18 Facts About Jo Stevens

Joanna Meriel Stevens was born on 6 September 1966 and is a Welsh politician serving as Secretary of State for Wales since 2024.

Jo Stevens previously served as Shadow Secretary of State for Wales from 2016 to 2017, and again from 2021 to 2024, and was Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport from 2020 to 2021.

Jo Stevens was born in Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales and grew up in Mynydd Isa, Flintshire, where she attended Argoed High School and Elfed High School.

Jo Stevens studied law at Manchester University and completed the Solicitors' Professional Examination at Manchester Polytechnic in 1989.

Jo Stevens was elected as MP for Cardiff Central on 7 May 2015 with a majority of 4,981, defeating incumbent Liberal Democrat MP Jenny Willott.

Jo Stevens supported Owen Smith in the 2016 Labour leadership election.

In March 2019, Jo Stevens voted against the Labour Party whip and in favour of an amendment tabled by members of The Independent Group for a second public vote on Brexit.

Jo Stevens supported Keir Starmer in the 2020 Labour leadership election.

Jo Stevens subsequently appointed her Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, shadowing Oliver Dowden.

In 2023, Jo Stevens' office was defaced by protestors after she abstained on a motion calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Jo Stevens won the seat, with a majority of 9,097 votes.

Jo Stevens was appointed Secretary of State for Wales in the first cabinet of Keir Starmer following the 2024 election.

Jo Stevens was sworn of the Privy Council on 10 July 2024, entitling her to be styled "The Right Honourable" for life.

Jo Stevens has opposed devolution of policing and justice, of legal gender recognition, and full devolution of the post-Brexit Shared Prosperity Fund to the Senedd.

Jo Stevens opposed Brexit, describing herself as a "passionate European" in 2017.

Jo Stevens has called for the introduction of legislation penalising social media companies that fail to tackle disinformation.

Jo Stevens has supported introducing automatic voter registration upon receiving a national insurance number and lowering of the voting age to 16.

In January 2021 Jo Stevens was treated in hospital for COVID-19.