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Welsh assembly teams take shape
The Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Plaid Cymru have revealed their new frontbench teams in the Welsh assembly.
The new Conservative Cabinet-in-waiting will include a leader of the fuel protests and the youngest parliamentarian in Britain, party chief Nick Bourne has said.
Brynle William will become the party's spokesman on farming and rural development in the assembly, while Laura Anne Jones, aged 24, takes on the sport portfolio.
Williams, who was elected on the North Wales regional list, rose to fame as a spokesman for farmers blockading the oil refinery at Ellesmere Port in Cheshire nearly three years ago.
He played a key role in the campaign which almost brought Britain to a standstill.
Bourne said that Williams would be a "great asset" to the Conservative group in the assembly.
"His knowledge of farming is second to none and he really knows this area inside out. Unlike the Labour Party, we are recognising the importance of farming in this portfolio because we firmly believe that this area deserves a full-time minister. Farming is being progressively sidelined by Labour."
Jones has hit the headlines already as she worked for £5-an-hour as a waitress until last month.
Describing her as a "rising star", Bourne said that she was a "very active sportswoman" and would be committed to her new role.
Plaid Cymru's shadow Cabinet team will continue to be led by Ieuan Wyn Jones until the election of his successor.
Alun Ffred Jones takes the post of shadow minister for finance, while Elin Jones becomes shadow economic development and transport minister.
Revealing details of his full team, the Plaid leader said that his AMs were "capable of taking on Labour in the assembly as well as making a vital contribution in promoting a positive policy agenda".
"We will play our part in scrutinising the government, and criticising it when necessary, but we will also provide our own answers on the way forward," said Wyn Jones.
"The assembly must respond to the needs and aspirations of the people of Wales during this second assembly if we are to make it work properly for them."
For the Welsh Liberal Democrats, Michael German remains party leader in the assembly.
Jenny Randerson takes the economic development, transport and finance portfolios while Kirsty Williams speaks on local government, health and social services.
Welsh Conservative Party
- Nick Bourne - leader of the Conservatives in the Welsh assembly
- Alun Cairns - spokesman for economic development and transport
- David Davies - spokesman for education and lifelong learning
- Glyn Davies - spokesman for local government and environment and planning
- Lisa Francis - spokeswoman for the Welsh language and culture
- William Graham - spokesman for social justice
- Mark Isherwood - spokesman for finance
- Laura Jones - spokeswoman for sport
- Jonathan Morgan - spokesman for health and social services and assembly business
- Brynle William - spokesman for farming and rural development
Plaid Cymru
- Ieuan Wyn Jones - shadow first minister
- Jocelyn Davies - shadow assembly business minister
- Elin Jones - shadow economic development and transport minister
- Rhodri Glyn Thomas - shadow environment, planning and countryside minister
- Helen Mary Jones - shadow minister for education
- Dai Lloyd - shadow health and social care minister
- Alun Ffred Jones - shadow minister for finance
- Janet Ryder - shadow minister for local government and public services
- Leanne Wood - shadow minister for social justice and regeneration
- Owen John Thomas - shadow minister for culture, sport and the languages of Wales
Welsh Liberal Democrats
- Michael German - party leader in the assembly
- Jenny Randerson - economic development, transport and finance spokeswoman
- Kirsty Williams - business manager, local government, health and social services spokeswoman
- Peter Black - education and social justice spokesman
- Mick Bates - environment, planning and countryside spokesman
- Eleanor Burnham - culture, sport and language spokeswoman
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