I’m Jo Stevens, your Labour Member of Parliament for Cardiff East. I was first elected to represent Cardiff Central in May 2015, and you honoured me with re-election in both June 2017 and December 2019. Following the most recent election on 4th July 2024, Cardiff Central was dissolved, and I’m grateful that voters in the newly established Cardiff East chose me to be their first woman MP.

I live in Roath, in the heart of Cardiff East. I’ve lived in all four Cardiff constituencies during the last 35 years and I’m really proud of our vibrant, modern, multicultural capital city.

How you feel about living here, what issues concern you and what you want your MP to stand up for really matters to me – so I’d love to hear from you.

Personal Background

I have two adult sons. I was state educated in a village in Flintshire. North Wales, graduated from Manchester University in 1988 and for over 25 years, until being elected in 2015, I was a solicitor and director of Thompsons Solicitors, a UK wide law firm dedicated to representing trade union members and others injured or mistreated at work.

Interests

I’ve been a Labour Party member and activist for over 30 years. I’m a member of the GMB and Usdaw unions, and the Cooperative Party.

I’m an internationalist, with a particular interest in the protection of human rights in Colombia through active involvement in the NGO Justice for Colombia, on behalf of Colombian trade unionists, human rights defenders and political prisoners there.

In my spare time, I enjoy real ale, good books, the arts and music. I’m an avid follower of many sports, particularly cricket, football, rugby and darts. I’m a member of Glamorgan County Cricket Club, and a regular at Cardiff City FC and on the terraces at Cardiff Blues.

In Parliament

Parliamentary Roles and Responsibilities

I am currently Labour’s Secretary of State for Wales, and serve in Keir Starmer’s Cabinet. Prior to this, I held several other roles. I served on the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee for three years, then became Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport before being appointed to serve as Shadow Secretary of State for Wales, a role I previously held between October 2016 and January 2017.

I have also been a member of the Justice Select Committee, the Standards Committee, the Privileges Committee and the Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee.

Between January 2016 and October 2016, I was Shadow Justice Minister for Prisons and Probation and the Shadow Solicitor General, supporting the Shadow Attorney General in providing legal advice to the Shadow Cabinet.

Key Expertise

• Justice – civil, criminal and international.
• Employment – particularly individual and collective employment rights, occupational health and safety, director responsibilities and organisational corporate governance.
• Women and equalities.
• Digital, culture, media and sport.
• Welsh affairs.