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Kevin Brennan (politician)
Encyclopedia
Kevin Denis Brennan is a British
Labour Party
politician
who has been the Member of Parliament
(MP) for Cardiff West
since 2001
, and was a Minister of State
at both the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
and the Department for Children, Schools and Families
before the 2010 general election. His responsibilities included Further Education, Skills, Apprenticeships and Consumer Affairs.
Kevin Brennan was born in Cwmbran
, South Wales
, the son of a steelworker and a school dinner lady
, and is a Welshman
of Irish
origins. He has been married to Amy Lynn Wack since 1988, with one daughter. He supports Cardiff City Football Club and the Cardiff Blues
rugby team. He is also a member of the parliamentary rock group MP4
. His brother is the actor Patrick Brennan.
and Pembroke College, Oxford
. He graduated in Philosophy, Politics and Economics in 1982, and was elected President of the Oxford Union
in the same year with support from William Hague
who preferred Brennan's candidacy over others from the left of the Conservative faction in the Union. After Oxford
he returned to Wales to study at the University College of Wales, Cardiff
where he qualified as a teacher with a PGCE
in history
in 1985. He finished his education with a master's degree in Education
Management at the University of Glamorgan
in 1992.
In 1982, Brennan joined the Cwmbran Community Press as a journalist. He joined the National Union of Teachers
in 1984 before becoming a teacher at Radyr
Comprehensive School in 1985. He left the school
in 1994 as Head of the Economics Department. Between 1991-2001, Brennan was a member of Cardiff Council
representing the ward of Canton, Cardiff
. During this time he served as Chair of the Finance Committee, Chair of the Economic Scrutiny Committee and Vice-Chair of Economic Development.
's decision to step down as the Member of Parliament for Cardiff West
in order to concentrate on being the First Minister of Wales, Brennan was selected as the Labour
candidate for the constituency and subsequently became the MP for Cardiff West
in 2001.
After the 2005 general election
, he was promoted to Tony Blair
's government as an Assistant Government Whip. In June 2007, Blair's successor, Gordon Brown
, appointed Brennan as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
for Children, Young People and Families in the new Department for Children, Schools and Families
, replacing Parmjit Dhanda
. Brennan was replaced in this role by Lady Morgan
following the government reshuffle in October 2008. He then moved to the Cabinet Office
before he was promoted in 2009, becoming the Minister of State for Further Education, Skills, Apprenticeships and Consumer Affairs with responsibilities in both the Department for Education
and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
. Following the 2010 General Election he continued this role in a Shadow Ministerial capacity before Ed Milliband's decision to appoint Brennan to his current position of Shadow Minister for Schools.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who has been the Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Cardiff West
Cardiff West (UK Parliament constituency)
Cardiff West is a borough constituency in the city of Cardiff. It returns one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post voting system...
since 2001
United Kingdom general election, 2001
The United Kingdom general election, 2001 was held on Thursday 7 June 2001 to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. It was dubbed "the quiet landslide" by the media, as the Labour Party was re-elected with another landslide result and only suffered a net loss of 6 seats...
, and was a Minister of State
Minister of State
Minister of State is a title borne by politicians or officials in certain countries governed under a parliamentary system. In some countries a "minister of state" is a junior minister, who is assigned to assist a specific cabinet minister...
at both the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is a ministerial department of the United Kingdom Government created on 5 June 2009 by the merger of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform .-Ministers:The BIS...
and the Department for Children, Schools and Families
Department for Children, Schools and Families
The Department for Children, Schools and Families was a department of the UK government, between 2007 and 2010, responsible for issues affecting people in England up to the age of 19, including child protection and education...
before the 2010 general election. His responsibilities included Further Education, Skills, Apprenticeships and Consumer Affairs.
Kevin Brennan was born in Cwmbran
Cwmbran
Cwmbrân is a new town in Wales. Today forming part of the county borough of Torfaen and lying within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire, Cwmbrân was established in 1949 to provide new employment opportunities in the south eastern portion of the South Wales Coalfield. Cwmbrân means Crow...
, South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
, the son of a steelworker and a school dinner lady
Lunch Lady
Lunch lady is an American slang term for a woman who cooks and serves food in a school cafeteria; the equivalent British English term is "dinner lady". In Britain, a dinner lady also patrols the school playgrounds during the lunch breaks to maintain order amongst the children...
, and is a Welshman
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
of Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
origins. He has been married to Amy Lynn Wack since 1988, with one daughter. He supports Cardiff City Football Club and the Cardiff Blues
Cardiff Blues
Cardiff Blues are one of the four professional Welsh regional rugby union teams. Based in Cardiff, the capital of Wales, the team have played at Cardiff City Stadium since the start of the 2009/2010 season and are owned by Cardiff Rugby Football Club....
rugby team. He is also a member of the parliamentary rock group MP4
MP4 (band)
MP4 is a rock band made up of four British Members of Parliament.-Members:It was founded as MP3 in 2004 by Pete Wishart on keyboards, Ian Cawsey on bass guitar and vocals, and Greg Knight on drums...
. His brother is the actor Patrick Brennan.
Background
He was educated at St Alban's RC High School in PontypoolPontypool
Pontypool is a town of approximately 36,000 people in the county borough of Torfaen, within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire in South Wales....
and Pembroke College, Oxford
Pembroke College, Oxford
Pembroke College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, located in Pembroke Square. As of 2009, Pembroke had an estimated financial endowment of £44.9 million.-History:...
