Ken Skates
| Ken Skates AM | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Welsh Assembly for Clwyd South | |
|
Assumed office 6 May 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Karen Sinclair |
| Majority | 3,016 (13.6%) |
| Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure | |
|
Assumed office 19 May 2016 | |
| First Minister | Carwyn Jones |
| Preceded by | Edwina Hart |
| Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism | |
|
In office 12 September 2014 – 19 May 2016 | |
| First Minister | Carwyn Jones |
| Preceded by | John Griffiths |
| Succeeded by | Post re-organised |
| Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology | |
|
In office June 2013 – September 2014 | |
| First Minister | Carwyn Jones |
| Preceded by | Jeff Cuthbert |
| Succeeded by | Julie James |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
1976 Wrexham, Wales |
| Nationality | Welsh |
| Political party | Welsh Labour |
| Alma mater | University of Cambridge |
| Website | Official website |
Ken Skates AM is a Welsh Labour politician, who has represented the constituency of Clwyd South since the National Assembly for Wales election of 2011. He is an alma mater of the University of Cambridge, and worked as a journalist prior to becoming a politician. Since September 2014, he has been the deputy minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport.
Early life and career
Skates was born in Wrexham, Wales, and attended Ysgol y Waun in Gwernaffield and the Alun School, Mold, where he studied A-levels in physics, maths, English and politics. After achieving four A grades he went to Cambridge University to study social and political science, specialising in European regional policy and economics.[1]
After graduating, Skates took a gap-period in the United States, before joining the The Leader (Wrexham) newspaper. He studied for his NVQ in journalism at Yale College, Wrexham, and then went freelance working for the Daily Express.[2]
Politics
Whilst working as a freelance journalist, Skates began working as office manager for Mark Tami, Welsh Labour MP for Alyn and Deeside.[2] Skates was elected with 42% of the vote in Clwyd South in 2011, compared to the 29% received by second placed Paul Rogers of the Welsh Conservative Party.[3] In 2012 he was one of four AMs to stand up in the Senedd chamber to talk about their experiences with mental health problems.[1]
In June 2013, Skates was appointed by Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones as Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology.[4] In a reshuffle in September 2014 he was made Deputy Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport in September 2014,[5] replacing John Griffiths.[6]
Following his re-election as AM for Clwyd South in the May 2016 Assembly elections, Ken Skates was promoted to Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure in the Welsh Government.
References
- 1 2 Henry, Graham (17 February 2010). "Ken Skates: 'I thought speech on mental health had ruled me out of promotion'". WalesOnline. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
- 1 2 "About". KenSkates.co.uk. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
- ↑ "Election results for Clwyd South". National Assembly for Wales. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
- ↑ "Huw Lewis is named Wales education minister". BBC News. 26 June 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
- ↑ "New Cabinet announced by First Minister". Welsh Government. 11 September 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
- ↑ "New Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport & Tourism, Ken Skates AM". CILIP. 18 September 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
External links
| National Assembly for Wales | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Karen Sinclair |
Assembly Member for Clwyd South 2011–present |
Incumbent |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Jeff Cuthbert |
Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology 26 June 2013 - 2014 |
Succeeded by Julie James |
| Preceded by new post |
Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism 2014 - 2016 |
Succeeded by post reorganised |
| Preceded by Edwina Hart |
Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure 2016 - present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |