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Rosemary Butler

Dame Rosemary Butler DBE (born 21 January 1943) is a Welsh Labour Party politician who served as Assembly Member for Newport West in the National Assembly for Wales (now Senedd Cymru) from 1999 to 2016 and as its Presiding Officer from 2011 to 2016, the first woman to preside over a devolved legislature in the United Kingdom.^[1]^[2]^[3] Born in Much Wenlock, Shropshire, Butler relocated to Newport as a child, where she attended St Julian's High School and developed a long-standing connection to the area, later residing in Caerleon.^[2]^[1] She joined the Labour Party in 1971 and entered local politics in 1973 as a councillor for the Caerleon ward on Newport Borough Council, rising to serve as mayor and contributing to Labour administrations over 26 years.^[4]^[5] At the inaugural 1999 National Assembly election, she secured the Newport West seat, initially appointed as Minister for Education and later chairing committees on culture, Welsh language, and sport while participating in international delegations, such as leading a British Council visit to China.^[5]^[6] As Presiding Officer, elected unopposed in 2011, Butler focused on institutional reforms, including promoting transparency and accessibility in assembly proceedings, and launched the Women in Public Life campaign to increase female representation in Welsh governance.^[6]^[7] Her tenure, spanning over four decades in public service, culminated in her appointment as Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2014 New Year Honours for political and public service, after which she opted not to seek re-election in 2016.^[7]^[8] While her leadership emphasized cross-party impartiality, she faced occasional criticism over procedural decisions, such as directing members during debates, though no major scandals marred her record.^[9]

Early life and education

Background and formative years

Rosemary Janet Mair Butler, née McGrath, was born on 21 January 1943 in Much Wenlock, Shropshire, England.^[2] Her family relocated to the Rhymney Valley in south Wales shortly thereafter, an area characterized by post-World War II industrial communities centered on coal mining and heavy industry.^[4] The family later moved to Newport, where Butler spent her teenage years and attended St Julian's High School.^[10] This transition immersed her in the urban working environments of Newport, a port city with significant manufacturing and dock-related employment, though specific personal accounts of early community influences remain undocumented in public records.^[1] She has resided in Caerleon, a suburb of Newport, for much of her adult life, reflecting roots established during her formative period in the region.^[11]

Local government career

Entry into politics and council roles

Butler joined the Labour Party in 1971.^[1] Two years later, in 1973, she was elected as a Labour councillor representing the Caerleon ward on Newport Borough Council.^[1]^[4] Caerleon, situated within the broader Newport West area, encompassed suburban and historically significant communities facing the pressures of regional deindustrialization during the 1970s and 1980s, including job losses in manufacturing and steel sectors that affected local economies across South Wales.^[12] She held this council seat continuously for 26 years, from 1973 until 1999, focusing on constituent representation and participation in routine local governance.^[12] Her early responsibilities included advocating for ward-specific issues such as community services and infrastructure maintenance, amid Newport's transition from heavy industry reliance, where council decisions often addressed housing needs and social welfare for displaced workers.^[4] This period marked her initial immersion in formal politics, emphasizing grassroots engagement in a Labour-dominated local authority navigating fiscal constraints typical of post-war industrial decline.^[1]

Leadership positions in Newport

Butler advanced within Newport Borough Council, serving as Deputy Leader during Labour administrations and as Mayor of Newport from 1989 to 1990.^[1]^[4] In her mayoral role, she led the inaugural civic delegation to Kutaisi, Georgia, establishing an early international twinning partnership for the city.^[13] These positions highlighted her influence in local governance, where she contributed to administrative leadership amid the fiscal constraints imposed on UK councils through rate-capping policies in the 1980s.^[14] As Chair of the Leisure Services Committee for 12 years, spanning much of the 1980s and 1990s, Butler oversaw the management of public facilities including sports centers, parks, and cultural venues in Newport.^[1]^[15] Under her tenure, the committee navigated budget limitations to maintain community access to leisure infrastructure, which Butler later described as playing a "major part" in the city's development.^[14] No specific fiscal critiques or documented inefficiencies in her committee management appear in contemporary local reporting, though broader council challenges included adapting to central government funding reductions.^[12] Her senior roles in Newport culminated in the late 1990s, as devolution debates intensified, providing a foundation for her transition to national politics; she remained a councillor until 1999 while preparing for the inaugural Welsh Assembly elections.^[1]^[4]

