Date: 10/09/2019   |   Category - News

Leader of the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) and Newport City Council, Councillor Debbie Wilcox, has been created a life peer in former Prime Minister Theresa May’s Resignation Honours List.

Councillor Wilcox is recognised for her outstanding contribution to education and local government.

Councillor Andrew Morgan (Rhondda Cynon Taf), WLGA Presiding Officer said:

“This is fantastic news for Debbie personally and on behalf of everybody in local government. Debbie has spent a lifetime in public service – as a teacher, as a councillor and most recently as leader of Newport City Council and the WLGA.

This much-deserved honour is recognition of her commitment and considerable contribution. Since she first took the helm at the WLGA, Debbie has worked tirelessly to champion local democracy and promote local government at every possible opportunity.

She’s a great communicator and is vociferous in her defence of local democracy and accountability, which I’m sure she will continue to actively advocate upon taking her seat in the House of Lords.”

Baroness Wilcox has been Leader of the WLGA since June 2016, where she also serves as spokesperson for Education, and she is also Wales’ Regional Representative on the LGA Executive. She is the Cardiff Capital Region Cabinet Member for Skills.

Having held the role of Leader of Newport City Council since May 2016, she has continually represented the city’s Gaer ward since being first elected to the authority in 2004.

Prior to her taking office in Newport, Baroness Wilcox worked as a senior examiner and was a teacher for over 35 years, which led her to take a particularly active interest in education during her career as a councillor.

-ENDS-