Tonia Antoniazzi
Quick Facts
Biography
Antonia Louise Antoniazzi (born 5 October 1971) is a British Labour Party politician. She was elected as the MP for Gower in 2017.
Early life
Antoniazzi was born and raised in Llanelli by a Welsh mother and a Welsh Italian father. She attended St John Lloyd Catholic Comprehensive School and Gorseinon College. After studying French and Italian at Exeter University, she gained a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) from Cardiff University. Previously head of languages at Bryngwyn School in Llanelli, Antoniazzi is also a former Wales women's international rugby player.
Parliamentary career
Antoniazzi contested the regional seat of Mid and West Wales in the 2016 National Assembly for Wales election. She then stood for parliament at the 2017 General Election for the Gower constituency, which was held at the time by the Conservative's Byron Davies with a 27 vote majority, making it the UK's most marginal seat. She was successful, turning the seat Labour by gaining a 3,269 majority. On her election, she stated that she intended to be a strong constituency MP, and that "Gower is and always will be my first priority".
Antoniazzi delivered her maiden speech on Thursday 29 June 2017. In her speech she outlined how Italian immigration had shaped cafe culture in Wales and the UKand unusually did not name her imediate predecessor Byron Davies.