National Assembly for Wales

Election to the Assembly and early roles

Rosemary Butler was elected as the Labour Assembly Member for Newport West in the inaugural National Assembly for Wales election on 6 May 1999, defeating the Conservative candidate William Graham with 48% of the vote to his 28%.^[16] This victory marked her entry into devolved politics following a long local government career, and she retained the seat in every subsequent Assembly election until her retirement in 2016.^[1] Upon election, Butler took on initial responsibilities including representation of the National Assembly on the European Union's Committee of the Regions, where she advocated for Welsh interests in regional policy discussions.^[5] She also contributed to early Assembly subject committees, focusing on areas aligned with her prior experience in education and local services, though specific pre-ministerial assignments emphasized scrutiny and policy development amid the institution's formative stage.^[5] The early years of Welsh devolution, coinciding with Butler's entry, were marked by challenges in establishing fiscal autonomy, as the Assembly's budget relied almost entirely on a Westminster block grant determined by the Barnett formula, which allocated changes in English spending pro rata without a formal needs assessment for Wales.^[17] For 1999-2000, this resulted in a total budget of approximately £7.1 billion, primarily transferred from the UK government, prompting disputes over underfunding relative to Wales' socioeconomic needs, such as higher poverty rates and rural sparsity, which the formula's population-based adjustments failed to fully address.^[18]^[19] These tensions highlighted causal limitations in the devolution settlement, where executive and legislative functions operated within constrained resources, influencing AMs like Butler in prioritizing efficient resource allocation during the Assembly's initial operational phase.

Ministerial positions and committee involvement

Butler served as Minister for pre-16 Education and Children from 12 May 1999 to 16 October 2000 in the cabinet of First Secretary Alun Michael, overseeing policies for school-age education in the newly devolved National Assembly for Wales.^[1] ^[2] Her portfolio emphasized adapting curricula to Welsh contexts, diverging from English models under early devolution, though her short tenure amid Labour leadership transitions limited implementation of major reforms.^[20] She endorsed initiatives like standards for racial equality in schools to foster inclusive environments.^[21] Following her cabinet exit after Rhodri Morgan's appointment as First Secretary, Butler transitioned to legislative scrutiny roles, chairing the Assembly's Culture, Welsh Language, and Sport Committee from the early 2000s.^[1] ^[14] This position involved examining government policies on cultural heritage, Welsh language preservation, and sports development, including oversight of broadcasting and media contributions to linguistic vitality.^[22] Butler also contributed to international engagement, leading the Assembly's British Council activities to promote Welsh perspectives abroad and serving as a representative on the European Union's Committee of the Regions.^[5] Her committee work coincided with broader efforts to integrate youth and community programs into cultural policy, though measurable outcomes in areas like Welsh language usage rates—stable at around 19-20% daily speakers during the early 2000s—reflected ongoing challenges predating and persisting beyond her involvement, with no direct causal links to her oversight.^[14]

Roles as Deputy Presiding Officer and Presiding Officer

Appointment as Deputy Presiding Officer

Rosemary Butler was elected Deputy Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales on 7 June 2007, during the first plenary meeting of the Third Assembly following the 3 May general election.^[23] As the Labour group's nominee, she filled the vacancy created by the defeat of the prior holder, securing the position through a vote of Assembly Members alongside Lord Elis-Thomas as Presiding Officer.^[4] This appointment occurred amid a hung Assembly, where Labour formed a minority government before entering the One Wales coalition with Plaid Cymru in July 2007, necessitating impartial oversight of proceedings across party lines.^[23] The role required Butler to deputise for the Presiding Officer, chairing sessions as needed to ensure orderly debate and adherence to standing orders.^[24] Key duties encompassed facilitating business in the chamber, interpreting procedural rules, and ruling on points of order, such as those arising during legislative scrutiny or question times, to maintain efficiency in a 60-member body handling devolved matters like health and education.^[24] This represented a deliberate shift from her prior partisan roles, including ministerial positions, to a constitutionally neutral stance, where the Deputy Presiding Officer must prioritize procedural fairness over party affiliation, as stipulated in Assembly conventions. During the 2007–2011 term, Butler's oversight contributed to the Assembly's management of increased legislative demands under the coalition, though specific efficiency metrics—such as plenary session durations or bill passage rates—remained consistent with prior terms, reflecting stable procedural handling without quantified disruptions attributable to deputy-level interventions.^[25] Initial challenges included adapting to strict impartiality amid coalition tensions, where rulings on debate admissibility demanded balanced application of standing orders to avoid perceptions of bias in a politically fragmented environment.^[24]

