# Mick Antoniw

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Welsh politician (born 1954)

Mick Antoniw Мік Антонів Official portrait, 2024 Counsel General for Wales In office 13 May 2021 – 16 July 2024 First Minister Mark Drakeford Vaughan Gething Preceded by Jeremy Miles Succeeded by Elisabeth Jones (designate) Julie James In office 27 June 2016 – 14 November 2017 First Minister Carwyn Jones Preceded by Theodore Huckle Succeeded by Jeremy Miles Minister for the Constitution In office 13 May 2021 – 20 March 2024 First Minister Mark Drakeford Preceded by Office established Succeeded by Rebecca Evans Member of the Senedd for Pontypridd In office 6 May 2011 – 7 April 2026 Preceded by Jane Davidson Succeeded by Seat abolished Majority 5,328 (19.4%) Personal details Born (1954-09-01) 1 September 1954 (age 71) Reading, England Party Welsh Labour Alma mater Cardiff Law School Occupation Lawyer Website WelshLabour.org

**Mick Antoniw** ([Ukrainian](/source/Ukrainian_language): Мік Антонів; born 1 September 1954) is a [Welsh](/source/Welsh_people) [Labour](/source/Welsh_Labour) and [Co-operative](/source/Co-operative_Party) politician and lawyer, who was [Counsel General for Wales](/source/Counsel_General_for_Wales) from 2021 to 2024,[1][2] having previously served in the position from 2016 to 2017. He also previously served as [Minister for the Constitution](/source/Minister_for_the_Constitution_(Wales)) from 2021 to 2024. He was the [Member of the Senedd](/source/Member_of_the_Senedd) (MS) for [Pontypridd](/source/Pontypridd_(Senedd_constituency)) from 2011 to 2026.

## Early life

Born in [Reading, England](/source/Reading%2C_England) in 1954,[3][4] Antoniw comes from a Ukrainian family, with a Danish mother[5] and a Ukrainian father who sought refugee status in the UK following [World War II](/source/World_War_II).[6]

Antoniw came to Wales to study law at the [Cardiff Law School](/source/Cardiff_School_of_Law_and_Politics) in 1973.[7] He was President of the [National Union of Students Wales](/source/National_Union_of_Students_Wales) from 1977 to 1979.[7]

## Professional career

He was a practising [solicitor](/source/Solicitor) before his election to the [Senedd](/source/Senedd), specialising in personal injury. Antoniw was a partner in [Thompsons Solicitors](/source/Thompsons_Solicitors), the specialist trade union solicitors, with whom he began his training in 1980.[8] He is a trustee of the [Welsh Refugee Council](/source/Welsh_Refugee_Council).[7][8]

## Personal life

Antoniw fostered dozens of children in the 15 years prior to his election, saying "When you are fostering, it brings immense quality. It is very challenging – and can be dependent on the nature of the fostering, whether the child is disabled or older children where there are difficulties. But my experience in the mixture of fostering that we did, was that it does add value to your life. Seeing children developing and beginning to blossom to some extent during the fostering process is very rewarding."[9]

## Political career

Antoniw was a leading member of the Wales Anti-apartheid Movement (WAAM) during the 1980s.[10] In [1981](/source/1981_South_Glamorgan_County_Council_election), he was elected as a [Labour](/source/Labour_Party_(UK)) councilor to the [South Glamorgan County Council](/source/South_Glamorgan_County_Council) for the Court ward, gaining the seat from the Conservatives. He was re-elected in [1985](/source/1985_South_Glamorgan_County_Council_election) but did not seek re-election in [1989](/source/1989_South_Glamorgan_County_Council_election).[11]

At [the 2011 Welsh Assembly election](/source/2011_National_Assembly_for_Wales_election), Antoniw increased the Labour vote with a swing of 18.8%. His 11,864 votes amounted to over 50% of the poll; his majority over the second-placed [Welsh Liberal Democrats](/source/Welsh_Liberal_Democrats) candidate, Mike Powell, was 7,694.[12] At the [2016 Welsh Assembly election](/source/2016_National_Assembly_for_Wales_election) Antoniw's vote fell to 9,986 and his majority was reduced.[13]

He was appointed as [Counsel General for Wales](/source/Counsel_General_for_Wales) in June 2016. However, he departed from this role in November 2017 as part of a Government reshuffle, being replaced by [Jeremy Miles](/source/Jeremy_Miles).[14]

