Steve Witherden is a British Labour Party politician who has been Member of Parliament for Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr since 2024.

Steve Witherden
Official portrait, 2024
Member of Parliament
for Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr
Assumed office
4 July 2024
Preceded byCraig Williams
Majority3,815 (8.8%)
Personal details
BornWrexham, Wales
Political partyLabour
Alma materUniversity of Wales, Lampeter
University of Wales, Aberystwyth (PGCE)
Occupation
  • Politician
  • teacher
  • trade unionist

Early life and career

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Witherden was born in Wrexham, Wales.[1] He received a degree in English Literature from the University of Wales, Lampeter, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth.[2]

Witherden had been a teacher in the constituency for 18 years, also acting as a trade union representative since 2009 and county officer since 2015.[3]

Before the election, Witherden was a national executive member of the NASUWT teachers’ union. In his maiden speech, Witherden said that "My own experiences made me want to become a teacher. I was statemented dyslexic and dyscalculic at a time when a lot of people did not believe in such terms. I was completely illiterate until the age of 11, and was placed in bottom sets at school for many years and written off by many.[4]"

Political career

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Witherden won the Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr seat with a 3,815 vote majority. The former Montgomeryshire MP, Craig Williams, came third. In Witherden's victory speech he mentioned that "Montgomeryshire is the only seat in Wales that had never had a Labour MP so history has been made here tonight".[5]

In his maiden speech, Witherden said his priorities included the creation of Great British Energy and the elimination of zero hours contracts.[4]

In parliament he is a member of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee.[6]

Personal life

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Witherden is married and has a son and daughter.[3]

Witherden's mother died five days after his election as a Member of Parliament. He dedicated his maiden speech to her.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Hughes, Owen; Mosalski, Ruth (5 July 2024). "The full list of all eight MPs in North Wales and who they are". North Wales Live. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  2. ^ "Steve Witherden - Welsh Labour - Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr General Election 2024". Wrexham.com. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr - Steve Witherden". Welsh Labour. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  4. ^ a b c "Steve Witherden Maiden Speech". parliament.uk. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  5. ^ "General Election 2024: Labour win Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr seat". The Leader. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  6. ^ "Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr MP Steve Witherden elected to committee". County Times. 18 October 2024. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
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