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Rebecca Evans (politician)

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Rebecca Evans
Official portrait, 2024
Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
Assumed office
11 September 2024
First MinisterEluned Morgan
Preceded byKen Skates
Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office[a]
In office
13 December 2018 – 11 September 2024
First MinisterMark Drakeford
Vaughan Gething
Eluned Morgan
Preceded byMark Drakeford
Succeeded byMark Drakeford
Minister for Local Government
In office
13 May 2021 – 20 March 2024
First MinisterMark Drakeford
Preceded byJulie James
Succeeded byJulie James
Trefnydd of the Senedd
In office
13 December 2018 – 13 May 2021
First MinisterMark Drakeford
Preceded byJulie James
Succeeded byLesley Griffiths
Minister for Housing and Regeneration
In office
3 November 2017 – 13 December 2018
First MinisterCarwyn Jones
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byHannah Blythyn
Minister for Social Services and Public Health
In office
19 May 2016 – 3 November 2017
First MinisterCarwyn Jones
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byHuw Irranca-Davies (Children and Social Care)
Deputy Minister for Farming and Food
In office
8 July 2014 – 19 May 2016
First MinisterCarwyn Jones
Preceded byAlun Davies (Agriculture)
Succeeded byHannah Blythyn (Minister for the Environment)
Member of the Senedd
for Gower
Assumed office
6 May 2016
Preceded byEdwina Hart
Majority4,795 (14.4%)
Member of the Senedd
for Mid and West Wales
In office
5 May 2011 – 6 May 2016
Preceded byAlun Davies
Succeeded byEluned Morgan
Personal details
Born (1976-08-02) 2 August 1976 (age 48)[citation needed]
Bridgend, Wales
Political partyWelsh Labour and Co-operative
Alma materSidney Sussex College, Cambridge
University of Leeds

Rebecca Mary Evans (born 2 August 1976) is a Welsh Labour and Co-operative politician who has served as Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Energy and Planning since September 2024. She previously served as Cabinet Secretary for Finance from 2018 to 2024,[1] and for the Constitution and Cabinet Office in 2024. Evans has served as the Member of the Senedd (MS) for Gower since 2016,[2] and a Member for Mid and West Wales from 2011 to 2016.

Evans has previously served in other roles in the Welsh Government, such as the Deputy Minister for Farming and Food (2014–16), Minister for Social Care and Public Health (2016–17) and Minister for Housing and Regeneration (2017–18). She was Trefnydd (Leader) of the Senedd from 2018 to 2021.

Early life and career

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Evans was born in Bridgend, Wales in 1976.[3] She obtained a BA degree in history at the University of Leeds,[2] and an MPhil in Historical Studies at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge.[2]

She worked as Policy and Public Affairs Officer for a national charity representing disabled people and their families. Evans is also a former Welsh Labour Organiser for Mid and West Wales, and a former Senior Researcher and Communications Officer for an Assembly Member.

Member of the Senedd

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Evans was elected in 2011 as one of four regional MSs representing Mid and West Wales in the Senedd for Labour.[4] At the 2016 election, she was elected as the Labour Co-operative member[5] for the Gower constituency and was re-elected in 2021.

Between her election in 2011 and her promotion to ministerial office, Evans served on the National Assembly for Wales’ Environment and Sustainable Development Committee and its Common Agricultural Policy Task and Finish Group, the Heath and Social Care Committee, and the Children, Young People and Education Committee. She has also served as chair of the Cross-party group on Nursing and midwifery, the cross-party group on mental health and was the co-chair of the cross-party group on disability.

Ministerial career

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On 8 July 2014, Evans joined the Welsh Government as the Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, in a minor reshuffle following the sacking of Alun Davies.[6] The office was renamed to Deputy Minister for Farming and Food in September 2014.[7]

Following the 2016 Assembly election, she was appointed to the new role of Minister for Social Care and Public Health. She moved to another new role as Minister for Housing and Regeneration in a reshuffle on 3 November 2017.[8]

In December 2018, Evans joined Mark Drakeford's first Cabinet as the Minister for Finance and Trefnydd (Leader) of the Senedd.

Evans introduced and was the government minister responsible for the Welsh Tax Acts etc. (Power to Modify) Act 2022 which allowed the Welsh government to amend tax law using statutory instruments.[9]

References

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  1. ^ "First Minister Vaughan Gething announces new Welsh Government Cabinet | GOV.WALES". www.gov.wales. 21 March 2024. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Rebecca Evans AM, National Assembly for Wales. Retrieved 2017-03-30.
  3. ^ https://covid19.public-inquiry.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/21173401/INQ000190666.pdf&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwiusqHNzoyDAxXUWUEAHTeLBlEQFnoECAQQAg&usg=AOvVaw1EqDuU7UqHfxY4JGh54LOu
  4. ^ VOTE 2011 – Wales elections – Mid and West Wales, BBC News, 6 May 2011. Retrieved 2017-03-30.
  5. ^ "Annual Report 2016" (PDF). Co-operative Party. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  6. ^ "Environment Minister Alun Davies sacked from Welsh government". BBC Wales. 8 July 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  7. ^ "Leighton Andrews rejoins cabinet in reshuffle". BBC News. 11 September 2014.
  8. ^ Williamson, David (3 November 2017). "Carwyn Jones has reshuffled his cabinet and one former minister is suspended". WalesOnline. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  9. ^ "Welsh Tax Acts etc. (Power to Modify) Act 2022". Senedd Cymru. 13 December 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2022.

Notes

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  1. ^ As Minister for Finance until 20 March 2024 when she assumed responsibilities for the Constitution from Mick Antoniw and was given the additional portfolio of the Cabinet Office
[edit]
Senedd
Preceded by Member of the Senedd for Mid and West Wales
2011–2016
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the Senedd for Gower
2016–present
Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Minister for Finance
2018–present
Incumbent
Preceded by Trefnydd of the Senedd
2018–present
Incumbent