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Carwyn Jones
Carwyn Jones AM, (born March 21, 1967), is the Labour Assembly Member for Bridgend. In the coalition government of Labour and Plaid Cymru, was appointed Counsel General for Wales and Leader of the House on July 19. Along with a number of other Assembly Members, he is a fluent Welsh speaker. Member of Amnesty International, and Fabian Society.

Education
He was a pupil at Brynteg Comprehensive School in Bridgend, and then studied at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. He subsequently trained as a barrister at the Inns of Court School of Law, London.

Professional career
Before his election to the National Assembly of Wales, he was a practising barrister who specialised in Family, Criminal and Personal Injury law. Was in legal practice for ten years at Gower Chambers, Swansea and is now a door tenant at Temple Chambers in Cardiff. For two years he also worked as a Professional Tutor at Cardiff University on the Bar Vocational Course.

Political career
Former County Borough Councillor for Bridgend. Member of the National Assembly of Wales for Bridgend since 1999.

Carwyn Jones was appointed Deputy Secretary in the National Assembly of Wales in March 2000. In July 2000 he was appointed to the Assembly Cabinet as Assembly Secretary for Agriculture and Rural Development in the Welsh Assembly Government (title was changed to Assembly Minister in October 2000). His responsibilities in this role included the environment, countryside issues, town and country planning, sustainable development, agriculture and rural development. In June 2002 he was appointed Minister for Open Government (additional role).

In the first Cabinet of the Third Assembly he was appointed Assembly Minister for Education, Culture and the Welsh Language (31 May 2007), responsible for the Department for Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills and the Culture, Welsh Language and Sport portfolios. After his party entered into coalition with Plaid Cymru, Jones was reappointed as Counsel General and Leader of the House.

Criticism of 2007 election pledges
In April 2007 Jones was highlighted and criticised by the ConservativeHome website for the vague and unambitious nature of his election pledges ahead of the Assembly Elections in May of that year. In his election address, Jones listed his five pledges as; continuing to live in Bridgend, continuing to have an office open 5 days a week, continuing to hold surgeries, continuing to have a website and email address and continuing to "ensure people know where I stand on important local issues".

He was elected with an increased majority. The Conservative vote dropped.