Jane Hutt

Jane Hutt AM (born 15 December 1949) is a Welsh Labour politician and a Minister in the Welsh Government. Hutt has represented the Vale of Glamorgan constituency since the National Assembly for Wales was established in 1999. Hutt has been a government Minister since 1999, she is the longest serving Labour Government Minister in history. Her latest appointment being Leader of the House and Chief Whip in May 2016.

Born in Epsom, Surrey, on 15 December 1949, Hutt's Welsh-speaking grandparents are from north Wales. Hutt graduated from the University of Kent, Canterbury in 1970 with a BA (Hons), gained a Certificate of Qualification in Social Work at the London School of Economics in 1972 and an MSc at the University of Bristol in 1995.

Hutt was one of the founder members of Welsh Women's Aid, a feminist organisation campaigning on behalf of women who are victims of domestic violence. She was appointed coordinator of the group in January 1978.

Hutt held non-political appointments as director of the equal opportunities organisation Chwarae Teg and non-executive director of the Cardiff Community Health Care Trust. Member New Deal Task Force. School Governor. Welsh member on the New Opportunities (UK) Fund.

Hutt was a councillor on South Glamorgan County Council and a former vice-chair of the Social Services Committee. She unsuccessfully stood for election to the British Parliament in 1983 in Cardiff North.

Hutt was elected to the National Assembly for Wales in 1999 and immediately became Health Minister. She remained in post until January 2005 when she was removed from the position, following strong criticism over long hospital waiting lists. An independent report showed that even though waiting list time targets were higher than in England and Scotland, Hutt had still failed to meet them. As a result, she faced criticism from all the major political parties in Wales, with the strongest coming from within her own party. As a result, her position became untenable, as some became worried that the problems could even damage the case for further Welsh devolution.

She became Minister for Assembly Business and Chief Whip, with additional responsibility for Openness in Government; Communications Strategy; co-ordinating Government policy in relation to children; and Equality and Equality of Opportunity. In the first Cabinet of the Third Assembly she was appointed Minister for Budget and Assembly Business (31 May 2007). In the coalition Cabinet announced on 19 July 2007 she became Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills.

She is a close family friend of former first minister Rhodri Morgan

In July 1984 Hutt married Labour councillor Michael Trickey, they have two daughters.