Title: Presiding Officer
Party: Welsh Labour
Constituency: Newport West
Contact information
Office Address:
1 Transport House
Cardiff Road
Newport
NP20 2EH
Phone: 01633 222523
Assembly Address:
National Assembly for Wales
Cardiff Bay
Cardiff
CF99 1NA
Phone: 029 2089 8470
Email: Rosemary.Butler@Wales.gov.uk
Membership
- Business Committee (Chair)
- The Assembly Commission (Chair)
Terms of office
- 07/05/1999 - 30/04/2003
- 02/05/2003 - 02/05/2007
- 04/05/2007 - 31/03/2011
- 06/05/2011 -
Additional Information
Personal history
Rosemary Butler has lived in Caerleon, part of the Newport West Constituency, for many years, and attended St Julian's High School. Married to an artist/designer, she has two daughters and four grandchildren. Apart from her family, her interests range from museums, art galleries, concerts and opera, to foreign travel and family history.
Professional background
Rosemary joined the Labour party in 1971 and two years later she was elected Labour councillor for Caerleon on Newport Borough Council, a position she held until 1999. While on the council, she chaired the Leisure Services Committee for 12 years, and served as Deputy Leader and Mayor of Newport (1989/1990).
Political history
She was elected as Newport West’s first Assembly Member in May 1999 and has been re-elected in each subsequent Assembly election.
Rosemary was appointed to the first National Assembly cabinet as Minister for pre-16 Education and Children, and chaired the Culture, Welsh Language and Sport Committee and was the Assembly’s representative on the European Union’s Committee of the Regions. She has also been Deputy Presiding Officer, Chair of the Assembly’s Legislation (1) Committee (which scrutinised all backbench proposals to introduce Measures) and served on the British Council Cross-Party group.
In May 2011, Rosemary was elected to the position of Presiding Officer of the National Assembly by a unanimous vote of Assembly Members. In addition, she represents the Assembly on the British Irish Parliamentary Association and CALRE (Speakers of Legislative Bodies in the European Union).
Affiliations
Rosemary isan honorary Fellow of the University of Wales, Newport, Co-founder and chair of the Newport International Competition for Young Pianists, a founding member of the Newport-Kutaisi Twinning Association, president of the Friends of Newport Transporter Bridge, president of the Wales Home Safety Council, president of Newport Harriers Athletic Club, honorary life member of Newport Sports Council, life member of Newport Cricket Club, a founder member of the Friends of Tredegar House, Ambassador for Girl Guiding, a founder member of Newport Women's Aid, member of Women's International League of Peace and Freedom and patron of Caerleon Arts Festival.
