Hannah Blythyn
Hannah Blythyn | |
---|---|
Delyn | |
Assumed office 6 May 2016 | |
Preceded by | Sandy Mewies |
Majority | 3,711 (14.1%) |
Personal details | |
Born | 17 April 1979 |
Nationality | Welsh |
Political party | Welsh Labour and Co-operative Party |
Alma mater | De Montfort University City, University of London |
Occupation | Trade Unionist, Politician |
Hannah Blythyn (born 17 April 1979
Early life and education
Hannah Blythyn was born on 17 April 1979.[5] Blythyn is a proud North Walian[6] and grew up in a working-class community in Connah's Quay, North Wales.[7]
Blythyn went to St Richard Gwyn school in Flint.[8] After leaving school, she studied English Literature at De Montfort University in Leicester.[9] Blythyn also has a Masters in International Politics and Human Rights from City University London, which she studied for part-time whilst working.
Blythyn is a Welsh learner,[10] who first started learning Welsh as an adult whilst living in London and has delivered speeches and oral statements in Welsh in the Siambr.[11]
Professional career
Hannah Blythyn’s first job was working in McDonald’s, before working in the charitable sector as a communications and events officer for Student Action for Refugees.[12]
Whilst studying for her Masters, Blythyn worked as a parliamentary assistant for Alyn and Deeside Labour MP Mark Tami.[13]
Blythyn went on to work for Amicus (trade union), then the second largest trade union in the UK before merging with TGWU to form Unite the Union. Blythyn worked as a political officer for Unite at their head office in London before becoming the first political and policy head for Unite Wales. She was active in a number of successful campaigns that led to legislative action and positive change both in Wales and across the UK.[14]
Political career
Hannah Blythyn joined the Labour Party in 2000 and is a former co-chair of
Hannah Blythyn was selected as the
Blythyn is a former co-chair of
Welsh Government
Hannah Blythyn was first appointed to the Welsh Government Cabinet in 2017 and has served in various roles under former First Minister Carwyn Jones, Mark Drakeford, and current First Minister Vaughan Gething.[18]
Personal life
Hannah Blythyn became one of the first three openly gay and lesbian Members of the Welsh Assembly upon her election in 2016.[19] She featured in the 2017, 2022, and 2023 Pinc List of leading Welsh LGBT figures.[20]
Blythyn lives in Mold, in her North Wales constituency of Delyn with her wife, Laura, and their dog Scout. Her granddad (maternal) worked at the steelworks in Shotton and Taid (paternal granddad) worked at the Point of Ayr Colliery.[21]
Outside of politics, Blythyn likes spending time outdoors and now labels herself as a lapsed cyclist, having previously taken part in a charity bike ride across Kenya.[22]
References
- ^ Hannah Blythyn AM [@hannahblythyn] (17 April 2011). "Ok so it's nearly 5pm on a Sunday, it's my birthday therefore a G&T is more than acceptable..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Hannah BLYTHN – Personal Appointments". Companies House. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
- ^ "First Minister Vaughan Gething announces new Welsh Government Cabinet | GOV.WALES". www.gov.wales. 21 March 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ a b "Labour holds Delyn for Hannah Blythyn Labour holds Delyn for Hannah Blythyn". North Wales Daily Post. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- ^ Companies House. ""Hannah BLYTHN – Personal Appointments"". Retrieved 28 January 2020.
- ^ "Hannah Blythyn | About".
- ^ Nicholson, David (4 May 2023). "A Welsh way of doing things". Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ Deeside.com (7 December 2016). "Flintshire politician wins top 'AM to watch' award at ITV Politician of the Year event".
- ^ Welsh Parliament Senedd Cymru. "Hannah Blythyn MS".
- ^ "Hannah Blythyn MS". Facebook.
- ^ ""Creating the Wales we want to see" – First national queer arts talk of its kind gets underway at the Eisteddfod". Welsh Government News. 10 August 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ "Student Action for Refugees". 15 September 2023.
- ^ Nicholson, David (4 May 2023). "A Welsh Way of doing things".
- ^ "Hannah Blythyn MS". 2018.
- ^ Fenton, Siobhan (6 May 2016). "Elections 2016: Welsh Assembly elects first ever openly LGBT members". Independent. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ "Senedd Election 2021: Delyn result in full". North Wales Daily Post. 7 May 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
- ^ Fenton, Siobhan (6 May 2016). "Elections 2016: Welsh Assembly elects first ever openly LGBT members". The Independent. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- ^ Senedd Cymru Welsh Parliament. "Hannah Blythyn MS". Senedd.Wales. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ "First three openly gay and lesbian AMs 'a milestone'". BBC News. 7 May 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- ^ "Pinc List 2017". Wales Online. 19 August 2017.
- ^ Nicholson, David (4 May 2023). "'A Welsh way of doing things'". Morning Star. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
- ^ TUC (2018). "Hannah Blyhtyn MS". TUC. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
Notes
- ^ As Deputy Minister for Social Partnership from 2021 to 2024