Samuel Kurtz
Samuel Kurtz | |
|---|---|
 Kurtz in 2021 | |
| Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and the Welsh Language[a] | |
| Assumed office 18 April 2024 | |
| Leader | Andrew RT Davies Darren Millar |
| Preceded by | Role Re-organised |
| Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs and the Welsh Language | |
| In office 7 May 2021 – 18 April 2024 | |
| Leader | Andrew RT Davies |
| Preceded by | Janet Finch-Saunders[b] |
| Succeeded by | James Evans |
| Member of the Senedd for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire | |
| Assumed office 7 May 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Angela Burns |
| Majority | 936 |
| Pembrokeshire County Councillor for Scleddau Ward | |
| In office 5 May 2017 – 5 May 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Owen Watkin James |
| Succeeded by | Ward Abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Welsh Conservatives |
| Alma mater | University of the West of England |
| Website | www |
Samuel Kurtz (usually known as Sam Kurtz) is a Welsh Conservative politician who has been Member of the Senedd (MS) for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire since the 2021 Senedd election. Kurtz has been the Welsh Conservatives' Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Energy since April 2024,[1][2] and the Welsh Language since December 2024.[3] Kurtz was a Pembrokeshire County Councillor from 2017 to 2022, representing Scleddau ward.
Personal Life and Education
[edit]Kurtz studied for a BA in Politics at the University of the West of England.[4] He grew up on a beef farm.[5]
Prior to his political career, Kurtz worked for the Pembrokeshire Herald and the Western Telegraph.[4]
Political Career
[edit]Kurtz was elected to Pembrokeshire County Council in 2017.[6] He represented Scleddau ward until the 2022 elections.[7] The ward was abolished at this election, and split across the Llanrhian and Bro Gwaun wards.[7][8] He was a press officer for Stephen Crabb in 2020.[9]
Kurtz was selected to replace the outgoing Angela Burns as Welsh Conservative candidate for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire in 2020.[5] Shortly after this, 3 tweets from when he was a student surfaced, in which he described an individual as a "gay boy", said someone "sounds a little gay" and described someone as “bisexual, and looks like shit off of a shoe”.[9][10] Kurtz apologised for the comments.[11][12] He was elected as MS for the constituency at the 2021 Senedd elections, with a majority of 936.[13][14]
Kurtz has been the Conservatives' Shadow Minister for Economy and Energy since 2024.[1][2] From his election until 2024 he was the Welsh Conservatives' Shadow Rural Affairs and Welsh language Minister in the Senedd.[15][16] He is also a member of two Senedd Committees: the Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee.[4] He is also a member of cross-party groups on armed forces and cadets, beer and pubs, diabetes, digital rights and democracy, fisheries and aquaculture, further education and skills, horseracing, small shops, tourism and welsh wool.[4] He also chairs cross party groupings on rural growth and shooting and conservation.[4]
Political views
[edit]Wales and The Constitution
[edit]Kurtz has backed the increase in size of the Senedd, against his party's policy, although he said this should not happen during a cost of living crisis.[17] He further said that "we need to have a look at how the UK is set up" and described the existing constitutional settlement as "a mish mash".[17]
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Price, Emily (18 April 2024). "Welsh Conservatives reshuffle shadow cabinet". Nation.Cymru. Archived from the original on 18 June 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ a b "'Let's get the dragon that is the Welsh economy breathing fire once again!'". Pembroke And Pembroke Dock Observer. 18 April 2024. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ "New Welsh Conservatives leader Darren Millar MS announces shadow cabinet". ITV News. 12 December 2024. Archived from the original on 12 December 2024. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "Samuel Kurtz MS". senedd.wales. Archived from the original on 22 February 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Will Sam be the man for the Senedd?". Western Telegraph. 30 November 2020. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ "Local Elections Archive Project - 2017 - Pembrokeshire". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Election Results". www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 16 March 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ Mosalski, Ruth (21 June 2021). "Members of the Senedd who are also councillors". Wales Online. Archived from the original on 21 January 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ a b Shipton, Martin (3 December 2020). "Conservative Senedd candidate apologises for homophobic and misogynistic tweets in student years". Wales Online. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
- ^ Shipton, Martin (3 December 2020). "Conservative candidate apologises for homophobic and misogynistic tweets". Wales Online. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ "Tory councillor Sam Kurtz apologises for offensive tweets". Western Telegraph. 3 December 2020. Archived from the original on 18 June 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ "Senedd Tory candidate apologises for offensive tweets". BBC News. 1 December 2020. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ "Carmarthen West & Pembrokeshire South". BBC News. 7 May 2021. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ Jenkins, Katy (7 May 2021). "Senedd 2021: Sam Kurtz, Conservative, takes Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire seat". Western Telegraph. Archived from the original on 18 June 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
- ^ "Samuel Kurtz: 'Welsh farmers need a Welsh Government that is going to support the industry' | Farm News | Farmers Guardian". www.farmersguardian.com. 24 November 2023. Archived from the original on 29 January 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
- ^ "Samuel Kurtz MS Archives". Institute of Welsh Affairs. 30 September 2022. Archived from the original on 29 January 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
- ^ a b "Conservative backs Senedd expansion, against party policy". BBC News. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
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