Christine Gwyther Explained

Christine Gwyther
Office:Secretary for Agricultural and Rural Economy
Firstminister:Alun Michael
Term Start:12 May 1999
Term End:15 February 2000
Predecessor:position established
Successor:Carwyn Jones
Constituency Am1:Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire
Assembly1:National Assembly for WalesWelsh
Term Start1:6 May 1999
Term End1:3 May 2007
Predecessor1:New Assembly
Successor1:Angela Burns
Birth Place:Pembroke Dock, Wales
Party:Labour
Occupation:Politician

Christine Margery Gwyther (born 1959) is a Welsh Labour politician. She won the Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire constituency seat in the first National Assembly for Wales elections in 1999 and held it until 2007. She lost her seat in the 2007 Welsh Assembly Elections, to Conservative candidate Angela Burns.

Background

Gwyther was born in Pembroke Dock. Before going into politics, she worked as a Pembrokeshire County Council Development Officer.

Political career

During the first term of the Assembly, Gwyther was the Minister of Agriculture under the leadership of Alun Michael. She is a vegetarian and as a result was criticised by some farmers and opposition parties.[1] [2] She introduced organic, dairy, red meat and diversification support, as well as a sustainable development scheme for Wales.

In 2000, on the eve of the Royal Welsh Show, she was dismissed from her post as Welsh agriculture minister by First Minister, Rhodri Morgan.[3]

For most of her years at the National Assembly Christine Gwyther chaired the Economic Development and Transport Committee. She was a founder member of the National Assembly Sustainable Energy Group.

She was one of two candidates to be nominated for the 2012 Police and Crime Commissioner for the Dyfed–Powys Police region,[4] losing to the Conservative Christopher Salmon.[5]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: 15 September 1999: No confidence motion . 4 March 2024 . BBC News . 15 September 1999.
  2. News: Marks . Kathy . Vegetarian is farming chief . 4 March 2024 . Independent . 14 May 1999.
  3. Web site: Timing of sacking raises assembly questions . 2000-06-25 . Gibbs . Geoffrey . guardian.co.uk . Guardian News and Media Limited.
  4. Web site: Police and Crime Commissioner nominations deadline passes. 19 October 2012. www.bbc.co.uk.
  5. Web site: Police commissioner: Dyfed-Powys elects Conservative Christopher Salmon. 16 November 2012. www.bbc.co.uk.