Joyce Watson AM |
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Member of the Welsh Assembly for Mid and West Wales |
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Assumed office 3 May 2007 |
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Preceded by | Lisa Francis |
Personal details | |
Born | 1955 (age 61–62) |
Political party | Welsh Labour |
Spouse(s) | Colin Watson |
Alma mater | Swansea University |
Elizabeth Joyce Watson (born 1955) is a Welsh Labour politician who has been a Member of the National Assembly for Wales for Mid and West Wales since 2007.
Watson was educated at Manorbier School, Cosheston School and Cardigan Comprehensive before going on to Pembrokeshire College in 1990. In 1993, she studied politics at Swansea University, later gaining an honours degree at the same time as running Labour's successful parliamentary campaign for Preseli Pembrokeshire.
An active Labour Party member, Watson was elected to Pembrokeshire County Council at the inaugural elections in 1995, capturing a seat in Haverfordwest from the Independents. She retained her seat in 1999 and 2004. She was leader of the Labour group on Pembrokeshire Council for six years, and the only female member on the authority representing a ward within the Preseli Pembrokeshire constituency from 1995 until 2004. She was a member of Dyfed Powys Police Authority and the Pembrokeshire Spatial Plan working group. She has worked on social justice projects such as the award-winning Garth youth project, which she chairs. Watson was Manager of the Wales Women’s National Coalition with an all Wales remit and was a senior member of the Wales Gender Budget Group and the NHS Equality Reference Group.
Watson was elected as an Assembly Member for Mid and West Wales in May 2007.