Bethan Winter (born 4 October 1974) is a Welsh politician and former member of Welsh Labour, who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Cynon Valley from 2019 to 2024.
Beth Winter | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2020 | |
| Member of Parliament for Cynon Valley | |
| In office 12 December 2019 – 30 May 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Ann Clwyd |
| Succeeded by | Seat abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Bethan Winter 4 October 1974 |
| Political party | Independent (since 2024) |
| Other political affiliations | Labour (until 2024) Socialist Campaign Group (2019–2024) |
| Alma mater | University of Bristol (BSc) (MA) Swansea University (PhD) |
| Website | www |
Early life and education
editBethan Winter[1] was born on 4 October 1974[2] and raised in Cynon Valley.[3] She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Social Policy and a Master of Arts in Housing Studies, both from the University of Bristol. She later became a researcher and received a PhD from Swansea University in disadvantage among older people in rural communities.[4]
Career
editWinter has worked in RCT for Shelter Cymru and in Penywaun as a community worker, and has also managed a youth club and worked in a food bank. She is an official for the University and College Union.[5]
On entering Parliament following the 2019 general election, Winter was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to Rachel Reeves as Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. However, she resigned in September 2020, when she defied the Labour whip and voted against the Overseas Operations Bill alongside 18 other Labour MPs, including two other junior office holders, Nadia Whittome and Olivia Blake.[6]
In February 2022, following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Winter was one of 11 Labour MPs who signed a statement by the Stop the War Coalition which questioned the legitimacy of NATO and accused the military alliance of "eastward expansion". All 11 MPs subsequently removed their signatures after the Labour party threatened them with withdrawal of the party whip.[7]
In May 2023, she called the Welsh Labour selection of prospective parliamentary candidates for the 2024 general election "undemocratic".[8] On 7 June 2023, Winter was defeated by Gerald Jones for her party's selection to become the Labour candidate for the new parliamentary seat of Merthyr Tydfil and Upper Cynon, which was contested at the 2024 general election.[9] The seat was ultimately renamed Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare in the final recommendations published late in June, which also abolishes her existing seat.[10]
In November 2024, Winter resigned from the Labour Party. In her statement she said "I cannot in all conscience remain in a political party that is pursuing an authoritarian political agenda whose primary objective is to retain the neoliberal status quo, serve corporate interests and protect the ruling class.[11]
Political positions
editWinter is often described as being on the left-wing of the Labour Party and was a member of the Socialist Campaign Group parliamentary caucus.[citation needed][not verified in body] She has described herself as a "proud socialist."[12]
She has supported Cymdeithas yr Iaith's campaign to introduce a Property Act,[13] and has supported devolution of the Crown Estate to the Senedd.[14] She has opposed construction of the AUKUS Deep Space Advanced Radar Concept[broken anchor] at Cawdor Barracks.[15]
In June 2024, although not specifically endorsing Welsh Independence she spoke in a rally in Carmarthen that was in favour of Welsh Independence.[16]
Personal life
editWinter has three children. Three generations of her family participated in the September 2019 climate strikes at the Senedd building.[5]
References
edit- ^ "Members Sworn". Hansard.parliament.uk. 1 December 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
- ^ Brunskill, Ian (19 March 2020). The Times guide to the House of Commons 2019 : the definitive record of Britain's historic 2019 General Election. HarperCollins Publishers Limited. p. 161. ISBN 978-0-00-839258-1. OCLC 1129682574.
- ^ Bond, Daniel (16 December 2019). "Class of 2019: Meet the new MPs". Politics Home: The House. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
- ^ "Ms Bethan Winter". Swansea. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
- ^ a b Mosalski, Ruth (13 December 2019). "General Election 2019 result for Cynon Valley: The new MP and the constituency vote totals". Wales Online. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
- ^ Sabbagh, Dan; Stewart, Heather (23 September 2020). "Three Labour MPs lose roles after voting against overseas operations bill". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- ^ Wearmouth, Rachel (24 February 2022). "11 Labour MPs threatened with suspension for signing Stop The War letter attacking NATO". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
- ^ Neame, Katie (15 May 2023). "Left-wing MP: Rules for selection race against frontbencher "undemocratic"". LabourList. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- ^ "Welsh Labour: Frontbench MP beats left-winger in seat battle". BBC News. BBC. 7 June 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
- ^ 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies - The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies in Wales (PDF). Boundary Commission for Wales. 28 June 2023.
- ^ Shipton, Martin (4 November 2024). "Former Cynon Valley MP Beth Winter quits Labour". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
- ^ "Former Labour MP gives passionate speech at Carmarthen independence march". Nation.Cymru. 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "Beth Winter MP and Mabon ap Gwynfor MS to join "Property Act – Nothing Less" demand during International Workers' Day rally". Nation.Cymru. 4 February 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ Price, Stephen (20 January 2024). "Campaign to devolve the Crown Estate to Wales launched". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "Campaign launched to oppose US Military plans to create radar station in Wales". Nation.Cymru. 29 May 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "Best pictures as thousands march through Welsh town in support of independence - Wales Online". www.walesonline.co.uk. Retrieved 28 June 2024.