Tenure as Presiding Officer

Dame Rosemary Butler was elected as Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales on 11 May 2011 by a unanimous vote of Assembly Members, becoming the first woman to hold the position.^[26]^[1] She served in the role throughout the Fourth Assembly term, stepping down upon her retirement from the Assembly ahead of the 2016 election.^[26]^[27] During her tenure, Butler presided over proceedings amid a Labour minority government led by First Minister Carwyn Jones, which held 30 of 60 seats following the 2011 election and required cross-party support for legislative passage. She facilitated interactions between government and opposition members, maintaining order in debates and ensuring opportunities for scrutiny. Key procedural reforms under her leadership included shortening tabling deadlines for oral questions to improve topicality and enhance backbench oversight, introducing Individual Member Debates for broader member participation, establishing 'Leaders' Questions' to allow deeper interrogation of the First Minister, and adding 'Spokespeople's Questions' for spontaneous ministerial accountability.^[26] These changes, developed in consultation with the Business Committee, aimed to strengthen Assembly productivity and impartial facilitation of diverse viewpoints.^[28] Claims of impartiality were generally upheld, as evidenced by her unanimous election and lack of formal challenges to her neutrality, though minor procedural interventions drew occasional opposition criticism; for instance, Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies called for a review of Senedd procedures in 2014, which Butler defended as effective for fulfilling Assembly functions.^[29] In another case, Liberal Democrat AM Eluned Parrott lodged a formal complaint after Butler instructed her to remove her hand from her hip during a 2014 debate, citing chamber decorum rules applicable to all members.^[30] No evidence from observer reports or voting patterns indicated systemic favoritism toward the Labour government, with reforms explicitly designed to bolster opposition scrutiny tools.^[26]

Key initiatives and campaigns

Women in Public Life campaign

In 2012, Rosemary Butler, as Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales, initiated the Women in Public Life (#POWiPL) campaign to promote increased female involvement in public roles, targeting barriers to women's candidacy and appointment across sectors like politics, local government, and boards.^[31] The effort encompassed a dedicated web portal offering guidance on entering public office, alongside outreach such as letters to party leaders urging more women candidates.^[32]^[33] A key component, launched on January 30, 2014, was a development scheme partnering with Chwarae Teg and Cardiff Business School, providing 15 mentees with personalized mentoring, role-shadowing by established figures, and skills training to build confidence in applying for positions.^[34]^[35] High-profile events amplified visibility, including a July 2, 2015, address by former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and a session by media commentator Janet Street-Porter on women's media portrayal.^[36]^[37] The campaign's goals centered on elevating women's representation to parity levels, citing initial diagnostics of underrepresentation—such as fewer than 20% women on Welsh public boards and limited local council diversity—as evidence of systemic gaps requiring targeted intervention.^[38] Proponents highlighted short-term gains in participation, with the mentoring cohort reporting heightened willingness to stand for office (46% of similar schemes' participants expressed candidacy intent) and contributing to a rise in female Assembly Members from 40% (24 of 60) in the 2011–2016 term to 50% following the 2016 election.^[39]^[40] Empirical assessment reveals mixed efficacy, with increased visibility fostering immediate engagement but limited verifiable long-term retention or performance metrics; for instance, post-scheme evaluations emphasized anecdotal confidence boosts over sustained leadership advancements.^[39] Critics, drawing from broader analyses of gender-targeted programs, contend that quota-like emphases risk prioritizing demographic outcomes over merit, potentially yielding tokenistic appointments where perceived competence suffers—evidenced in cross-national studies linking such measures to public skepticism about appointees' qualifications rather than enhanced decision-making.^[41] This aligns with causal patterns in identity-focused initiatives, where numerical gains often plateau without addressing underlying factors like voluntary interest disparities or family commitments, and institutional sources (e.g., assembly-affiliated reports) may overstate impacts due to alignment with prevailing equity narratives.^[42] No rigorous, independent data post-#POWiPL isolates its effects on leadership quality, underscoring challenges in attributing representation upticks solely to the campaign amid concurrent party-level quotas.^[43]