Antoniw is a fluent Ukrainian speaker and has used his knowledge of the language when meeting with Ukrainian officials including deputy prime minister [Volodymyr Groysman](/source/Volodymyr_Groysman) at international summits, such as the European Union Committee of the Regions. He has stated that he is a supporter of Ukrainian accession to the European Union, a supporter of the country joining NATO, and does not support Ukrainian federalism.[6] Antoniw visited Ukraine just prior to the 2022 [Russian invasion of Ukraine](/source/Russian_invasion_of_Ukraine) alongside [Plaid Cymru](/source/Plaid_Cymru) leader [Adam Price](/source/Adam_Price) in order to "show solidarity with workers and minorities" as they met workers, LGBTQ+ people, ethnic minorities and human rights defenders.[15]

A self-described socialist, Antoniw endorsed [Jeremy Corbyn](/source/Jeremy_Corbyn)'s [2015 campaign](/source/Jeremy_Corbyn_2015_Labour_Party_leadership_campaign) for [the leadership of the Labour Party](/source/2015_Labour_Party_leadership_election_(UK)), [Mark Drakeford](/source/Mark_Drakeford)'s [2018 Welsh Labour leadership bid](/source/2018_Welsh_Labour_leadership_election), and [Keir Starmer](/source/Keir_Starmer)'s [candidacy in the 2020 Labour leadership election](/source/2020_Labour_Party_leadership_election_(UK)). In January 2019 Drakeford appointed Antoniw as Welsh representative on [the party's National Executive Committee](/source/National_Executive_Committee_of_the_Labour_Party_(UK)):[16] however, Antoniw and Drakeford subsequently successfully campaigned for the position to be democratically elected by the Welsh Labour membership. Antoniw ran in the first election for the post in 2020,[17] receiving endorsements from several trade unions including [Unison](/source/Unison_(trade_union)), as well as [Momentum](/source/Momentum_(organisation)),[18] the [Labour Representation Committee](/source/Labour_Representation_Committee_(2004))[16] and the [Campaign for Labour Party Democracy](/source/Campaign_for_Labour_Party_Democracy):[19] however, he was defeated by former [First Minister of Wales](/source/First_Minister_of_Wales) [Carwyn Jones](/source/Carwyn_Jones), who won 5,195 votes to Antoniw's 4,933.[20]

In July 2024, Antoniw resigned from the Welsh Government, alongside three other [cabinet members](/source/Welsh_Cabinet), from [First Minister](/source/First_Minister_of_Wales) [Vaughan Gething](/source/Vaughan_Gething)'s [government](/source/Gething_government), prompting Gething's [subsequent resignation as First Minister](/source/2024_Welsh_government_crisis).[21][22]

In January 2025, Antoniw announced he would be standing down at the [2026 Senedd election](/source/2026_Senedd_election).[23]

