Ken Skates
MS
Skates in 2016
Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales
In office
19 May 2016 – 13 May 2021
First MinisterCarwyn Jones
Mark Drakeford
Preceded byEdwina Hart
Succeeded byVaughan Gething
Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism
In office
12 September 2014 – 19 May 2016
First MinisterCarwyn Jones
Preceded byJohn Griffiths
Succeeded byDafydd Elis-Thomas
Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology
In office
June 2013 – September 2014
First MinisterCarwyn Jones
Preceded byJeff Cuthbert
Succeeded byJulie James
Member of the Senedd
for Clwyd South
Assumed office
6 May 2011
Preceded byKaren Sinclair
Majority2,953 (21.1%)
Personal details
Born (1976-04-02) 2 April 1976
Wrexham, Wales
Political partyWelsh Labour
Alma materUniversity of Cambridge
Websitewww.kenskates.co.uk

Kenneth Christian Skates MS (born 2 April 1976)[1] is a Welsh Labour politician. Skates has represented the constituency of Clwyd South in the Senedd since the election of 2011. He is an alumnus of the University of Cambridge, and worked as a journalist prior to becoming a politician. In September 2014 he became the deputy minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport. From May 2016 to December 2018 he was the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Infrastructure and Skills, and was the Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales until he stood down on 13 May 2021.[2]

Early life and career

Skates was born in Wrexham, Wales, and attended Ysgol y Waun in Gwernaffield and the Alun School, Mold, where he studied A-levels in physics, maths, English and politics. After achieving four A grades he went to Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge to study social and political sciences, specialising in European regional policy and economics.[1][3]

After graduating, Skates took a gap-period in the United States, before joining The Leader (Wrexham) newspaper. He studied for his NVQ in journalism at Yale College, Wrexham, and then went freelance working for the Daily Express.[4]

Politics

Whilst working as a freelance journalist, Skates began working as office manager for Mark Tami, Welsh Labour MP for Alyn and Deeside.[4] Skates was the lead Labour candidate for the North Wales regional seat in 2007 but wasn't elected. In 2011 he stood and was elected with 42% of the vote in Clwyd South,[5] and was successfully re-elected in 2016.

In 2012 he was one of four MSs to stand up in the Senedd chamber to talk about their experiences with mental health problems.[3]

In June 2013, Skates was appointed by Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones as Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology.[6] In a reshuffle in September 2014 he was made Deputy Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport in September 2014,[7] replacing John Griffiths.[8]

Following his re-election as MS for Clwyd South in the May 2016 Senedd elections, Ken Skates was promoted to Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Infrastructure and Skills in the Welsh Government.

In the formation of the Drakeford government in December 2018, Skates was appointed Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales. After the May 2021 Senedd elections, Skates stepped down from the government, and his role was split into two.[9] Vaughan Gething became the new Minister for the Economy, while Lesley Griffiths took over responsibility for North Wales as the new Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales.[10]

References

  1. 1 2 "SKATES, Kenneth Christian". Who's Who. Vol. 2019 (online ed.). A & C Black. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. ↑ "Being re-elected as Member of the Senedd for Clwyd South is a huge honour. It has been a privilege to work with constituents over the last ten years to improve and champion our area, and I will continue to work as hard as I possibly can. (1/5)". Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  3. 1 2 Henry, Graham (17 February 2010). "Ken Skates: 'I thought speech on mental health had ruled me out of promotion'". WalesOnline. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  4. 1 2 "About". KenSkates.co.uk. Archived from the original on 3 June 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  5. ↑ "Election results for Clwyd South". National Assembly for Wales. Archived from the original on 10 September 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  6. ↑ "Huw Lewis is named Wales education minister". BBC News. 26 June 2013. Archived from the original on 2 July 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  7. ↑ "New Cabinet announced by First Minister". Welsh Government. 11 September 2014. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  8. ↑ "New Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport & Tourism, Ken Skates AM". CILIP. 18 September 2014. Archived from the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  9. ↑ "Wales election: New health and education ministers in reshuffle". BBC News. 13 May 2021. Archived from the original on 24 May 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  10. ↑ "Ken Skates leaves Cabinet role in Welsh Labour reshuffle". The Leader. Archived from the original on 21 May 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
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