Proposals for Assembly expansion

In her capacity as Presiding Officer, Rosemary Butler publicly advocated for expanding the National Assembly for Wales from 60 to 80 Assembly Members (AMs) to address growing legislative demands and scrutiny shortfalls. She first articulated this position in March 2013, arguing that the existing complement strained members' ability to fulfill oversight roles amid devolved powers over health, education, and other sectors.^[44] Butler justified the increase with references to workload pressures, including committee demands and the need for effective legislative review, warning that without expansion, institutional effectiveness would erode.^[45] The proposal drew sharp rebukes from opposition parties, including Plaid Cymru and the Conservatives, who highlighted estimated annual costs of up to £9 million, encompassing salaries, support staff, and operational expenses, at a time of UK-wide austerity measures post-2008 financial crisis.^[46] Critics contended there was scant public support for enlargement, viewing it as an unnecessary bureaucratic expansion rather than a necessity for devolution, especially given stagnant Welsh economic growth and competing fiscal priorities like public services.^[47] Butler countered that enhanced capacity would yield long-term efficiencies in governance, but fiscal analyses underscored immediate taxpayer burdens without proportional benefits in policy outcomes.^[48] Ultimately, the proposal faced rejection, with the Welsh Government citing insufficient evidence of urgency and the Silk Commission on devolution recommending further study but not endorsing immediate expansion.^[47] The debate illuminated tensions between bolstering institutional scrutiny for maturing devolved powers and avoiding perceived administrative bloat, as the Assembly continued operations with 60 AMs through subsequent elections, including the 2021 shift to 96 Senedd members under separate reforms.^[49] This outcome reflected broader skepticism toward structural changes absent demonstrable public mandate or economic upside.^[45]

Controversies and criticisms

Interpersonal conduct in the Senedd

During a plenary session on November 19, 2014, Presiding Officer Rosemary Butler directed Liberal Democrat AM Eluned Parrott to "take your hand off your hip please" as Parrott posed a question to the health minister, citing it as a breach of chamber decorum.^[50] Parrott subsequently lodged a formal complaint with Butler, expressing that she was "deeply disappointed" by the instruction, which she viewed as an unwarranted intervention into her physical demeanor rather than substantive conduct. The Welsh Liberal Democrats escalated the matter with a party-level complaint, contending that the Presiding Officer's role does not extend to policing assembly members' posture or gestures absent disruption to proceedings.^[30] The incident sparked criticism for perceived condescension, with opponents arguing it deviated from the neutrality expected of the chair by injecting a personal tone into rulings on decorum, potentially eroding respect among members rather than upholding order.^[51] While Butler's standing orders empower the Presiding Officer to enforce behavioral standards to ensure orderly debate, this episode highlighted tensions over the boundary between authoritative intervention and overly directive engagement, though no evidence emerged of procedural disruption from Parrott's stance.^[9] Documented records show limited further public complaints specifically targeting Butler's interpersonal style in chairing, suggesting the event as an isolated but illustrative case of scrutiny on her enforcement approach during her tenure from 2011 to 2016.^[50]

Advocacy for increasing AM numbers

Dame Rosemary Butler advocated for expanding the National Assembly for Wales from 60 to 80 Assembly Members (AMs), emphasizing the need to alleviate pressures on legislative scrutiny amid growing devolved powers. In her 2012-13 annual report, released in March 2013, she argued that the existing structure left insufficient backbench capacity for committees, with only 42 AMs available due to 18 holding ministerial or deputy roles.^[44] She reiterated this position in January 2014 while providing evidence to the UK Parliament's Welsh Affairs Committee, warning that the "relentless cycle" of committee work risked compromising oversight without additional members.^[45] Butler also submitted supporting arguments to the Silk Commission, framing the increase as essential for effective governance rather than mere expansion.^[49] The proposal encountered cross-party resistance in the Assembly, where opposition groups, including Conservatives and Plaid Cymru, prioritized fiscal constraints over structural reform during a period of austerity. Critics portrayed the push as potentially entrenching Labour's dominance, given the party's status as the largest group in the minority government, under the proportional additional member system that could allocate extra seats favorably to incumbents. Economic analyses, such as the 2014 Size Matters report aligned with Butler's stance, projected annual costs rising from £49.5 million to £54.8 million for 80 AMs—an increase of £5.3 million—prompting debates on whether enhanced workload capacity justified the taxpayer burden absent clear productivity gains.^[52] Supporters, echoing Butler's rationale, highlighted overburdened committees and the need for specialized scrutiny as devolution deepened, with only limited AMs able to cover portfolios like health and education. Detractors countered with value-for-money concerns, arguing that stagnant legislative output metrics—such as bills enacted per session—did not warrant expansion, especially when public services faced cuts. The failure to implement the change during Butler's tenure as Presiding Officer (2011–2016), and its delay until a larger 96-member reform approved in 2021 for 2026 elections, underscored electoral and public skepticism, later quantified in surveys showing support confined to pro-devolution identifiers rather than broader consensus.^[53] This outcome reflected causal doubts about whether more AMs would yield proportional improvements in policy realism or merely inflate administrative spending.

