Wednesday, September 1, 1999
Published at 14:28 GMT 15:28 UK
UK: Wales: AMs
Brecon and Radnorshire Constituency
Spokesperson for Health and Social Services
Date of Birth -
March 19, 1971.
Contested Ogmore 1997 General Election.
AM for the Constituency of Brecon and Radnorshire since May 6, 1999.
Spokesperson for Health and Social Services 1999-.
At 28, Kirsty Williams was the Liberal Democrats' youngest AM elected to the new Assembly.
She chairs the Health and Social Services committee of the Assembly, and also sits on the Equality of Opportunity Committee.
She won a clear victory over the Tory candidate (Nicholas Bourne) and three other men in Brecon and Radnor, a seat held at Westminster by Liberal Democrat Richard Livsey. It is the largest seat in Wales geographically, and is almost entirely rural. Ms Williams previously contested the seat of Ogmore at the 1997 General Election, and she was a member of the National Assembly Advisory Group . She took an active role in the Yes campaign to establish the assembly.
A marketing and public relations executive, she holds influential roles as the party's deputy president, Welsh Executive member, and spokesperson on health and housing.
She believes the large proportion of women AMs will bring a new style to politics. She is herself an attractive and fluent performer on TV. The Western Mail commented that she brought a touch of glamour, but her outspokenness was not winning friends. It was she who tabled the first motion to end the ban on beef-on-the-bone.
She likes riding horses, going to the gym, and helping on her boyfriend’s farm.
Welsh Assembly Election of May 6, 1999 Brecon and Radnorshire Constituency