Vikki Howells is a Welsh Labour and Co-operative politician. She is a Member of the Senedd, initially for Cynon Valley from 2016 to 2026, and then for Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr.[1] She served as Minister for Further and Higher Education from September 2024 to May 2026. Before her election to the Senedd, Howells was a teacher, with a background in History.
Background and personal life
Howells was brought up in Cwmbach, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales.[2] She was educated at St John the Baptist School, a Church in Wales secondary school in Aberdare.[3] She studied International and Welsh history at the University of Wales, Cardiff, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree.[3] She remained at Cardiff to undertake postgraduate study in Modern Welsh History, and graduated with a Master of Arts degree.[3]
Her partner was Hefin David, former MS for the neighbouring Caerphilly constituency.[4]
Career
Teaching career
Before her election to the Senedd, Howells was a history teacher and the assistant head of sixth form at St Cenydd Comprehensive School in Caerphilly, South Wales.
Political career
Howells has been a Member of the Labour Party since she was 17.[3] In December 2015, it was announced that Howells had been selected as the Welsh Labour candidate for the Cynon Valley constituency of the Senedd.[5] On 5 May 2016, she was elected as a Member of the Welsh Assembly, she received 9,830 votes (51.1% of the votes cast, and a majority of 5,994).[2] She was re-elected as a Labour and Co-operative Party candidate[6] at the 2021 Senedd election with an increased majority of 7,468 votes.[7]
Howells supported Vaughan Gething in the 2018 and February–March 2024 Welsh Labour leadership elections.[8][9]
Howells chaired the Welsh Labour Group of MSs from 2017 to 2024.[10] She is also president of the mental health charity Friends R Us and vice-president of Cwmbach Male Voice Choir.[10][4] Vikki is also a member of the Cynon Valley History Society, the social justice thinktank the Bevan Foundation, the Co-operative Party, the GMB and USDAW.[10][4]
Howells chaired the Senedd Standards of Conduct Committee between 2021 and 2024.[11]
She was appointed as Minister for Further and Higher Education under First Minister Eluned Morgan in September 2024.[12]
References
- ^ Mosalski, Ruth (8 May 2026). “Wales’ Senedd Election results in full as new political map of Wales unveiled”. Wales Online.
- ^ a b Tegeltija, Sam (6 May 2016). “Assembly Election 2016: Labour holds Cynon as Vikki Howells succeeds Christine Chapman”. Wales Online. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- ^ a b c d “Vikki Howells MS”. senedd.wales. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
- ^ a b c “Register of interests for Vikki Howells MS – Sixth Senedd”. business.senedd.wales. 2 June 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
- ^ Tegeltija, Sam (8 December 2015). “Teacher Vikki Howells announced as Labour’s Cynon Valley candidate for National Assembly election”. Walses Online. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- ^ “Annual Review 2021” (PDF). Co-operative Party. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ “Election results for Cynon Valley, 6 May 2021”. business.senedd.wales. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
- ^ “Labour AMs back Vaughan Gething for Welsh Labour leadership in open letter”. ITV Wales. 25 May 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
- ^ “Vaughan Gething announces Welsh first minister bid”. BBC News. 14 December 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
- ^ a b c “About Vikki”. Vikki Howells MS. Archived from the original on 10 June 2023.
- ^ “Standards of Conduct Committee”. senedd.wales. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
- ^ “Welsh government reshuffle: Miles back as minister after ousting Gething”. BBC News. 11 September 2024. Retrieved 11 September 2024.