Perceived partisan interventions

In January 2014, Dame Rosemary Butler, as Presiding Officer, responded critically to Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies' call for a "wholesale procedural review" of Senedd operations, prompted by a survey indicating dissatisfaction among Assembly Members with session efficiency and executive dominance.^[29] Butler asserted in a letter to Davies that his claim of no review since 2002 was "simply not correct," citing a comprehensive 2010 review and consultation implemented for the 2011 Assembly term.^[29] A Conservative source described the response as indicative of bias, noting that the letter was shared with media outlets before reaching Davies, suggesting an intent to undermine opposition scrutiny rather than neutrally address procedural concerns.^[29] In May 2014, Butler urged Conservative AM Byron Davies to "consider their position" after he boycotted Enterprise and Business Committee meetings for eight sessions, protesting his party's internal decisions on shadow cabinet sackings and committee chair appointments.^[54] Davies' absence stemmed from opposition to the removal of AM Nick Ramsay as chair, which he labeled "moral corruption" amid leader Andrew RT Davies' control over scrutiny roles.^[54] While framed as enforcing attendance rules applicable to all members, the intervention was perceived by some as selectively targeting Conservative infighting, potentially eroding perceptions of the Presiding Officer's neutrality in opposition matters.^[54] These episodes, occurring amid Butler's background as a former Labour minister, fueled sporadic claims from opposition figures that her defenses of institutional processes occasionally aligned with government interests over balanced facilitation, though direct evidence of systemic partiality remains limited to procedural disputes rather than overt favoritism.^[29]^[54] No formal complaints of impartiality breaches were upheld during her tenure, but they contributed to tensions in cross-party dynamics, with Conservatives highlighting a need for stricter separation from prior partisan roles.^[29]

Honors, legacy, and post-political career

Awards and recognitions

Butler was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2014 New Year Honours, recognized for four decades of political and public service, with particular emphasis on advancing women in politics and democratic processes in Wales.^[55]^[56]^[57] This honour, announced on 30 December 2013, underscored her role as the first female Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales since 2011, though such awards for neutral presiding positions often correlate more with institutional visibility and longevity in office than with measurable legislative transformations, given the office's constraints on partisan engagement.^[58] She was conferred an honorary fellowship by the University of Wales, Newport (now part of the University of South Wales), acknowledging her longstanding contributions to education, community governance, and regional development in Newport.^[1] In 2013, the University of South Wales awarded her an honorary doctorate, citing her dedication to local economic initiatives and support for disadvantaged communities in the Newport area.^[15] These recognitions, while affirming her tenure's procedural stability, reflect a pattern where honours for Welsh political figures in oversight roles prioritize symbolic equity—such as gender milestones—over empirical metrics of policy efficacy, as presiding duties limit opportunities for attributable causal impacts on outcomes like economic growth or legislative productivity.^[59]

Long-term impact on Welsh politics

Butler retired from the Senedd in 2016 after 17 years as an Assembly Member, having served as Presiding Officer from 2011, during which she helped establish procedural precedents for the devolved legislature amid its formative years.^[8] Her tenure contributed to institutional stability, including advocacy for a reserved powers devolution model that informed the Wales Act 2017, providing a clearer legal framework for Welsh powers and reducing overlaps with Westminster.^[60]^[61] The Women in Public Life campaign she led from 2013 aimed to enhance female participation across public sectors, correlating with sustained gender diversity in the Senedd; at her retirement, women comprised 40% of Assembly Members, down from a 2003 peak of 50% but above UK parliamentary averages, reflecting efforts to counter post-2006 declines.^[40]^[31] This representational focus aligned with broader devolution trends prioritizing social equity, though long-term data shows mixed progress in other areas, such as only 27% female local councillors in Wales by 2014.^[62] Her repeated calls to expand Assembly seats from 60 to 80 or 100 highlighted capacity constraints for scrutinizing growing devolved powers, a debate persisting post-retirement without resolution, potentially limiting governance effectiveness as responsibilities expanded.^[44] Overall, these elements supported Welsh Labour's continuous governance since 1999, entrenching a left-leaning policy orientation, yet coincided with economic stagnation: Wales' GDP growth averaged 0.8% annually from 2007-2023 versus 1.4% in England, with productivity trailing UK averages and GVA per head at about 75% of the national figure.^[63]^[64] Such outcomes raise questions about whether early institutional priorities yielded verifiable enhancements in prosperity or primarily reinforced sectoral focuses amid relative underperformance.^[65]

Personal life and interests

Family and affiliations

Butler married Derek Butler, an artist and designer who lectured in art and design at Newport Art College, in 1966.^[5]^[4] The couple have two daughters, with no public record of their involvement in politics.^[5] Butler has resided in Caerleon, a suburb within the Newport West constituency she represented from 1999 to 2016, for many years.^[1] Her longstanding affiliation with the Labour Party dates to her joining in 1971, predating her election to Newport Borough Council in 1973 and her subsequent roles in Welsh politics.^[1]

