Irene James
Irene James is a Welsh Labour politician who represented the constituency of Islwyn (National [Assembly for Wales constituency)|Islwyn] in the National Assembly for Wales from 2003 to 2011.
Personal life
James was educated Newbridge Grammar School and the Welsh [College of Music">Welsh people">Welsh [College of Music & Drama|Cardiff College of Music & Drama]. She completed her teacher training at Borough Road College, London, after which she became a special needs teacher at Risca Primary School. Her main interests are jobs, education and health.Political career
James was first elected as AM for the Islwyn constituency at the 2003 [National Assembly for Wales election|2003 Welsh Assembly Elections], with a majority of 7320. She regained the traditionally labour constituency from Brian Hancock of Plaid Cymru, who had won the seat in a shock result at the first National Assembly elections. She was reelected in 2007, with a significantly reduced majority of 2218. James announced, in July 2009, that she would be standing down from the National Assembly for Wales 2011 [National Assembly for Wales election|in the 2011 election].James was agent to Don Touhig MP at the 2005 general election.
In 2026, James described the Labour Party and Keir Starmer as out of touch with the working class and confirmed she had joined Your Party