{{Short description|Welsh politician (born 1968)}} {{Distinguish|Lindsay Naegle}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = | name = Lynne Neagle | honorific_suffix = [[Member of the Senedd|MS]] | image = Lynne Neagle official photo 2026.jpg | alt = | caption = Official portrait, 2026 | office = [[Member of the Senedd]] <br /> for [[Sir Fynwy Torfaen]]<br />{{nobold|[[Torfaen (Senedd constituency)|Torfaen]] (1999–2026)}} | majority = | term_start = 6 May 1999 | term_end = | predecessor = [[Government of Wales Act 1998|Office created]] | successor = | office1 = [[Cabinet Secretary for Education (Wales)|Cabinet Secretary for Education]] | term_start1 = 21 March 2024 | term_end1 = 12 May 2026 | first_minister1 = [[Vaughan Gething]] <br> [[Eluned Morgan, Baroness Morgan of Ely|Eluned Morgan]] | predecessor1 = [[Jeremy Miles]] | successor1 = [[Anna Brychan]] | office2 = [[Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing]] | first_minister2 = [[Mark Drakeford]] | predecessor2 = [[Eluned Morgan, Baroness Morgan of Ely|The Baroness Morgan of Ely]] | successor2 = [[Jayne Bryant]] | term_start2 = 13 May 2021 | term_end2 = 21 March 2024 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1968|1|18|df=yes}} | birth_place = [[Merthyr Tydfil]], [[Wales]] | death_date = | death_place = | resting_place = | birth_name = | party = [[Welsh Labour]] [[Co-operative Party|Co-operative]] | other_party = | spouse = [[Huw Lewis]] | relations = | children = 2 | alma_mater = [[University of Reading]] | occupation = Political adviser | profession = | cabinet = | committees = | portfolio = | signature = | signature_alt = | website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20131210064735/http://www.welshlabour.org.uk/assembly-members/lynne-neagle/ Welsh Labour] | footnotes = }} '''Lynne Neagle''' (born 18 January 1968) is a [[Welsh Labour]] & [[Co-operative Party|Co-operative]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://senedd.wales/people/lynne-neagle-ms/|title=Lynne Neagle MS|website=senedd.wales}}</ref> politician serving as [[Cabinet Secretary for Education (Wales)|Cabinet Secretary for Education]] since 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-21 |title=First Minister Vaughan Gething announces new Welsh Government Cabinet {{!}} GOV.WALES |url=https://www.gov.wales/first-minister-vaughan-gething-announces-new-welsh-government-cabinet |access-date=2024-03-22 |website=www.gov.wales |language=en}}</ref> Born in [[Merthyr Tydfil]], [[Glamorgan]], Wales, Neagle was [[Member of the Senedd]] (MS) for the constituency of [[Torfaen (Senedd constituency)|Torfaen]] from 1999 to 2026, and since then has been MS for [[Sir Fynwy Torfaen]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mosalski |first1=Ruth |title=Wales' Senedd Election results in full as new political map of Wales unveiled |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/wales-senedd-election-results-2026-33858709 |work=Wales Online |date=8 May 2026 |language=en}}</ref>
==Background== Neagle was educated at [[Cyfarthfa High School]], Merthyr Tydfil, and the [[University of Reading]], where she read French and Italian.
She is a former Voluntary Sector Carer and Careers Development Officer. Neagle was also a research assistant to [[Glenys Kinnock]] MEP<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/8999719.torfaen-constituency-profile/|title=TORFAEN: Constituency profile|date=28 April 2011|website=South Wales Argus}}</ref> from 1994 to 1997.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Mulholland |first=Hélène |date=2018-11-13 |title=Lynne Neagle: 'Building resilience in young people is vital' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/nov/13/lynne-neagle-wales-children-mental-health-resilience-young-people |access-date=2024-07-19 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
==Political career==
=== First and Second Senedds (1999–2007) === Neagle was elected to the Senedd in 1999 as a Labour candidate to represent Torfaen. Neagle was an ally of [[Alun Michael]] during his leadership of the Welsh Labour party.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Lyons |first=Jamie |date=2000-02-10 |title=Labour whips resign as Michael goes |work=Press Association}}</ref>
Later in the first term, she was appointed to the role of Chair of the Welsh Labour group in the Senedd.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Betts |first=Clive |date=2001-02-15 |title=Steady as you go, Morgan Cautions. |work=Western Mail |pages=8}}</ref> She initially opposed coalition with the [[Welsh Liberal Democrats]], and supported a motion that would have required any coalition from the [[2003 National Assembly for Wales election|2003 Assembly election]] onward to go to a vote of Welsh Labour members.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2001-02-27 |title=Labour grassroots to rebel against coalition. |work=Western Mail |pages=2}}</ref> However, she later said that the "alternative was worse" and supported the formation of a coalition.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2001-03-05 |title='No alternative to coalition' |work=Western Mail |pages=8}}</ref>
She was occasionally critical of policy of the Morgan government, including the party's health policy, around a lack of targets<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Betts |first=Clive |date=2001-02-14 |title=AMs refuse to back strategy for NHS |work=Western Mail |pages=5}}</ref> and around funding,<ref>{{Cite news |date=2003-02-13 |title=Pressure mounts of Hutt to boost funding to cut waiting lists |work=Western Mail |pages=9}}</ref> and the elimination of school league tables.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2001-11-02 |title=Schools tables row |work=Daily Post (North Wales) |pages=3}}</ref>