Community and honorary roles

Butler has served as joint president of Newport Harriers Athletic Club, supporting local athletics and community fitness initiatives in Newport.^[1] She holds honorary life membership in the Newport Sports Council, reflecting sustained involvement in regional sports development.^[1] Additionally, as a life member of Newport Cricket Club, she has engaged with grassroots sports organizations beyond her formal leadership roles.^[1] In cultural and charitable spheres, Butler co-founded and chaired the Newport International Competition for Young Pianists, launched in 1979 to identify and promote emerging musical talent through triennial events that attracted international participants until funding ceased after 2006.^[1] ^[66] She is a founding member of Newport Women's Aid, aiding domestic violence victims, and of the Friends of Tredegar House, preserving local heritage sites.^[1] As patron of the Caerleon Arts Festival and ambassador for Girl Guiding, her positions emphasize youth development and artistic promotion, with verifiable impacts including event organization and volunteer coordination in Newport's civic life.^[1] Butler has assumed presidencies in preservation and safety groups, including the Friends of Newport Transporter Bridge, which advocates for the maintenance of the historic structure, and the Wales Home Safety Council, focused on public injury prevention.^[1] These roles, while symbolic in part, involve active oversight of community projects, distinguishing them from purely ceremonial honors through direct contributions to local infrastructure and welfare efforts.^[1] Her honorary academic positions include fellowships at the University of Wales, Newport, and Cardiff Metropolitan University, alongside an honorary doctorate from the University of South Wales in 2013, conferred for commitments to enhancing lives in Newport and international communities via service-oriented initiatives.^[1] ^[15] Such recognitions underscore volunteer-driven engagements, though they occasionally intersect with networks formed during her public service tenure, prioritizing substantive regional impacts over political extension.^[15]

