Local AM "honoured" by new Welsh Government job

The Assembly Member who represents Llangollen in the Welsh Assembly has taken one of the top jobs in today’s Welsh Government reshuffle.

The shake-up follows yesterday’s shock resignation of Education Minister Leighton Andrews.

Earlier this evening it was announced that First Minister Carwyn Jones has appointed Clwyd South AM Ken Skates (pictured right) at Deputy Minister for Skills.  

Huw Lewis is named as the new Education Minister and Jeff Cuthbert takes over from Mr Lewis as Minister for Communities.

Mr Skates replaces Mr Cuthbert as Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology.
 

Vaughan Gething is appointed to work with Mr Cuthbert as deputy minister for tackling poverty.
 

Mr Skates was born in 1976 at Wrexham Maelor Hospital and is one of five boys to parents Mary and Ken snr.

He went to local comprehensive schools  Ysgol y Waun and Mold Alun, where he studied A Levels in Physics, Maths, English and Politics.

He went on to Cambridge University to study Social and Political Science, specialising in European regional policy and economics.

After graduating, he took time out in America and then joined the Wrexham Leader as a reporter.

He studied for his NVQ at Yale College in Wrexham and did freelance work for the BBC and The Express.

He has also served as personal assistant to Mark Tami, MP for Alyn and Deeside.

Mr Skates said: “I really am honoured to have this opportunity to join the Welsh Government.  I’ve learnt a huge amount in my time as the Assembly Member for Clwyd South and I’m looking forward to getting to grips with the new portfolio and working with Welsh Government colleagues.

“I want to bring a strong understanding of the issues impacting on North Wales to my new role and I look forward to hitting the ground running in the next few weeks on the skills and technology issues impacting on our communities and our economy.

 

“I’m really looking forward to getting started and working with partners in the sector, both in this area and right across Wales.”