She was re-elected in 2003 with a majority of 6,964 votes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC NEWS {{!}} VOTE 2003 {{!}} Torfaen |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/vote2003/welsh_assembly/html/583.stm |access-date=2024-07-16 |website=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> She was a member of the Standards committee during the Second Assembly.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shipton |first=Martin |date=2004-07-05 |title='Shocking' email intervention |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/shocking-email-intervention-2428684 |access-date=2024-07-16 |work=Western Mail |pages=2}}</ref>
=== Third Senedd (2007–2011) === Neagle was critical of the creation of a coalition with [[Plaid Cymru]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Senior MPs condemn Plaid deal |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6272280.stm |access-date=19 July 2024 |publisher=BBC News |date=5 July 2007}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Davies |first=Daniel |date=2007-07-04 |title=Neagle breaks ranks over coalition deal |work=Press Association Newswire: Wales}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Shipton |first=Martin |last2=Brindley |first2=Madeleine |date=2007-06-29 |title=Labour row over coalition deal |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/labour-row-over-coalition-deal-2247266 |work=The Western Mail |pages=2}}</ref> In emails leaked to the Western Mail at the time, she stated she wanted "no stone left unturned" in terms of avoiding a Labour-Plaid coalition, by re-engaging the [[Welsh Liberal Democrats]] in talks.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shipton |first=Martin |date=2007-06-15 |title=Emails expose Labour rift |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/emails-expose-labour-rift-2243588 |access-date=2024-07-16 |work=The Western Mail |pages=1}}</ref> She wrote to criticise the coalition in the Western Mail, saying "The facts as I see them in the One Wales document points to a fundamental and detrimental change in direction for Welsh politics. They are not facts I can ignore."<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=2007-07-04 |title=Opposition to Plaid deal spreads |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/6268230.stm |access-date=2024-07-19 |language=en-GB}}</ref>
Neagle was appointed a member of the Finance committee in the Third Assembly.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Livingstone |first=Tomos |date=2007-12-03 |title='Rethink Budget or NHS and council cash could run dry' |work=The Western Mail |pages=1}}</ref> She was also appointed as one of four Labour AMs to sit on the steering group of the 2007 [[All Wales Convention]], on Wales' constitutional future, chaired by [[Emyr Jones Parry|Sir Emyr Jones Parry]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Livingstone |first=Tomos |date=2007-12-18 |title='We must engage with the people of Wales over a referendum' |work=The Western Mail |pages=6}}</ref>
In 2009 Neagle proposed to make the [[MMR vaccine]] compulsory, amid an outbreak of [[Measles]] in Wales.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brindley |first=Madeleine |date=2009-06-02 |title=Support grows for AM's big to make MMR jabs compulsory |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/support-grows-ams-bid-make-2097749 |access-date=2024-07-16 |work=The Western Mail |pages=14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2009-06-01 |title=Call for debate on compulsory MMR |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/8076923.stm |access-date=2024-07-19 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>
She supported her husband, [[Huw Lewis]]'s effort to become leader of the Welsh Labour Party in the 2009 leadership contest.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Williamson |first=David |date=2009-10-03 |title=The race is on as would-be leaders bid for support |work=The Western Mail |pages=4}}</ref> He was not successful, with [[Carwyn Jones]] being selected to lead the party.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Powys |first=Betsan |date=1 December 2009 |title=It's Carwyn |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/betsanpowys/2009/12/its_carwyn.html |access-date=2024-07-19 |website=BBC |language=en}}</ref>
Ahead of the 2011 elections she was adopted as a [[Labour & Co-operative]] candidate.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://party.coop/publication/annual-report-2011-2/ |title=Annual Report 2011 |publisher=[[Co-operative Party]] |access-date=16 July 2024}}</ref>
=== Fourth and Fifth Senedd (2011–2021) === Neagle was re-elected at the [[2011 National Assembly for Wales election|2011 Assembly elections]], with a majority of 6,088 votes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC News - Election 2011 - Wales - Torfaen |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/election2011/constituency/html/26700.stm |access-date=2024-07-16 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> She was appointed to the children and young people and health and social care committees for the fourth assembly.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wright |first=Benjamin |date=2011-06-22 |title=Full list of committees |work=Press Association Newswire: Wales}}</ref>
At the [[2016 National Assembly for Wales election|2016 Senedd election]] she was again re-elected, with a majority of 4,498 votes.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Election results for Torfaen, 6 May 2016 |url=https://business.senedd.wales/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?XXR=0&ID=286 |access-date=2024-07-16 |website=business.senedd.wales |language=en-gb}}</ref> She was appointed to chair the children, young people and education committee.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Craig |first=Ian |date=2016-06-29 |title=Gwent AMs to head Assembly committees |work=South Wales Argus}}</ref><ref name=":1" />