References

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Rosemary Butler - Senedd Cymru
Dame Rosemary Butler was a Member of the National Assembly for Wales between May 1999 and April 2016. This was her biography at the time she left.Missing: politician | Show results with:politician
[2]
National Assembly Presiding Officer Rosemary Butler says more ...
Mar 21, 2013 · Actually born in the charmingly-named Much Wenlock in Shropshire in 1943, Ms Butler has lived in Newport since childhood. She was Education ...
[3]
Presiding Officer wins top award - Senedd Cymru
Sep 13, 2013 · The Presiding Officer had been chosen following her election as the first ever female Presiding Officer of a devolved institution in the UK – ...
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Welsh Icons - Rosemary Butler
In 1971 Butler joined the Labour. She was elected to Newport Borough Council from Caerleon ward in 1973, and played an important part in Labour administrations ...
[5]
Labour's Rosemary Butler is appointed presiding officer - BBC News
May 11, 2011 · Mrs Butler has been the Labour AM for Newport West since 1999, before which she was a councillor in Newport for 26 years. Under first ...
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Assembly Presiding Officer Rosemary Butler - Wales Online
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Rosemary Butler AM made a Dame in Queen's New Year Honours
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[8]
Assembly presiding officer to stand down as AM in 2016 - BBC News
Jul 12, 2014 · Assembly presiding officer and Newport West AM Dame Rosemary Butler will not stand for election in 2016, she confirms.
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Presiding Officer Rosemary Butler under fire after telling Eluned ...
The 38-year-old was serving a 29-year-sentence at HMP Wakefield when he was allegedly attacked and killed. Two inmates have been charged with his murder.
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Women make up half of Assembly - Wales Online
Rosemary Butler (Labour) Raised in the Rhymney Valley and educated at St Julian's High School in Newport, Ms Butler is a former member of Newport County Council ...<|separator|>
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ABOUT - Newport Women's Forum
Rosemary attended St Julian's High School and has lived in Caerleon for many years. Since 1971 Rosemary has represented Newport as a local councillor, Deputy ...Missing: background | Show results with:background<|separator|>
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[13]
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[14]
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Honorary Awards 2013 - University of South Wales
While on the council, she chaired the Leisure Services Committee for 12 years, and served as Deputy Leader and Mayor of Newport from 1989 to 1990. Rosemary ...
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National Assembly for Wales Elections (Constituency) 1999 - Thursday, 6 May 1999 ; Rosemary Butler · William Graham ; 48% · 28% ; Elected · Not elected.
[17]
House of Commons - Welsh Affairs - First Report - Parliament UK
Dec 22, 2024 · [14] On 1 July 1999, responsibility for social and economic development in Wales, and for the Structural Funds strategy, passed to the National ...
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[PDF] national assembly for wales' budget 1999
(3) Figures take account of transfers into the local government revenue settlement of £14.490m in 2000-2001 and £35.258m in 2001-2002 for the funding of the ...Missing: Westminster | Show results with:Westminster
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[PDF] The Barnett Formula and its Consequences for Wales: A Literature ...
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[20]
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Describing the Welsh way, the factors which generated it, analysing its possible successes and failures and assessing the lessons of it for the UK and ...
[21]
[PDF] learning for all: standards for racial equality in schools
I commend the document to schools in Wales. Rosemary Butler AM. Assembly Secretary for Education and Children. National Assembly for Wales. Foreword. 8 ...
[22]
[PDF] Foreword by the Chair of the Committee - Senedd Cymru
Rosemary Butler AM. Chair of Culture, Welsh Language and Sport Committee. Page 6. ii. Page 7. Members iii. Rosemary Butler. (Chair). Labour. Leighton Andrews.
[23]
[PDF] The Welsh Assembly elections May 2007 - UK Parliament
Jul 30, 2007 · First plenary meeting of the Third Assembly held. Lord Elis-Thomas elected as Presiding. Officer; Rosemary Butler AM as Deputy Presiding Officer.
[24]
[PDF] The Constitution – The Presiding officer and Deputy Presiding Officer
He or she is responsible for Standing Orders and is the final authority on their interpretation. The Deputy Presiding Officer deputises as necessary for the ...
[25]
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Jul 13, 2011 · Rosemary Butler was first elected to the Assembly in May 1999 and has been re-elected in each subsequent Assembly election. She was ...Missing: criticisms | Show results with:criticisms
[26]
Presiding Officer 2011 - 2016
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5th National Assembly for Wales - Wikipedia
From the 2021 election members would be elected under this new title of Senedd. ... Llywydd (presiding officer), Rosemary Butler (2016) Elin Jones (2016–21).
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[31]
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[32]
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[33]
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As part of her Women in Public Life campaign, Dame Rosemary Butler AM, Presiding Officer of the. National Assembly for Wales, wrote to the Assembly's four ...
[34]
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The Women in Public Life web portal, external arose from a move by assembly presiding officer Rosemary Butler to increase the representation of women. Only ...
[35]
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Dame Rosemary will be joined by 15 mentors and 15 mentees, from across Wales, as she officially launches the scheme. The aim to encourage more women to apply ...
[36]
Rosemary Butler launches training for women seeking public office
Jan 30, 2014 · It will offer mentoring, shadowing and training as part of Presiding Officer Dame Rosemary Butler's women in public life development scheme.
[37]
2 July 2015, Julia Gillard Visit and Women in Public Life … | Flickr
Dame Rosemary Butler AM, Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales invited former Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard to the Assembly to ...
[38]
#POWiPL – Janet Street-Porter to address women's portrayal in the ...
The National Assembly for Wales's Presiding Officer, Rosemary Butler AM, will welcome high profile media commentator, Janet Street-Porter, to the Pierhead on 10 ...
[39]
