Jane Hutt is new culture secretary for Wales

Jane Hutt has become the new cabinet secretary for culture, with oversight of museums and the arts, among a broad range of responsibilities.

Hutt, a Labour member of the Senedd (MS) for the Vale of Glamorgan since 1999, was appointed culture secretary after Eluned Morgan became Wales’s first minister on 6 August.

Hutt is also the secretary for social justice, is the leader of the house and is the government’s chief whip. Among her other responsibilities are the National Library of Wales; the Arts Council of Wales; the historic environment; broadcasting and media policy; and equality and human rights.

The previous secretary for culture and social justice was Lesley Griffiths.

Hutt was an elected member of the former South Glamorgan County Council for 12 years and was first elected to the Assembly in 1999. Between 1999 and 2005 she served as minister for health and social services in the Welsh government. From 2005 to 2007, she was minister for Assembly business and chief whip. In the first cabinet of the third Assembly she was appointed minister for budget and Assembly business.

In the coalition cabinet, announced on 19 July 2007, she became minister for children, education, lifelong learning and skills. In December 2009 she was appointed minister for business and budget. She was subsequently minister for finance until 2016 when she was appointed leader of the house and chief whip at the start of the fifth Assembly.

In December 2018, Hutt was appointed deputy minister and chief whip. She was appointed minister for social justice in May 2021.

Hutt is an honorary fellow of Cardiff Metropolitan University and Cardiff and Vale College. She is a Welsh learner.

Hutt spent part of her childhood in Uganda and Kenya, and was educated at the University of Kent, the London School of Economics and the University of Bristol. She has lived and worked in Wales since 1972. Hutt was given a CBE in the 2023 Birthday Honours.