the leader of the [[Welsh Liberal Democrats]] and the [[National Assembly for Wales|Member of the Welsh Assembly]] for [[Brecon and Radnorshire (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Brecon and Radnorshire]].
'''Victoria Kirstyn Williams''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR-cats|CBE|AM}} (born 19 March 1971) is a [[Wales|Welsh]] [[politician]]. She is the leader of the [[Welsh Liberal Democrats]] and the [[National Assembly for Wales|Member of the Welsh Assembly]] for [[Brecon and Radnorshire (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Brecon and Radnorshire]].


==Early and personal life==
⚫
==Political career==
Williams was born in [[Taunton]], [[Somerset]] to Welsh parents, whilst her [[librarian]] father was working there. In 1974 the family moved to the village of [[Bynea]], [[Carmarthenshire]], where she grew up.<ref name=NAWBio/>


Williams was educated at [[St Michael’s School]], [[Llanelli]], before graduating from the both the [[University of Manchester]] and the [[University of Missouri]]. She then returned to work for [[Carmarthenshire College]], and then in marketing for a small business in Cardiff.<ref name=NAWBio/>
⚫
[[File:Kirsty Williams AM at Harrogate.jpg|thumb|left|Kirsty Williams addressing the [[Liberal Democrats]] conference in the [[Harrogate International Centre]] in 2009]]

Married to a farmer, the couple have three daughters and live on the family farm outside [[Brecon]].<ref name=NAWBio>{{cite web|url=http://senedd.assemblywales.org/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=184|title=Kirsty Williams AM|publisher=[[National Assembly for Wales]]|accessdate=8 July 2014}}</ref>

⚫
==Political career==
⚫
[[File:Kirsty Williams AM at Harrogate.jpg|thumb|left|Williams addressing the [[Liberal Democrats]] conference in the [[Harrogate International Centre]] in 2009]]


In the [[United Kingdom general election, 1997|1997 General Election]] she contested the constituency of [[Ogmore (UK Parliament constituency)|Ogmore]] coming third. For a long time she was a keen advocate of a Welsh Assembly, and campaigned hard in the [[Welsh devolution referendum, 1997|1997 referendum]] for the creation of the [[National Assembly for Wales]]. She was subsequently appointed to the National Assembly Advisory Group by [[Welsh Secretary]] [[Ron Davies (British politician)|Ron Davies]].<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite news | title=BBC News AMs profile | work=BBC | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/uk/wales/13111.stm Kirsty Williams| accessdate=1999-09-01}}</ref>
In the [[United Kingdom general election, 1997|1997 General Election]] she contested the constituency of [[Ogmore (UK Parliament constituency)|Ogmore]] coming third. For a long time she was a keen advocate of a Welsh Assembly, and campaigned hard in the [[Welsh devolution referendum, 1997|1997 referendum]] for the creation of the [[National Assembly for Wales]]. She was subsequently appointed to the National Assembly Advisory Group by [[Welsh Secretary]] [[Ron Davies (British politician)|Ron Davies]].<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite news | title=BBC News AMs profile | work=BBC | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/uk/wales/13111.stm Kirsty Williams| accessdate=1999-09-01}}</ref>

Revision as of 12:10, 8 July 2014

For the BBC Radio Drama director and producer, see Kirsty Williams (drama).
Kirsty Williams
CBE AM
Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats
Assumed office
8 December 2008
Preceded byMike German
Member of the Welsh Assembly
for Brecon and Radnorshire
Assumed office
6 May 1999
Preceded byNew Assembly
Majority2,757 (9.7%)
Personal details
Born (1971-03-19) 19 March 1971 (age 53)
Taunton, Somerset, United Kingdom
Political partyLiberal Democrats
SpouseRichard Rees
Alma materUniversity of Manchester

Victoria Kirstyn Williams CBE AM (born 19 March 1971) is a Welsh politician. She is the leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats and the Member of the Welsh Assembly for Brecon and Radnorshire.