https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/71086/html/
[40]
Evidence on Women in the House of Commons after the 2020 election
Run on behalf of the then Presiding Officer Dame Rosemary Butler, the scheme delivered an intensive mentoring and training programme to a group of 13 women who ...
[41]
How feminist is the Welsh Assembly?
Mar 28, 2016 · As we draw to the end of the Fourth Assembly, it can be declared fairly 'feminist'. From 2011 to 2016 we've seen 24 female and 36 male AMs.
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IMPACT OF ELECTORAL SYSTEMS ON FEMALE POLITICAL ...
Quotas also attract criticism for being tokenistic, claiming that ... women in public life generally. An example of this is Finland, where a 1987 ...Missing: campaign | Show results with:campaign
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Mentoring must play a central role in addressing the issue of gender ...
Jan 30, 2014 · ... Women in Public Life Development scheme. The development scheme is ... Dame Rosemary Butler AM was elected as Newport West's first ...
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Women in the National Assembly - Electoral Reform Society
Apr 1, 2016 · In 2013, the Electoral Reform Society Cymru published its first annual Welsh Power Report which explored the position of women in public life.
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Welsh assembly: Presiding Officer Rosemary Butler urges 80 AMs
Mar 1, 2013 · The Welsh assembly's presiding officer has called for the number of AMs to be increased from 60 to 80. Rosemary Butler makes the call in her ...Missing: Committee Regions
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Rosemary Butler calls for AM numbers to rise from 60 to 80 - BBC
Jan 20, 2014 · The number of AMs at the Welsh Assembly must increase from 60 to 80 otherwise "the strain will begin to tell", its presiding officer has said. ...
[47]
Extra AMs wanted by Dame Rosemary would cost 'up to £9m ...
THE INCREASE in the number of AMs urged by Newport AM and Presiding Officer Dame Rosemary Butler would cost up to £9million it was revealed today.<|separator|>
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Increase number of AMs from 60 to 100, says report - BBC News
Oct 16, 2013 · Presiding officer Rosemary Butler has previously called for the number of AMs to increase, but the Welsh government said at the time there was ...
[49]
'More Assembly Members is essential - even it costs £17m in the first ...
A report by the cross-party Assembly Commission argues that the body is under powered and over stretched with just 60 AMs ; Rosemary Butler, Presiding Officer of ...
[50]
Size Matters: Making the National assembly more effective
Mar 26, 2014 · The experience of the operation of the National Assembly since it began work in 1999, and especially the role of its Committees in holding the ...
[51]
AM told to remove her hand from her hip in assembly chamber - BBC
Nov 19, 2014 · Presiding Officer Dame Rosemary Butler called Liberal Democrat Eluned Parrott ... take your hand off your hip please?" It happened during ...
[52]
Presiding Officer slammed for telling AM to 'take your hand off your hip'
Presiding Officer Rosemary Butler slammed for telling Lib Dem AM Eluned Parrott to 'take your hand off your hip'. 19th November 2014. Share. 16 Comments.<|separator|>
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[PDF] Size Matters - Nuffield Foundation
During the half-century that preceded the establishment of the National Assembly in 1999, six detailed proposals for Welsh devolution were put forward. Four ...
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A Survey Experiment to Investigate Public Attitudes to an Expanded ...
Mar 31, 2023 · We assess public attitudes and find that support for expanding the Senedd is limited to those with a strong Welsh-only identity and pro-autonomy preferences.Missing: skepticism | Show results with:skepticism
[55]
Rosemary Butler calls on Conservative AM to 'consider position' on ...
May 14, 2014 · Mr Byron Davies said: “I informed the leader and the chief whip of my position and it is a matter for them what they want to do about it.”.
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The New Year's Honours 2014 - GOV.UK
Dec 30, 2013 · The awards recommended by the Parliamentary and Political Services Committee, chaired by Lord Spicer, include: a damehood for Rosemary Butler, ...
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[PDF] The New Year Honours List 2014 – Higher Awards - GOV.UK
She is a school governor and a trustee of the Nuffield. Foundation and the Tablet. Rosemary Butler AM. Rosemary Butler has spent four decades in public life, ...
[58]
New Year honours 2014: the full list - The Guardian
Dec 30, 2013 · Mrs Rosemary Janet Mair Butler, AM. Presiding Officer, National Assembly for Wales. For political and public services particularly to Women ...
[59]
Gwent people among New Year Honours recipients
Dec 30, 2013 · Mrs Butler's formal honour is a DBE (Dame Commander of the British Empire), and comes 40 years into a career of political and public service in ...
[60]
Assembly presiding officer Rosemary Butler 'stunned and humbled ...
Dec 30, 2013 · Presiding Officer Rosemary Butler has been made a Dame and Wales' most senior civil servant Derek Jones given a knighthood in the Queen's New Year Honours.Missing: achievements | Show results with:achievements
[61]
Standards need to be met on a Welsh 'reserved powers' model
Jun 29, 2015 · Dame Rosemary Butler says a reserved powers model for Wales will have to meet criteria to ensure it endures.Missing: impact | Show results with:impact
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https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-26427083
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'No progress' in top jobs for women in Wales, report says - BBC News
Mar 4, 2014 · 27% of Wales' councillors are women. There are no female chief constables or police and crime commissioners in Wales. Rosemary Butler.
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https://www.economicsobservatory.com/devolution-at-25-how-has-productivity-changed-in-the-devolved-nations
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Devolution at 25: how has productivity changed in the devolved ...
Nov 19, 2024 · Devolution allows for tailored policies to boost productivity, focused on human capital, innovation and investment. In 1998, the legislative ...Missing: era | Show results with:era
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Devolution 20 - The economy in Wales: time to focus on the ...
May 7, 2019 · Wales has seen a mixed economic performance over last twenty years. There have been improvements in the employment rate, especially for women.Missing: era | Show results with:era
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Lack of cash spells the end for prestigious Newport piano contest
Oct 5, 2012 · The Newport International Competition for Young Pianists started in 1979 and was held in the city every three years. The last one was in 2006.