## Honours and awards

- [Ukraine](/source/Ukraine): - **2019**: Third Class of the [Order of Merit](/source/Order_of_Merit_(Ukraine)) of Ukraine[24]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["First Minister Vaughan Gething announces new Welsh Government Cabinet | GOV.WALES"](https://www.gov.wales/first-minister-vaughan-gething-announces-new-welsh-government-cabinet). *gov.wales*. 21 March 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Vaughan Gething: Four Welsh government members quit and urge him to go"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cleyl8ln66et). BBC News.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Ukraine: 'My guilt at leaving' - Mick Antoniw"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-60508111). 24 February 2022 – via www.bbc.co.uk.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Rogerson, Paul (27 January 2023). ["Go your own way"](https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/profiles/go-your-own-way/5114938.article). *Law Gazette*. Retrieved 16 May 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["AM's Ukrainian festivities for new year"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-wales-politics-35326649). BBC. 16 January 2016.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-auto_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-auto_6-1) Williamson, David (3 April 2014). ["Ukrainian-speaking Welsh AM Mick Antoniw stands up for his father's country in Brussels"](http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/ukrainian-speaking-welsh-am-mick-antoniw-6915032). *WalesOnline*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Antoniw_1_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Antoniw_1_7-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Antoniw_1_7-2) ["Mick Antoniw – about me"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110821224537/http://mickantoniw.com/page2.htm). Mick Antoniw. 2011. Archived from [the original](http://mickantoniw.com/page2.htm) on 21 August 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2011.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Labour_1_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Labour_1_8-1) ["Mick Antoniw – Pontypridd"](http://welshlabour.org.uk/mick-antoniw). *Welsh Labour website*. [Welsh Labour](/source/Welsh_Labour). 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2011.[*[dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Henry, Graham (10 June 2012). ["Action needed to speed up the adoption process in Wales"](http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/health/action-needed-speed-up-adoption-2028848). *WalesOnline*. Retrieved 27 January 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Wales Anti-Apartheid Movement Papers"](https://archives.library.wales/index.php/wales-anti-apartheid-movement-papers). [National Library of Wales](/source/National_Library_of_Wales). Retrieved 14 August 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["South Glamorgan County Council elections 1973-1995"](https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/South-Glamorgan-County-1973-1993.pdf) (PDF). *Elections Centre*. Retrieved 20 November 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Shipton, Martin (7 February 2013). ["Labour AM Mick Antoniw accused of blocking employee from attending council meetings"](https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/labour-am-mick-antoniw-accused-2495076). *WalesOnline*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Owens, David (6 May 2016). ["Assembly Election 2016: Labour holds Pontypridd but with a reduced majority"](http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/assembly-election-2016-labour-holds-11293178). *WalesOnline*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Williamson, David (3 November 2017). ["The full details of Carwyn Jones' Welsh Government reshuffle"](https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/full-details-carwyn-jones-welsh-13856565). *[Walesonline](/source/Walesonline)*. Retrieved 22 April 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Ukraine: Adam Price and Mick Antoniw arrive against advice"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-60448384?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA). BBC News. 19 February 2022.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-labourbriefing_16-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-labourbriefing_16-1) [Labour Representation Committee (2004)](/source/Labour_Representation_Committee_(2004)) (18 October 2020). ["Maximise the vote for the #GV6"](https://labourbriefing.org/blog/2020/10/18/maximise-the-vote-for-the-gv6). *[Labour Briefing](/source/Labour_Briefing)*. Retrieved 9 May 2021.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_numeric_names:_authors_list))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Chappell, Elliot (30 September 2020). ["Exclusive: Interview with Labour NEC Welsh rep candidate Mick Antoniw"](https://labourlist.org/2020/09/exclusive-interview-with-labour-nec-welsh-rep-candidate-mick-antoniw/). *[LabourList](/source/LabourList)*. Retrieved 9 May 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["NCG Meeting: 3/10/2020: 11:00am-3pm"](https://peoplesmomentum.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/1Full-NCG-3.10.2020-minutes.pdf) (PDF). *[Momentum](/source/Momentum_(organisation))*. Retrieved 9 May 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["Support Grassroots candidates for the 2020 NEC Elections"](https://www.clpd.org.uk/campaign/clga-candidates-nec-election-2020/). *[Campaign for Labour Party Democracy](/source/Campaign_for_Labour_Party_Democracy)*. 7 October 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Shipton, Martin (14 November 2020). ["Carwyn defeats Antoniw to take NEC Welsh seat"](https://www.pressreader.com/uk/western-mail/20201114/281784221625300). *[Western Mail (Wales)](/source/Western_Mail_(Wales))*. Retrieved 9 May 2021 – via Press Reader.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** Grierson, Jamie (16 July 2024). ["Vaughan Gething's leadership in peril as four Welsh ministers resign"](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jul/16/vaughan-gething-leadership-in-peril-as-four-welsh-ministers-resign). *The Guardian*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0261-3077](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0261-3077). Retrieved 16 July 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** Mercer, Rosie; Deans, David (16 July 2024). ["Who is Vaughan Gething, the outgoing first minister of Wales?"](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cw0y7x157nlo). BBC News. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240716104317/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cw0y7x157nlo) from the original on 16 July 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** Price, Emily (25 September 2025). ["Labour MS warns that 'democracy is at a precipice' and calls for 'radical reform' of the way the UK is governed"](https://nation.cymru/news/labour-ms-warns-that-democracy-is-at-a-precipice-and-calls-for-radical-reform-of-the-way-the-uk-is-governed/). *[Nation.Cymru](/source/Nation.Cymru)*. Retrieved 20 October 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** ["Jack Laurenson: Ukraine's Friend and Foe of the Week | KyivPost – Ukraine's Global Voice"](https://www.kyivpost.com/article/opinion/op-ed/jack-laurenson-ukraines-friend-and-foe-of-the-week-7.html). *KyivPost*. Retrieved 25 February 2020.

