Getting to Know Jenny Randerson

Jenny Randerson AM talking to local residents on Albany Road

Many of you have told me that, as well as knowing what I stand for, you also want to know a little about me. So here goes!

Political interests

I have lived in Cardiff since the early 1970s and I live in Cyncoed towards the north of the Cardiff Central Constituency.

I first started to get involved in politics in Cardiff towards the end of the 1970s and was elected as a Cyncoed councillor in 1983. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the Liberal Democrats increased their number of seats on both Cardiff City Council and South Glamorgan County Council. By the time, Cardiff became a unitary authority and the former County was abolished, the Liberal Democrats were the second largest party in Cardiff.

I was leader of the opposition on Cardiff County Council between 1994 and 1999. In 1997, I stood in Cardiff Central against the sitting Labour MP. With Tony Blair's popularity rising and Labour having a landslide result across the country, Cardiff Central was one of the only seats in the UK, where the Liberal Democrats took votes from Labour.

In 1999, I stood in Cardiff Central for the new Welsh Assembly and was elected with a majority of over 3000. In 2000, after the fall of Alun Michael's first Government, I became the Minister for Culture, Sport and the Welsh Language. In 2003 I was re-elected with a larger majority of over 7000 and after my third successful election in 2007, I was the Welsh Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Health, Social Care, Finance and Local Government. Since 2008, I have been Welsh Lib Dem Shadow Minister for the Economy, Education and Transport. In 2009, I was lucky enough to introduce into law the first ever Private Members Bill in Wales. I developed a law to ensure that Welsh children get a good standard of food in their schools.

At home

Being the Assembly Member for Cardiff Central means that I get very little spare time, so I really value time at home or visiting my two children.

At home, I enjoy gardening when I have time, having friends round and watching films, news programmes and comedy programmes on T.V. When I go out, I enjoy the cinema, theatre and concerts. I also try to take regular exercise at a sports centre.

Being an active member of the Welsh Liberal Democrats takes up a lot of my time and I enjoy our social activities, such as our pub quizzes.

On top of all this, I am continuing to learning Welsh, which I've been learning for a number of years.

Although I love music of many types, I am not able to play a musical instrument. However, my husband, son and daughter are all keen amateur musicians so I am a regular "groupie" at their concerts.

On holiday, I like to take plenty of books with me to read as I don't get time the rest of the year.