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Brian Gibbons (politician)

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For other people named Brian Gibbons, see Brian Gibbons (disambiguation).

Brian Gibbons
FRCGP
Official portrait, 2007
Member of the Welsh Assembly
for Aberavon
In office
6 May 1999 – 5 May 2011
Preceded byNew Assembly
Succeeded byDavid Rees
Majority6,571 (32.0%)
Personal details
Born (1950-08-25) 25 August 1950 (age 74)
Dublin, Ireland
Political partyLabour

Brian Gibbons FRCGP (born 25 August 1950) is a medical doctor who was the Labour Party Assembly Member for Aberavon from May 1999 to May 2011. He served in the Welsh Government as Minister for Health and Social Services from 2005 to 2007, Minister for the Economy and Transport in 2007, and Minister for Social Justice and Local Government from 2007 to 2009.

Background

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Born in Dublin, a son of the former Irish Fianna Fáil politician, Hugh Gibbons, he was raised in County Roscommon Ireland, and moved to Yorkshire in 1976 to train as a general medical practitioner in Calderdale.[1] He subsequently became a GP in Blaengwynfi and also worked as a GP in partnership with Julian Tudor Hart at Glyncorrwg in the Afan Valley near Port Talbot.[2][3]

A member of the British Medical Association (BMA), the Socialist Health Association, and the Medical Practitioners Union (UNITE), he is a fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners, and a former Secretary to the Morgannwg Local Medical Committee.

Political Career

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In April 1999, Gibbons was selected as the Labour party candidate for the Aberavon constituency in the new National Assembly for Wales.[3] He was elected in the first Welsh Assembly elections in May, with a majority of 6,743.[4] In October 2000, he was appointed as Deputy Minister for Health by First Minister Rhodri Morgan, providing support to Health Minister Jane Hutt.[5]

He was re-elected in 2003, and appointed as Deputy Minister for Economic Transport and Development shortly after.[6] In August 2003, Gibbons, alongside labour colleague John Griffiths, wrote a submission to the Richard Commission supporting further powers for the Welsh Assembly.[7]

In January 2005, Gibbons was appointed as Minister for Health after prior Health Minister Jane Hutt was removed from the role.[1][8] After being appointed he was given "free rein" over the government's policy on health.[9][10] Gibbons announced he would begin a period of consultation, to determine the best course of action.[10] He faced pressure to adopt similar systems to those used for the English health service, particularly from Wales Secretary Peter Hain,[11][12][13] and in March 2005 adopted a target for treatment waiting times of no waits longer than six months by 2009.[14]

In the first Cabinet of the Third Assembly he was appointed Minister for the Economy and Transport in May 2007, and Minister for Social Justice and Local Government in the coalition government in July 2007. He then took the decision to stand down at the 2011 Welsh Assembly election and was succeeded by David Rees of the Labour Party.

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Offices held

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Senedd
New office Assembly Member for Aberavon
1999–2011 		Succeeded by
Political offices
New office Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services
2000–2003 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Deputy Minister for Economic Development
2003–2005 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Health and Social Services
2005–2007 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for the Economy and Transport
2007 (31 May – 19 July) 		Succeeded by
New office Minister for Social Justice and Local Government
2007–2009 		Succeeded by

References

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  1. ^ a b "Hutt is sacked as health minister". BBC News. 10 January 2005. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  2. ^ Ridd, Susan (26 May 1999). "Politics lures doc from valley surgery". South Wales Evening Post. p. 8.
  3. ^ a b "Doctor aiming to win seat". South Wales Evening Post. 1 April 1999. p. 7.
  4. ^ "BBC News | Elections | Wales 99 | Constituencies | Aberavon". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  5. ^ "Cabinet shuffle gives powers". South Wales Evening Post. 18 October 2000. p. 10.
  6. ^ Hazlewood, Richard (14 May 2003). "AM's backbench step". South Wales Echo. Wales Online. p. 20. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  7. ^ Shipton, Martin (14 August 2003). "Deputy ministers call for more power for assembly". Western Mail. p. 15.
  8. ^ Tindle, Greg (10 January 2005). "Jane Hutt axed". South Wales Echo. p. 1.
  9. ^ "Reshuffle defended by Rhodri". North Wales Live. 12 January 2005.
  10. ^ a b Livingstone, Tomos (12 January 2005). "Gibbons to have free rein on policy". Western Mail. p. 6.
  11. ^ Buchanan, Kirsty (27 January 2005). "Hain tells assembly to adopt English health measures". Western Mail. p. 4.
  12. ^ Bailey, Susan (10 February 2005). "Fed up to the back teeth with crisis". South Wales Evening Post. p. 9.
  13. ^ Buchanan, Kirsty (2 March 2005). "Hain orders wales to copy England's health service". Western Mail. p. 1.
  14. ^ Brindley, Madeleine; Buchanan, Kirsty (18 March 2005). "'No waits longer than six months by 2009'". Western Mail. p. 5.
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