Tamsin Dunwoody

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Template:Infobox officeholder Moyra Tamsin Dunwoody (born 3 September 1958), sometimes known as Tamsin Dunwoody-Kneafsey, is a British Labour politician who served as the Member of the National Assembly for Wales for Preseli Pembrokeshire from 2003 to 2007. She served in the Welsh Government from 2005 to 2007 as the Deputy Minister for Environment, Planning and Countryside and Deputy Minister for Economic Development and Transport.

Dunwoody unsuccessfully stood to succeed her mother, Gwyneth Dunwoody, as the Labour candidate in the 2008 Crewe and Nantwich by-election.

Early life

Dunwoody was born in Totnes, Devon,<ref>Burke's Peerage and Gentry Template:Webarchive</ref> the daughter of the late Labour MPs Gwyneth Dunwoody, and Dr John Dunwoody. Both of her parents lost their parliamentary seats at the 1970 general election, although her mother went on to represent Crewe and its successor, Crewe and Nantwich for 34 years until she died. Through her mother she is the granddaughter of former Labour Party General Secretary Morgan Phillips and Norah Phillips. She was educated at the Grey Coat Hospital Church of England girls' school in Westminster<ref name ="Telegraph_01">Template:Cite news</ref> and the University of Kent. She has five children.Template:Cn

Professional career

Dunwoody trained in the National Health Service, and worked in London hospitals for nearly 15 years. She has also been an adviser to small businesses in west Wales and lived in Haverfordwest.<ref name ="Telegraph_01" />

Political career

File:Tamsindunwoodykneafsey.jpg

Dunwoody-Kneafsey in 2003

Dunwoody was elected (under the name Tamsin Dunwoody-Kneafsey)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> as Assembly Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire from 2003 to 2007. In October 2005 she was appointed Deputy Minister for Environment, Planning and Countryside and Deputy Minister for Economic Development and Transport in the Welsh Assembly Government. She was defeated in the 2007 election by Conservative Party candidate Paul Davies.

She was selected as the Labour candidate at the Crewe and Nantwich by-election, held on 22 May 2008, which was triggered by the death of her mother.<ref>Gwyneth’s daughter aims to be next Crewe and Nantwich MP Crewe & Nantwich Guardian, 3 May 2008</ref><ref>Dunwoody's daughter to fight seat BBC News, 4 May 2008</ref> She lost to Conservative candidate Edward Timpson, by 7,860 votes<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> marking the first Conservative Party parliamentary by-election victory in a Labour-held constituency since 1978.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The last parliamentary by-election in which the Conservatives had gained a seat previously held by another party was in 1982, in Mitcham and Morden.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

She unsuccessfully sought the Labour nomination for Islwyn ahead of the 2010 general election. <ref>Template:Cite news</ref>