## External links

- Media related to [Mick Antoniw](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Mick_Antoniw) at Wikimedia Commons

- [Official website](http://www.mickantoniw.wales/)

Senedd Preceded by Jane Davidson Member of the Senedd for Pontypridd 2011–2026 Succeeded by Constituency abolished Legal offices Preceded by Theodore Huckle Counsel General for Wales 2016–2017 Succeeded by Jeremy Miles Preceded by Jeremy Miles Counsel General for Wales 2021–2024 Succeeded by New title Minister for the Constitution 2021–2024 Succeeded by Rebecca Evans

v t e Second Drakeford government (2021–2024) Cabinet members Rt Hon Mark Drakeford (First Minister) Rebecca Evans (Finance) (Local Government) Eluned Morgan (Minister for Health and Social Services) Vaughan Gething (Economy) Lesley Griffiths (Rural Affairs and North Wales) (Trefnydd) Jane Hutt (Social Justice) (Chief Whip) Julie James (Climate Change) Jeremy Miles (Education & Welsh Language) Mick Antoniw (Counsel General) (Constitution) Deputy ministers Lynne Neagle (Mental Health and Wellbeing) Julie Morgan (Social Services) Dawn Bowden (Arts, Sport and Tourism) Lee Waters (Climate Change) Hannah Blythyn (Social Partnership) Politics Wales

v t e Members of the National Assembly for Wales 2011–2016 4th Assembly Labour (30) Leighton Andrews Mick Antoniw (Rosemary Butler) Christine Chapman Jeffrey Cuthbert Alun Davies Keith Davies Mark Drakeford Carwyn Jones † Rebecca Evans Vaughan Gething Janice Gregory John Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Edwina Hart Mike Hedges Jane Hutt Julie James Ann Jones Huw Lewis Sandy Mewies Julie Morgan Lynne Neagle Gwyn R Price Jenny Rathbone David Rees Carl Sargeant Ken Skates Gwenda Thomas Joyce Watson Conservatives (14) Mohammad Asghar Angela Burns Andrew RT Davies † Byron Davies (until May 2015) Paul Davies Suzy Davies Janet Finch-Saunders Russell George William Graham Janet Haworth (from May 2015) Altaf Hussain (from May 2015) Mark Isherwood David Melding Darren Millar Nick Ramsay Antoinette Sandbach (until May 2015) Plaid Cymru (11) Jocelyn Davies Llyr Gruffydd Bethan Jenkins Alun Ffred Jones Elin Jones Ieuan Wyn Jones † (leader until 2012/AM until June 2013) Rhodri Glyn Thomas Leanne Wood † (leader from March 2012) Rhun ap Iorwerth (from Aug 2013) Simon Thomas Lindsay Whittle Liberal Democrats (5) Peter Black Eluned Parrott William Powell Aled Roberts Kirsty Williams † Presiding Officer: Rosemary Butler † = Party leaders

