Trish Law

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Trish Law
In office June 29, 2006 – present
Preceded by	Peter Law
Succeeded by	Incumbent
Constituency	Blaenau Gwent
Majority	4,464 (16.3%)

Born	1954 Nantyglo, Blaenau Gwent
Spouse	Peter Law
Children	five

Patricia Law (born 1954 in Nantyglo, Blaenau Gwent) is the Independent AM for Blaenau Gwent.

Trish was educated in Nantyglo Junior School, Glanyravon Secondary Modern School and Ebbw Vale College. She trained as a Nursing Assistant in an EMI unit for Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust, before marrying Peter Law JP AM MP. The couple were married for 30 years and had five children and one grandchild.

During Peter’s term as AM and MP, Trish worked in his constituency office. She was Mayoress of Blaenau Gwent in 1988-89, Secretary of Abertillery and Blaina Inner Wheel Club (Rotary) and for a short period of time was Secretary of the League of Friends at Blaina Hospital.

After Peter's resignation from the Labour Party due to the imposition of an all-women candidate list, and later death from a brain tumour on April 25, 2006, Trish was supported by Blaenau Gwent People's Voice, the group formed by those who helped Peter Law overturn a 19,000 Labour majority at the 2005 General Election. Trish was succesfully elected in a by-election on June 29, 2006. Labour also failed to regain the Westminster seat as Peter Law's former campaign manager, Dai Davies, was elected to replace him^[1].

Following her election, the National Assembly for Wales is now the first national legislature to have a female majority of representatives. ^[2]. Although an independent, Law backed Labour's Assembly Budget after Finance Minister Sue Essex accepted two of her demands: a commitment that women's refuges will be set up in all Welsh counties that don't currently have one; the opening of a therapy centre in Blaenau Gwent for people suffering from depression, stress and low self-esteem. This and other campaigns meant Trish won the BBC Wales award for Campaigning Politician of the Year^[3].

Trish has confirmed her intention to seek relection in the National Assembly for Wales election, 2007.

[edit] Contact details

National Assembly for Wales - Cardiff Bay, Cardiff, CF99 1NA. Tel: (029) 2089 8136, Fax: (029) 2089 8332
Constituency Office - 24 James Street, Ebbw Vale, NP23 6JG. Tel: (01495) 304569, Fax: (01495) 306908