Amy Kitcher

Amy Kitcher (born 31 March 1981) is a former Welsh Liberal Democrat politician. In 2014 she announced her defection to Plaid Cymru, and her support for Welsh independence.[1]

Personal life

Kitcher was raised and educated in Merthyr Tydfil.[2] At Aston University she studied modern languages, and then studied contemporary war and peace at the University of Sussex.[3]

She is married to Kevin O’Connor, the former leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council. They have two children.

Political career

Kitcher entered politics in 2004 as assistant to then Liberal Democrat Welsh Assembly member Mike German.[3]

She was chosen as the Liberal Democrat candidate for the 2006 Westminster by-election for Blaenau Gwent. She came fourth with 5.4% of the vote, a result which saw the Liberal Democrats fall behind Plaid Cymru, though their share of the vote did improve by 1.1%.

In 2007 she was the Liberal Democrats' candidate for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney in the National Assembly for Wales election. In the constituency's previous Assembly election, the Liberal Democrats came last. Kitcher's result saw the party climb to second, as she came behind Huw Lewis of Labour Co-operative. She polled 15.2% of the vote, which was an increase of 8% for the Liberal Democrats.

Kitcher came top in the results of the 2008 Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council elections for the Town ward with 20% of the vote. By doing so, she led the way for all of the ward's Liberal Democrat candidates to take all four seats.[4]

For the United Kingdom general election of 2010, Kitcher was the Liberal Democrats' candidate for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney. She came second to Dai Havard of the Labour Party. She polled 31% of the vote, which was a 17% increase for the Liberal Democrats, though their position did not change.

In the National Assembly for Wales election of 2011, Kitcher was again the Liberal Democrats' candidate for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney. Labour Co-operative's Lewis was again elected. Kitcher polled 12.8% of the vote, which was a 2.4% decrease from her 2007 campaign.

Kitcher lost her seat on the Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council at the 2012 elections. Once again in the Town ward, all of one party's candidates took all four seats, but this time it was the Labour Party. Kitcher had the next best result, coming fifth .[5]

Charity work

Kitcher worked for domestic abuse charity Welsh Women's Aid[6] from 2007 to 2010.

She ran the 2009 Cardiff Half Marathon in aid of the Tŷ Hafan hospice. She has also raised money for Help for Heroes and Bobath Children's Therapy Centre.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.partyofwales.org/news/2014/09/09/former-liberal-democrat-candidate-joins-the-party-of-wales/
  2. ↑ Amy Kitcher selected as PPC for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney Campaign for Gender Balance Accessed 18 June 2013
  3. 1 2 Amy Kitcher Archived 24 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine. by-elections.co.uk Accessed 18 June 2013
  4. ↑ "Election results for TOWN, Local Government Election - Thursday, 1st May, 2008" Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council Accessed 18 June 2013
  5. ↑ "Election results for TOWN, Local Government Election - Thursday, 3rd May, 2012" Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council Accessed 18 June 2013
  6. ↑ New centre will support Monmouthshire women South Wales Argus Accessed 18 June 2013
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