Neagle was one of a number of AMs to back a statement calling for the UK to remain within the [[European Economic Area]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Williamson |first=David |date=2018-02-26 |title=Labour backs UK staying in customs union on heels of a Welsh warning |work=The Western Mail |pages=6–7}}</ref>
She supported [[Vaughan Gething]] in the [[2018 Welsh Labour leadership election]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-05-25 |title=Labour AMs back Vaughan Gething for Welsh Labour leadership in open letter |url=https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2018-05-25/labour-ams-back-vaughan-gething-for-welsh-labour-leadership-in-open-letter |work=ITV News Wales}}</ref>
=== Sixth Senedd (2021–present) === Neagle was re-elected at the [[2021 Senedd election]], with a majority of 5,321 votes.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Election results for Torfaen, 6 May 2021 |url=https://business.senedd.wales/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=340 |access-date=2024-07-16 |website=business.senedd.wales |language=en-gb}}</ref> Neagle was appointed as Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing by First Minister Mark Drakeford shortly after.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-05-13 |title=Written Statement: Cabinet appointments to the new Welsh Government (13 May 2021) |url=https://www.gov.wales/written-statement-cabinet-appointments-new-welsh-government |access-date=2024-07-16 |website=Welsh Government |language=en}}</ref>
Neagle supported Vaughan Gething in the [[February-March 2024 Welsh Labour leadership election]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-12-14 |title=Vaughan Gething announces Welsh first minister bid |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-67716021 |access-date=2024-07-16 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> After Gething won the leadership election, Neagle was appointed as [[Cabinet Secretary for Education (Wales)|Cabinet Secretary for Education]] in the [[Gething government]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mosalski |first=Ruth |date=2024-03-21 |title=Vaughan Gething confirms new-look Welsh Government cabinet |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/live-updates-vaughan-gething-confirms-28859505 |access-date=2024-07-16 |website=Wales Online |language=en}}</ref>
Neagle was elected as MS for the [[Sir Fynwy Torfaen (Senedd constituency)|Sir Fynwy Torfaen Senedd constituency]] at the [[2026 Senedd election]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-31 |title=Six councillors to battle with council leader for shot at Senedd seat |url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/25426199.sir-fynwy-torfaen-labour-senedd-candidate-shortlist/ |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=South Wales Argus |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Mosalski |first1=Ruth |title=Wales' Senedd Election results in full as new political map of Wales unveiled |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/wales-senedd-election-results-2026-33858709 |work=Wales Online |date=8 May 2026 |language=en}}</ref>
==Personal life== Neagle is married to [[Huw Lewis]], the former Senedd Member for [[Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney (Senedd constituency)|Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/married-ams-speak-out-over-2107121|title=Married AMs speak out over second home expense claims|first=Martin|last=Shipton|date=21 May 2009|website=WalesOnline}}</ref> They currently live in [[Penarth]]<ref>https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/ams-huw-lewis-lynne-neagle-2157732</ref> with their two children, James and Sam.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/8298339.stm|title=Lewis pitches as 'radical' leader|date=9 October 2009|publisher=BBC News}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://senedd.wales/people/174 Senedd Member profile] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20150701194753/http://www.welshlabour.org.uk/ Welsh Labour website] *[http://new.wales.gov.uk/?lang=en= Website of the Senedd Government]
==Offices held== {{s-start}} {{s-par|wal}} {{s-bef|before=(new post)}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Member of the Senedd]] for [[Torfaen (Senedd constituency)|Torfaen]]|years=[[1999 National Assembly for Wales election|1999]]–2026}} {{s-aft|after=Seat abolished}} {{s-bef|before=(new seat)}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Member of the Senedd]] for [[Sir Fynwy Torfaen]]|years=[[2026 Senedd election|2026]]–present}} {{s-inc}} {{s-end}} {{Drakeford Cabinet}} {{Welsh MSs 2021–2026|state=collapsed}} {{Welsh MSs 2016–2021|state=collapsed}} {{Welsh AMs 2011–2016|state=collapsed}} {{Current MSs}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Neagle, Lynne}} [[Category:1968 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Welsh Labour members of the Senedd]] [[Category:Labour Co-operative members of the Senedd]] [[Category:Wales AMs 1999–2003]] [[Category:Wales AMs 2003–2007]] [[Category:Wales AMs 2007–2011]] [[Category:Wales AMs 2011–2016]] [[Category:Wales MSs 2016–2021]] [[Category:Wales MSs 2021–2026]] [[Category:Wales MSs 2026–2031]] [[Category:Alumni of the University of Reading]] [[Category:People from Merthyr Tydfil]] [[Category:Female members of the Senedd]] [[Category:20th-century British women politicians]]