Jo Stevens

Joanna Meriel Stevens[1] (born 6 September 1966)[2] is a Welsh Labour Party politician serving as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Cardiff Central since the May 2015 general election.[3] Stevens also serves as the Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and sits on the National Executive Committee on behalf of the shadow frontbench.

Not to be confused with Joe Stevens.

Jo Stevens

MP
Stevens in 2020
Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
Assumed office
6 April 2020
LeaderKeir Starmer
Preceded byTracy Brabin
Shadow Secretary of State for Wales
In office
7 October 2016 – 27 January 2017
LeaderJeremy Corbyn
Preceded byPaul Flynn
Succeeded byChristina Rees
Shadow Solicitor General for England and Wales
In office
13 January 2016 – 6 October 2016
LeaderJeremy Corbyn
Preceded byKarl Turner
Succeeded byNick Thomas-Symonds
Member of Parliament
for Cardiff Central
Assumed office
7 May 2015
Preceded byJenny Willott
Majority17,179 (41.1%)
Personal details
Born
Joanna Meriel Stevens

(1966-09-06) 6 September 1966
Swansea, Wales
Political partyLabour
Alma materUniversity of Manchester
Manchester Metropolitan
University
Websitewww.jostevens.co.uk

Early life and career

Stevens was born in Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales and grew up in Mold, Flintshire. She attended Argoed High School and Elfed High School.[4]

She studied law at Manchester University and completed the Solicitors' Professional Examination at Manchester Polytechnic in 1989.[5]

Prior to becoming an MP, Stevens was People and Organisation Director of Thompsons Solicitors.[4]

Member of Parliament

Stevens was elected as Member of Parliament for Cardiff Central on 7 May 2015 with a majority of 4,981, defeating incumbent Liberal Democrat MP Jenny Willott.[3]

In Jeremy Corbyn's January 2016 reshuffle, she was appointed shadow solicitor general and shadow justice minister. Despite this she supported Owen Smith in the 2016 Labour Party (UK) leadership election.[6] In October 2016 reshuffle, after Corbyn's re-election as party leader, Stevens became Shadow Secretary of State for Wales.[7] She resigned on 27 January 2017 in order to vote against the three-line whip obliging Labour MPs to vote in favour of Article 50.[8] In March 2019, Stevens voted against the Labour Party whip and in favour of an amendment tabled by members of The Independent Group for a second public vote.[9]

Stevens chairs the GMB Parliamentary Group, who ensure that issues of importance to GMB members are raised in the House of Commons.

Stevens supported Keir Starmer in the 2020 Labour Party leadership election.[10][11] He subsequently appointed her Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, shadowing Oliver Dowden.

Personal life

In January 2021 Stevens was treated in hospital for COVID-19.[12]

References
  1. "No. 61230". The London Gazette. 18 May 2015. p. 9127.
  2. "Jo Stevens MP". myparliament.info. MyParliament. Archived from the original on 11 August 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  3. "Cardiff Central Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Archived from the original on 8 May 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  4. "Democracy Club CVs". Democracy Club. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  5. "Jo Stevens – About". Jo Stevens MP. Archived from the original on 10 May 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  6. Smith, Mikey; Bloom, Dan (20 July 2016). "Which MPs are nominating Owen Smith in the Labour leadership contest?". Mirror. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
  7. "As it happened: Steven Woolfe in hospital and Labour reshuffle". BBC News. 6 October 2016. Archived from the original on 7 October 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  8. Elgot, Jessica (27 January 2017). "Labour MP Jo Stevens quits shadow cabinet over article 50 vote". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 27 January 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  9. Mosalski, Ruth (14 March 2019). "Brexit latest: The Welsh MPs who voted for a second referendum". Wales Online.
  10. "My nomination for the next Labour Leader | Jo Stevens MP". Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  11. "Labour leadership: Who are Welsh MPs backing?". BBC News. 13 January 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  12. "Jo Stevens: Labour's shadow culture secretary in hospital with COVID-19". Sky News. 2 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Jenny Willott		 Member of Parliament
for Cardiff Central
2015–present		 Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by
Paul Flynn		 Shadow Secretary of State for Wales
2016–2017		 Succeeded by
Christina Rees
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