Irene James | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Welsh Assembly for Islwyn | |
| In office 1 May 2003 –6 May 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Brian Hancock |
| Succeeded by | Gwyn Price |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1952 (age 73–74) |
| Party | Your Party (from 2026) |
| Other political affiliations | Labour (1970s to 2026) |
Irene James (born 1952) is a Welsh Labour politician who represented the constituency of Islwyn in the National Assembly for Wales from 2003 to 2011. [1]
James was educated Newbridge Grammar School and the 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.
James was first elected as AM for the Islwyn constituency at the 2003 Welsh Assembly Elections, [2] 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. [3] She was reelected in 2007,with a significantly reduced majority of 2218. [4] James announced,in July 2009,that she would be standing down from the National Assembly for Wales in the 2011 election. [5]
James was agent to Don Touhig MP at the 2005 general election. [1]
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