Vaughan Gething
Encyclopedia
Vaughan Gething AM (born 1974) is a Welsh
Labour Co-operative
politician, who has represented the constituency of Cardiff South and Penarth
since the National Assembly for Wales election of 2011
.
in 1974, where his father (whom Gething describes as "a white Welsh economic migrant") was working as a vet
. His mother is a black Zambian. When he was two he moved to Dorset
, England with his family, which includes three bothers and a sister. He studied at Aberystwyth University and at the Cardiff Law School
, University of Wales
. Gethin became the first black President of the National Union of Students Wales
.
in Cardiff in 2001, with the trade union solicitors Thompsons, Gething chose to specialise in employment law. He became a partner in Thompsons in 2007.
In 2008, at the age of 34, Gething became the youngest President of Wales TUC
, also becoming the first black person in the role.
when he was 17, to campaign in the 1992 UK general election
. He was a councillor
from 2004 to 2008, representing Butetown
electoral ward on Cardiff Council
, having been elected with a majority of two votes. Gething was selected as the Welsh Labour candidate for the Cardiff South and Penarth
constituency at the National Assembly for Wales
. Lorraine Barrett
, who had represented Cardiff South and Penarth since the Assembly's creation in 1999, had announced her intention not to stand down at the 2011 election. At the National Assembly for Wales election
on 5 May 2011, Gething increased the Labour vote with a swing of 12.5%. At 13,814, his share of the vote was over 50%, giving him a majority of 6,259 over the Welsh Conservative Party
candidate, Ben Gray, placed second.
, Cardiff, where he has lived since 1999. He is a member of the GMB trade union
.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
Labour Co-operative
Co-operative Party
The Co-operative Party is a centre-left political party in the United Kingdom committed to supporting and representing co-operative principles. The party does not put up separate candidates for any UK election itself. Instead, Co-operative candidates stand jointly with the Labour Party as "Labour...
politician, who has represented the constituency of Cardiff South and Penarth
Cardiff South and Penarth (Assembly constituency)
Cardiff South and Penarth is a constituency of the National Assembly for Wales. It elects one Assembly Member by the first past the post electoral system...
since the National Assembly for Wales election of 2011
National Assembly for Wales election, 2011
The National Assembly for Wales election 2011 was the most recent election for the National Assembly. The poll was held on Thursday, 5 May 2011 and decided the incumbency for all the assembly's seats...
.
Early life
Gething was born in ZambiaZambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
in 1974, where his father (whom Gething describes as "a white Welsh economic migrant") was working as a vet
Veterinarian
A veterinary physician, colloquially called a vet, shortened from veterinarian or veterinary surgeon , is a professional who treats disease, disorder and injury in animals....
. His mother is a black Zambian. When he was two he moved to Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
, England with his family, which includes three bothers and a sister. He studied at Aberystwyth University and at the Cardiff Law School
Cardiff Law School
The Cardiff Law School is the law department of Cardiff University in Cardiff, Wales. It provides an LLB degree, in addition to postgraduate courses like the LLM and research degrees...
, University of Wales
University of Wales
The University of Wales was a confederal university founded in 1893. It had accredited institutions throughout Wales, and formerly accredited courses in Britain and abroad, with over 100,000 students, but in October 2011, after a number of scandals, it withdrew all accreditation, and it was...
. Gethin became the first black President of the National Union of Students Wales
National Union of Students Wales
National Union of Students Wales is the Welsh section of the National Union of Students of the United Kingdom. NUS Wales was established in 1974 and is the largest democratic organisation in Wales, representing over a quarter of a million students from both the Higher and Further Education sectors...
.
Professional career
Having completed his training as a solicitorSolicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
in Cardiff in 2001, with the trade union solicitors Thompsons, Gething chose to specialise in employment law. He became a partner in Thompsons in 2007.
In 2008, at the age of 34, Gething became the youngest President of Wales TUC
Wales TUC
The Wales TUC is the co-ordinating body of trade unions in Wales. With over 50 affiliated unions as of 2006, the Wales TUC represents nearly half a million workers trade unionists....
, also becoming the first black person in the role.
Political career
Gething joined the Labour PartyLabour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
when he was 17, to campaign in the 1992 UK general election
United Kingdom general election, 1992
The United Kingdom general election of 1992 was held on 9 April 1992, and was the fourth consecutive victory for the Conservative Party. This election result was one of the biggest surprises in 20th Century politics, as polling leading up to the day of the election showed Labour under leader Neil...
. He was a councillor
Councillor
A councillor or councilor is a member of a local government council, such as a city council.Often in the United States, the title is councilman or councilwoman.-United Kingdom:...
from 2004 to 2008, representing Butetown
Butetown
Butetown is a community in the south of the city of Cardiff, the capital of Wales. It was originally a model housing estate built in the early nineteenth century by John Crichton-Stuart, 2nd Marquess of Bute, for whose title the area was named...
electoral ward on Cardiff Council
Cardiff Council
The County Council of the City and County of Cardiff is the governing body for Cardiff, one of the Principal Areas of Wales. The council consists of 75 councillors, representing 29 electoral wards. The authority is properly styled as The County Council of the City and County of Cardiff or in...
, having been elected with a majority of two votes. Gething was selected as the Welsh Labour candidate for the Cardiff South and Penarth
Cardiff South and Penarth (Assembly constituency)
Cardiff South and Penarth is a constituency of the National Assembly for Wales. It elects one Assembly Member by the first past the post electoral system...
constituency at the National Assembly for Wales
National Assembly for Wales
The National Assembly for Wales is a devolved assembly with power to make legislation in Wales. The Assembly comprises 60 members, who are known as Assembly Members, or AMs...
. Lorraine Barrett
Lorraine Barrett
Lorraine Barrett is a former Welsh Labour & Co-operative Member of the National Assembly for Wales for Cardiff South and Penarth and an Assembly Commissioner since 2007...
, who had represented Cardiff South and Penarth since the Assembly's creation in 1999, had announced her intention not to stand down at the 2011 election. At the National Assembly for Wales election
National Assembly for Wales election, 2011
The National Assembly for Wales election 2011 was the most recent election for the National Assembly. The poll was held on Thursday, 5 May 2011 and decided the incumbency for all the assembly's seats...
on 5 May 2011, Gething increased the Labour vote with a swing of 12.5%. At 13,814, his share of the vote was over 50%, giving him a majority of 6,259 over the Welsh Conservative Party
Welsh Conservative Party
The Welsh Conservatives & Unionists , informally the Welsh Conservatives or Welsh Tories, are the part of the Conservative Party which operates in Wales...
candidate, Ben Gray, placed second.
Personal life
Gething and his wife Michelle live in ButetownButetown
Butetown is a community in the south of the city of Cardiff, the capital of Wales. It was originally a model housing estate built in the early nineteenth century by John Crichton-Stuart, 2nd Marquess of Bute, for whose title the area was named...
, Cardiff, where he has lived since 1999. He is a member of the GMB trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
.