Nick Bourne
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Nick Bourne AM | |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 6 May 1999 |
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| Preceded by | (new constituency) |
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| Constituency | Mid and West Wales Region |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 11 July 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Ieuan Wyn Jones |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 1999 |
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| Preceded by | Rod Richards |
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| Born | 1 January 1952 |
| Nationality |  British |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Alma mater | University of Wales, Aberystwyth. Trinity College, Cambridge |
| Occupation | Full time politician |
| Website | Nick Bourne's Blog |
Nicholas Henry "Nick" Bourne (born 1 January 1952) is a British politician. He is the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly for Wales and the Conservative Assembly Member for Mid and West Wales.
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[edit] Education
He was educated at King Edward VI School, Chelmsford; University of Wales, Aberystwyth; and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he was President of Cambridge University Lawyers and Treasurer of Cambridge University Conservative Association. [1]
[edit] Professional career
A former Professor of Law, Bourne has been Assistant Principal of Swansea Institute of Higher Education, is also a visiting lecturer at Hong Kong University and an author. [1]
[edit] Political interests
His political interests include the economy, foreign affairs, health and education. Bourne is also a supporter of charities and organizations in Wales, including the NSPCC, National Trust, and the British Heart Foundation. Bourne has campaigned for rural communities, opposing wind farm developments, the closure of post offices and small schools, and supporting improved health care provision in non-urban areas. He also campaigns on issues such as the need for a referendum on plans to give the assembly law making powers, the future of the National Botanic Garden, and on the growing cost of government in Wales. [2]
He was presented with the Local Campaigner of the Year Award, by BBC AM.PM show 2005; he also won AM of the Year 2005 from ITV.
[edit] Political career
Formerly, the Conservatives' Chief Spokesman in Wales and was the Conservative Party candidate in the 1984 Chesterfield by-election. He was a member of the National Assembly Advisory Group, the body which set up the institution's working arrangements. [1] He also contested Chesterfield in the 1983 general election.
First elected to the National Assembly for Wales in 1999, and re-elected in 2003 and 2007, Bourne sits on the Assembly's European and External Affairs committee and is the party's spokesman on constitutional matters. He has been leader of the Welsh Conservatives since August 1999, and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly since July 2007. Following a minor reshuffle in June 2008, Bourne also became the Shadow Minister for Finance and Public Service Delivery in addition to his role as Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly until 22 October 2008. [3][4]
Bourne is also the Honorary President of Aberystwyth University Conservative Future.
[edit] Scandals
Bourne as been involved in two notable scandals. In September 2008 the Conservatives in the Welsh Assembly published a dossier that contained personal attacks on Welsh First Minister Rhodri Morgan. [5]
Bourne initially dissassociated himself from the dossier, claiming Conservative Group staff had issued it without his knowledge or authoristaion. Bourne was forced to admit later that he had signed off the dossier for publication. [6]
For a brief period Bourne's future as Leader of the Conservative Group in the National Assembly for Wales was "in the balance" [7] with media reports that Cardiff North Conservative Assembly Member Jonathan Morgan reportedly challenging Bourne for the Leadership. This speculation was heightened by Morgan refusing a change of posts in Bourne's February 2009 reshuffle of the Shadow Cabinet in the Welsh Assembly with Morgan being left without a place on Bourne's front bench. [8]. However Bourne remains leader.
[edit] Offices held
| National Assembly for Wales | ||
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| New creation |
Assembly Member for Mid and West Wales 1999 – present |
Incumbent |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by Rod Richards |
Leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the National Assembly 1999 – present |
Incumbent |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Ieuan Wyn Jones |
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly 2007 – present |
Incumbent |
| Preceded by Angela Burns |
Shadow Minister for Finance and Public Service Delivery 2008 14 June 2008 to 22 October 2008 |
Succeeded by Nick Ramsay |
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ a b c "Nicholas Bourne BBC News AMs profile". BBC. http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/uk/wales/13005.stm Nicholas Bourne. Retrieved 1999-09-01.
- ^ "'Become more Welsh,' Tories told BBC News Wales". BBC. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4622881.stm 'Become more Welsh,' Tories told. Retrieved 2005-06-26.
- ^ "Tories rush to replace Alun Cairns Western Mail". Western Mail. http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics-news/2008/06/17/tories-rush-to-replace-alun-cairns-91466-21085540/ Tories rush to replace Alun Cairns. Retrieved 2008-06-17.
- ^ "Greasy wops slur Tory is general election candidate". Wales Online. 2008-10-22. http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/welsh-politics/welsh-politics-news/2008/10/22/greasy-wops-slur-tory-is-general-election-candidate-91466-22096736/. Retrieved 2008-11-07.
- ^ "Nicholas Bourne Morgan ignores Tory clown insult". BBC. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7641853.stm Nicholas Bourne. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
- ^ "Nicholas Bourne Bourne apology for Morgan attack". BBC. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7653629.stm Nicholas Bourne. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
- ^ "Nicholas Bourne Bourne's future 'in the balance'". BBC. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7780366.stm Nicholas Bourne. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
- ^ "Nicholas Bourne Two Tories reject Bourne offers". BBC. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7913572.stm Nicholas Bourne. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
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