v t e Members of the National Assembly for Wales / Senedd 2016–2021 5th Assembly Labour (28/29) Mick Antoniw Hannah Blythyn Dawn Bowden Jayne Bryant Hefin David Alun Davies (–Jan 2021, Feb 2021–)××× Mark Drakeford † Rebecca Evans Vaughan Gething John Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Mike Hedges Vikki Howells Jane Hutt Huw Irranca-Davies Julie James Ann Jones Carwyn Jones († till Dec 2018) Jeremy Miles Eluned MorganR Julie Morgan Lynne Neagle Rhianon Passmore Jenny Rathbone David Rees Carl Sargeant (died Nov 2017) Jack Sargeant (Feb 2018–) Ken Skates Lee Waters Joyce WatsonR Conservatives (12-10) Mohammad AsgharR (died Jun 2020) Angela Burns Andrew RT DaviesR † († till June 2018, Jan 2021–) Paul Davies († Sept 2018–Jan 2021) Suzy DaviesR Janet Finch-Saunders Russell George Mark IsherwoodR Laura Anne JonesR (Jul 2020–) David MeldingR Darren Millar Nick Ramsay (–Dec 2019, Feb 2020–)×× Mark RecklessR (Apr 2017–May 2019)× Plaid Cymru (12-10) Dafydd Elis-Thomas (–Oct 2016) Llyr GruffyddR Siân Gwenllian Rhun ap Iorwerth Delyth JewellR (Jan 2019– ) Elin Jones Helen Mary Jones (Aug 2018– ) Steffan LewisR (died Jan 2019) David LloydR Neil McEvoyR (–Jan 2018) Adam Price † Bethan SayedR Simon ThomasR (–Jul 2018) Leanne Wood († till Sept 2018) UKIP (1-7) Gareth BennettR (–Nov 2019, † Oct 2018–May 2019) Michelle BrownR (–March 2019) Nathan GillR (–Sep 2016) Neil HamiltonR († till May 2018) Caroline JonesR (–May 2019, † May–Oct 2018) Mandy Jones (Dec 2017) Mark RecklessR (–Apr 2017) David RowlandsR (–May 2019) Brexit Party (0-4) Caroline JonesR (May 2019–Aug 2020) Mandy Jones (May 2019–Oct 2020) Mark RecklessR (May 2019–) David RowlandsR (May 2019–Oct 2020) Independent Alliance for Reform (0-3) Mandy Jones (Oct 2020–) Caroline JonesR (Oct 2020–) David RowlandsR (Oct 2020–) Liberal Democrats (1) Kirsty Williams Welsh National Party/Propel (0-1) Neil McEvoyR (Jan 2020–) Independent (0-4) Gareth BennettR (Nov 2019– ) Michelle BrownR (March 2019–) Alun Davies (Jan–Feb 2021) Dafydd Elis-Thomas (Oct 2016– ) Nathan GillR (Sep 2016–Dec 2017) Caroline JonesR (Aug 2020–Oct 2020) Mandy Jones (Jan 2018–May 2019) Neil McEvoyR (Jan 2018–Jan 2020) Nick Ramsay (Jan 2020–Feb 2020) Presiding Officer: Elin Jones † = Party leaders. R = Regional MS × Member of the Conservative group but not party ×× Suspended from Conservative group 2 Jan 2020 to 13 Feb 2020 ××× Suspended from Labour group 19 Jan - 23 Feb 2021

v t e Members of the Senedd 2021–2026 6th Senedd Labour (29-30) Mick Antoniw Hannah Blythyn Dawn Bowden Jayne Bryant Hefin David (died Aug 2025) Alun Davies Mark Drakeford († till Mar 2024) Rebecca Evans Vaughan Gething († Mar-Jul 2024) John Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Mike Hedges Vikki Howells Jane Hutt Huw Irranca-Davies Julie James Jeremy Miles Eluned MorganR† († since Jul 2024) Julie Morgan Sarah Murphy Lynne Neagle Rhianon Passmore Jenny Rathbone David Rees Jack Sargeant Ken Skates Carolyn ThomasR Lee Waters Joyce WatsonR Buffy Williams Conservatives (14-16) Natasha AsgharR Andrew RT DaviesR († till Dec 2024) Paul Davies Gareth Davies James Evans ( –Jan 2026) Janet Finch-Saunders Peter Fox Russell George ( –Apr 2025) Tom GiffardR Altaf HussainR Mark IsherwoodR Joel JamesR Laura Anne JonesR ( –Jul 2025) Samuel Kurtz Darren Millar † († since Dec 2024) Sam RowlandsR Plaid Cymru (12-13) Rhys ab OwenR ( –Nov 2022) Cefin CampbellR Luke FletcherR Heledd FychanR Llŷr Huws GruffyddR Peredur Owen GriffithsR Mabon ap Gwynfor Siân Gwenllian Rhun ap Iorwerth † († since June 2023) Delyth JewellR Elin Jones Adam Price († till May 2023) Lindsay Whittle (since Oct 2025) Sioned WilliamsR Liberal Democrats (1) Jane DoddsR† Reform (0-2) James Evans (Jan 2026– ) Laura Anne JonesR (Jul 2025– ) Independent (0-1) Rhys ab OwenR (Nov 2022– ) Russell George (Apr 2025– ) Llywydd (presiding officer): Elin Jones † = Party leaders R = Regional MS

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