20 Facts About Jane Hutt

Jane Elizabeth Hutt was born on 15 December 1949 and is a Welsh Labour politician serving as Welsh Government Chief Whip since 2023, Trefnydd of the Senedd since March 2024 and Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice since July 2024.

Jane Hutt has served as the Member of the Senedd for the Vale of Glamorgan since 1999.

Jane Hutt served continually in government from May 1999 until the November 2017 reshuffle, returning in December 2018.

Jane Hutt has held several of the most senior government offices, including Minister for Finance, Minister for Health and Social Services, and Minister for Education.

Jane Hutt was one of the founder members of Welsh Women's Aid, a feminist organisation campaigning on behalf of women who are victims of domestic violence.

Jane Hutt was appointed as a coordinator of the group in January 1978.

Jane Hutt held non-political appointments as director of the equal opportunities' organisation Chwarae Teg and non-executive director of the Cardiff Community Health Care Trust.

Jane Hutt was a councillor on South Glamorgan County Council and a former vice-chair of the Social Services Committee.

Jane Hutt unsuccessfully stood for election to the British Parliament in 1983 in Cardiff North.

Jane Hutt was elected to the Senedd in 1999 and has been re-elected at every subsequent election.

Jane Hutt served as a government minister for a total of 18 years, 5 months, 23 days from 12 May 1999 to 3 November 2017 making her the then longest serving Labour Minister in UK history.

Jane Hutt's record was surpassed in 2018 by Carwyn Jones who served a total of 6,868 days.

Jane Hutt made her first appearance on the back benches on 14 November 2017.

Jane Hutt again returned to the government as Chief Whip on 13 December 2018.

Jane Hutt remained in post until January 2005 when she was removed from the position, following strong criticism over long hospital waiting lists.

An independent report showed that even though waiting list time targets were higher than in England and Scotland, Jane Hutt had still failed to meet them.

Jane Hutt became Minister for Assembly Business and Chief Whip, with additional responsibility for Openness in Government; Communications Strategy; co-ordinating Government policy in relation to children and Equality of Opportunity.

Jane Hutt left the government during the November 2017 reshuffle, but returned as Chief Whip thirteen months later under new First Minister Mark Drakeford.

Jane Hutt is the only MS to have served as a Minister in every Welsh Government to date, serving in the cabinet of six First Ministers.

Jane Hutt was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2023 Birthday Honours for political and public service.