Early and personal life

Williams was born in Taunton, Somerset to Welsh parents, whilst her librarian father was working there. In 1974 the family moved to the village of Bynea, Carmarthenshire, where she grew up.[1]

Williams was educated at St Michael’s School, Llanelli, before graduating from the both the University of Manchester and the University of Missouri. She then returned to work for Carmarthenshire College, and then in marketing for a small business in Cardiff.[1]

Married to a farmer, the couple have three daughters and live on the family farm outside Brecon.[1]

Political career

Williams addressing the Liberal Democrats conference in the Harrogate International Centre in 2009

In the 1997 General Election she contested the constituency of Ogmore coming third. For a long time she was a keen advocate of a Welsh Assembly, and campaigned hard in the 1997 referendum for the creation of the National Assembly for Wales. She was subsequently appointed to the National Assembly Advisory Group by Welsh Secretary Ron Davies.[2]

In her first term she became her party's health spokesman. She also served as Chair of the Welsh Assembly Health and Social Care Committee between 1999 and 2003.[3]

In the 2006 Welsh Yearbook Political Awards, she was voted "Member to Watch 2006" [4] In a poll at the end of 2006, Williams was voted "Sexiest female Liberal Democrat" on the award-winning blog by Stephen Tall.[5]

On 8 December 2008 Williams became leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, having defeated Cardiff Central Assembly Member Jenny Randerson.[6]

In 2011, as leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, she agreed to support the Welsh Labour Government's 2012-2013 £14.5bn Budget on the basis, amongst other things, of securing the Welsh Pupil Premium: an extra £20m to spend on the education of the poorest pupils.[7] Teaching Unions welcomed the deal, with ATL Cymru director Philip Dixon saying: "Our children are our future and investment in them is investment for all. Labour and the Lib Dems deserve credit for ensuring that our children, especially those in most need, will now get a better start in life."[8]

In 2013, Kirsty and the Welsh Liberal Democrats more than doubled investment for the Welsh Pupil Premium in exchange for abstaining on the Welsh Government’s annual budget.[9]

Kirsty has gained a strong reputation for her campaigning on health issues. In 2012, the Welsh Government agreed to take forward the Welsh Liberal Democrat idea of a Health Technology Fund – to allow patients better access to innovative treatments.[10] The following year, the Welsh Liberal Democrats achieved a further £9.5m investment into the Health Technology Fund as well as the establishment of a £50m Intermediate Care Fund to drive integration of health, social services and housing.[11]

Kirsty has a long running ‘More Nurses’ campaign where she is calling for there to be a law requiring minimum staffing levels for nurses in Welsh hospitals. In 2014, Assembly Members voted to allow Kirsty’s proposed legislation on this issue to be taken to the next legislative stage.[12]

In December 2012, Kirsty won ITV Wales' Assembly Member of the Year Award in a ceremony at Cardiff's City Hall. In the Queen's Birthday Honours 2013 Williams was appointed Commander of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for public and political service.[13]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Kirsty Williams AM". National Assembly for Wales. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  2. ^ Kirsty Williams "BBC News AMs profile". BBC. Retrieved 1999-09-01. {{cite news}}: Check |url= value (help); Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  3. ^ "Kirsty Williams". People in the Assembly. BBC. 12 May 1998. Retrieved 2009-08-22.
  4. ^ ITV Local: news, weather, entertainment and more where you live
  5. ^ A Liberal Goes A Long Way: Sexiest female and male Lib Dems - final poll results
  6. ^ "Williams election 'breaks mould'". BBC News. 8 December 2008. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  7. ^ "Welsh budget: Labour and Lib Dems reach agreement". BBC News. 25 November 2011. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
  8. ^ "Welsh budget deal: Teachers welcome poor pupil cash boost". BBC News. 26 November 2011. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
  9. ^ Williams, Kirsty. "Kirsty Williams writes... Welsh Lib Dems more than double Welsh Pupil Premium". Liberal Democrat Voice. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  10. ^ "Welsh Government praise for Lib Dem ideas". ITV. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  11. ^ ""Delivering our priorities: A fair Budget for Wales" – Jane Hutt". Welsh Government. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  12. ^ "Nurse numbers law plans to be scrutinised". BBC. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  13. ^ "No. 60534". The London Gazette (invalid |supp= (help)). 15 June 2013.

External links

Offices held

Senedd
New creation Assembly Member for Brecon and Radnorshire
1999 – present 		Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the National Assembly
2008 – present 		Incumbent
Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats
2008 – present

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