Alun Michael
Alun Edward Michael JP (born 22 August 1943) is a Welsh Labour and Co-operative politician serving as South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner since 2012. He served as Secretary of State for Wales from 1998 to 1999 and then as the first First Secretary of Wales (later known as First Minister) and Leader of Welsh Labour from 1999 to 2000.
The Right Honourable Alun Michael | |
|---|---|
Michael in 2009 | |
| South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner | |
| Assumed office 22 November 2012 | |
| Deputy | Sophie Howe Emma Wools |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Minister of State for Industry and the Regions | |
| In office 10 May 2005 – 5 May 2006 | |
| Prime Minister | Tony Blair |
| Preceded by | Jacqui Smith |
| Succeeded by | Ian McCartney |
| Minister of State for Rural Affairs | |
| In office 11 June 2001 – 10 May 2005 | |
| Prime Minister | Tony Blair |
| Preceded by | Nick Raynsford |
| Succeeded by | Jim Knight |
| First Secretary of Wales | |
| In office 12 May 1999 – 9 February 2000 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Rhodri Morgan |
| Leader of Welsh Labour | |
| In office 29 October 1998 – 9 February 2000 | |
| UK party leader | Tony Blair |
| Preceded by | Ron Davies |
| Succeeded by | Rhodri Morgan |
| Secretary of State for Wales | |
| In office 27 October 1998 – 28 July 1999 | |
| Prime Minister | Tony Blair |
| Preceded by | Ron Davies |
| Succeeded by | Paul Murphy |
| Minister of State for Home Affairs | |
| In office 6 May 1997 – 27 October 1998 | |
| Prime Minister | Tony Blair |
| Preceded by | David Maclean |
| Succeeded by | Paul Boateng |
| Member of the Welsh Assembly for Mid and West Wales | |
| In office 6 May 1999 – 1 May 2000 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Delyth Evans |
| Member of Parliament for Cardiff South and Penarth | |
| In office 11 June 1987 – 22 October 2012 | |
| Preceded by | James Callaghan |
| Succeeded by | Stephen Doughty |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 22 August 1943 Bryngwran, Anglesey, Wales |
| Political party | Welsh Labour (Labour and Co-operative) |
| Spouse | Mary Sophia Crawley |
| Children | 5 |
| Parent(s) | Betty Michael Leslie Michael |
| Alma mater | Keele University |
| Cabinet | Michael government |
| Signature | |
| Website | Official website |
Born on the island of Anglesey, Michael attended Colwyn Bay Grammar School and graduated from the University of Keele in 1966 with a degree in Philosophy and English. He worked as a reporter for the South Wales Echo until 1971 and then as a youth and community worker until 1987. He became a Justice of the Peace in 1972 and served on the Cardiff City Council from 1973 to 1989. He was elected to the House of Commons in 1987, succeeding former Labour Prime Minister James Callaghan for the constituency of Cardiff South and Penarth.
In opposition, he was a Shadow Home Affairs Minister and then when Labour came to power in 1997 he served as a Minister of State for Home Affairs until 1998. In October of that year, Ron Davies resigned as Secretary of State for Wales following a personal controversy and Prime Minister Tony Blair appointed Michael to succeed him. In May 1999, following the first elections to the National Assembly for Wales, Michael defeated Rhodri Morgan to become the Leader of Welsh Labour and thus the First Secretary of Wales. The position was later renamed First Minister of Wales under the tenure of his successor.
Michael resigned as Leader of Welsh Labour and First Secretary nine months later to avoid a vote of no confidence. He resigned from the Welsh Assembly shortly after and served in various junior ministerial positions in the Labour government at Westminster. He resigned from the House of Commons in October 2012 to stand for the newly created position of Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales, to which he was elected in November 2012 and again in 2016 and 2021.