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. 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.
  2. 1 2 "About". KenSkates.co.uk. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  3. "Election results for Clwyd South". National Assembly for Wales. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  4. "Huw Lewis is named Wales education minister". BBC News. 26 June 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  5. "New Cabinet announced by First Minister". Welsh Government. 11 September 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  6. "New Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport & Tourism, Ken Skates AM". CILIP. 18 September 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
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
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