John Griffiths (Welsh politician)
John Griffiths is a Welsh Labour and Co-operative politician and the former Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development in the Senedd Cymru / Welsh Parliament. Griffiths has represented the constituency of Newport East since the Welsh Parliament was established in 1999.Education
Griffiths studied law as a mature student at the University of Wales.Professional career
Before his election to the Senedd Cymru / Welsh Parliament, he was a practising solicitor.Political career
He is a former councillor on Gwent County Council and Newport CBC. He is a member of Labour's National Policy Forum, the Co-operative Party, Workers' Educational Association and Full Employment Forum. He is a committed republican, and a member of the ISTC trade union. Griffiths has been a member of the Senedd Cymru / Welsh Parliament for Newport East since 1999. His political interests include economic development, social inclusion, education and Europe.
In the Senedd he was appointed Deputy Minister for Health and Social Care from May 2003 until May 2007. In the Third Assembly was appointed Deputy Minister for Education, Culture and the Welsh Language and retained that position when the coalition government of Plaid Cymru and Labour was announced on 19 July. John supported Carwyn Jones in the Welsh Labour leadership contest in 2009, and went on to support Mark Drakeford in 2018. He was appointed Counsel General and Leader of the Legislative Programme in the Welsh Assembly in December 2009, a job previously done by First Minister Carwyn Jones.
