About Kirsty

Kirsty was born in Taunton Somerset in March 1971 to Welsh parents, her father a librarian from Llanelli and her mother a housewife from Swansea. After a brief spell in Somerset and Liverpool the family returned to the village of Bynea in Carmarthenshire when Kirsty was 3 years old.

Kirsty was educated at the village primary school and St. Michaels School Llanelli. She studied for her degree, a B.A. Hons in American Studies at Manchester University and The University of Missouri.

Prior to her career in politics Kirsty worked at Carmarthenshire College and for a small business in Cardiff as a Marketing Executive.

Kirsty married Richard Rees in September 2000. They have three daughters, Angharad born in September 2001, Carys born May 2004 and Rachel in April 2006. They live on the family farm just outside Brecon.

Kirsty with her family

Outside of politics Kirsty enjoys spending time with her family, helping on the farm, and shopping!

Kirsty and Politics

Kirsty joined the Liberal Party at the age of 15, since that time she has held a variety of posts within the party including Deputy President of the Welsh Liberal Democrats 1998-2000.

She fought the Ogmore constituency in the 1997 General Election.

Following the Assembly Referendum in 1997 she was appointed to the National Assembly Advisory Group by the then Secretary of State for Wales Ron Davies.

She was selected to fight the Brecon & Radnorshire Constituency for the Welsh Liberal Democrats in 1998.

She successfully won the seat in 1999 and became the party's health spokesperson and Chair of the Assembly's Health and Social Services Committee 1999-2003.

In 2003 and 2007 Kirsty successfully defended Brecon & Radnorshire and on each occasion increasing her share of the vote.

Kirsty was elected as Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats in December 2008 with 60% of the votes cast. She was Welsh Liberal Democrat Shadow Minister for Finance until July 2010 when she took on the Environment, Sustainability and Rural Affairs Portfolio