. He graduated in Philosophy, Politics and Economics in 1982, and was elected President of the Oxford Union
Oxford Union
The Oxford Union Society, commonly referred to simply as the Oxford Union, is a debating society in the city of Oxford, Britain, whose membership is drawn primarily but not exclusively from the University of Oxford...
in the same year with support from William Hague
William Hague
William Jefferson Hague is the British Foreign Secretary and First Secretary of State. He served as Leader of the Conservative Party from June 1997 to September 2001...
who preferred Brennan's candidacy over others from the left of the Conservative faction in the Union. After Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
he returned to Wales to study at the University College of Wales, Cardiff
Cardiff University
Cardiff University is a leading research university located in the Cathays Park area of Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. It received its Royal charter in 1883 and is a member of the Russell Group of Universities. The university is consistently recognised as providing high quality research-based...
where he qualified as a teacher with a PGCE
Postgraduate Certificate in Education
The Postgraduate Certificate in Education is a one-year course in England, Wales and Northern Ireland for undergraduate degree holders that allows them to train to be a teacher....
in history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
in 1985. He finished his education with a master's degree in Education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
Management at the University of Glamorgan
University of Glamorgan
The University of Glamorgan is a university based in Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales with campuses in Treforest, Glyntaff, Merthyr Tydfil, Tyn y Wern and Cardiff...
in 1992.
In 1982, Brennan joined the Cwmbran Community Press as a journalist. He joined the National Union of Teachers
National Union of Teachers
The National Union of Teachers is a trade union for school teachers in England, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. It is a member of the Trades Union Congress...
in 1984 before becoming a teacher at Radyr
Radyr
Radyr is an outer suburb of Cardiff, the capital of Wales. The suburb is situated in the west of the city, although it was originally a separate village, and is located around 5 miles north west of Cardiff city centre. According to 2009 estimates, the suburb has a population of 6,000...
Comprehensive School in 1985. He left the school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
in 1994 as Head of the Economics Department. Between 1991-2001, Brennan was a member of Cardiff Council
Cardiff Council
The County Council of the City and County of Cardiff is the governing body for Cardiff, one of the Principal Areas of Wales. The council consists of 75 councillors, representing 29 electoral wards. The authority is properly styled as The County Council of the City and County of Cardiff or in...
representing the ward of Canton, Cardiff
Canton, Cardiff
Canton is an inner-city district and community in the west of Cardiff, capital of Wales, lying west of the city's civic centre. One of the most ethnically diverse of Cardiff's suburbs, with a significant Asian population such as Pakistanis and Indians, Canton has a population just in excess of...
. During this time he served as Chair of the Finance Committee, Chair of the Economic Scrutiny Committee and Vice-Chair of Economic Development.
Political career
Following Rhodri MorganRhodri Morgan
Hywel Rhodri Morgan is a Welsh Labour politician who, as First Secretary for Wales, and subsequently First Minister, was leader of the Welsh Assembly Government from 2000 to 2009. A former leader of Welsh Labour, he was the Assembly Member for Cardiff West from 1999 to 2011...
's decision to step down as the Member of Parliament for Cardiff West
Cardiff West
Cardiff West or West Cardiff refers to the collection of communities in the west of Cardiff, Wales. Also the usage is unofficial and boundaries are only ambiguously defined, they generally share the postcodes CF5 or CF15, and the telephone code 029...
in order to concentrate on being the First Minister of Wales, Brennan was selected as the Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
candidate for the constituency and subsequently became the MP for Cardiff West
Cardiff West
Cardiff West or West Cardiff refers to the collection of communities in the west of Cardiff, Wales. Also the usage is unofficial and boundaries are only ambiguously defined, they generally share the postcodes CF5 or CF15, and the telephone code 029...
in 2001.
After the 2005 general election
United Kingdom general election, 2005
The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
, he was promoted to Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
's government as an Assistant Government Whip. In June 2007, Blair's successor, Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
, appointed Brennan as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
A Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State is the lowest of three tiers of government minister in the government of the United Kingdom, junior to both a Minister of State and a Secretary of State....
for Children, Young People and Families in the new Department for Children, Schools and Families
Department for Children, Schools and Families
The Department for Children, Schools and Families was a department of the UK government, between 2007 and 2010, responsible for issues affecting people in England up to the age of 19, including child protection and education...
, replacing Parmjit Dhanda
Parmjit Dhanda
Parmjit Singh Dhanda is a British Labour Party politician who was the Member of Parliament for Gloucester from 2001 to 2010, succeeding Tess Kingham as the Labour MP for the seat...
. Brennan was replaced in this role by Lady Morgan
Delyth Morgan, Baroness Morgan of Drefelin
Baroness Delyth Morgan, Baroness Morgan of Drefelin sits as a Labour Party peer in the House of Lords of the United Kingdom. She was raised to the peerage in 2004 and has been appointed as Chief Executive of Breast Cancer Campaign...
following the government reshuffle in October 2008. He then moved to the Cabinet Office
Cabinet Office
The Cabinet Office is a department of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for supporting the Prime Minister and Cabinet of the United Kingdom....
before he was promoted in 2009, becoming the Minister of State for Further Education, Skills, Apprenticeships and Consumer Affairs with responsibilities in both the Department for Education
Department for Education
The Department for Education is a department of the UK government responsible for issues affecting people in England up to the age of 19, including child protection and education....
and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is a ministerial department of the United Kingdom Government created on 5 June 2009 by the merger of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform .-Ministers:The BIS...
. Following the 2010 General Election he continued this role in a Shadow Ministerial capacity before Ed Milliband's decision to appoint Brennan to his current position of Shadow Minister for Schools.
External links
- Kevin Brennan MP official constituency website
- Profile at the Welsh Labour Party
- Official channel at YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....