Samuel Kurtz Explained

Samuel Kurtz
Honorific-Suffix:MS
Office:Shadow Minister for Energy and Economy
Termstart:18 April 2024
Predecessor:Role Re-organised
Leader:Andrew RT Davies
Office2:Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs and the Welsh Language
Termstart2:7 May 2021
Termend2:18 April 2024
Leader2:Andrew RT Davies
Predecessor2:Janet Finch-Saunders
Succeeded2:James Evans
Office3:Member of the Senedd
for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire
Majority3:936
Term Start3:7 May 2021
Predecessor3:Angela Burns
Office4:Pembrokeshire County Councillor for Scleddau Ward
Termstart4:5 May 2017
Termend4:5 May 2022
Preceded4:Owen Watkin James
Succeeded4:Ward Abolished
Party:Welsh Conservatives
Alma Mater:University of the West of England

Samuel Kurtz (usually known as Sam Kurtz) is a Welsh Conservative politician who has been Member of the Senedd (MS) for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire since the 2021 Senedd election. Kurtz has been the Welsh Conservatives' Shadow Energy and Economy Minister since April 2024.[1] [2] Kurtz was a Pembrokeshire County Councillor from 2017 to 2022, representing Scleddau ward.

Personal Life and Education

Kurtz studied for a BA in Politics at the University of the West of England.[3] He grew up on a beef farm.

Prior to his political career, Kurtz worked for the Pembrokeshire Herald and the Western Telegraph.

Political Career

Kurtz was elected to Pembrokeshire County Council in 2017.[4] He represented Scleddau ward until the 2022 elections. The ward was abolished at this election, and split across the Llanrhian and Bro Gwaun wards.[5] [6] He was a press officer for Stephen Crabb in 2020.[7]

Kurtz was selected to replace the outgoing Angela Burns as Welsh Conservative candidate for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire in 2020.[8] Shortly after this, 3 tweets from when he was a student surfaced, in which he described an individual as a "gay boy", said someone "sounds a little gay" and described someone as “bisexual, and looks like shit off of a shoe”.[9] Kurtz apologised for the comments.[10] [11] He was elected as MS for the constituency at the 2021 Senedd elections, with a majority of 936.[12] [13]

Kurtz has been the Conservatives' Shadow Minister for Economy and Energy since 2024. From his election until 2024 he was the Welsh Conservatives' Shadow Rural Affairs and Welsh language Minister in the Senedd.[14] [15] He is also a member of two Senedd Committees: the Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee. He is also a member of cross-party groups on armed forces and cadets, beer and pubs, diabetes, digital rights and democracy, fisheries and aquaculture, further education and skills, horseracing, small shops, tourism and welsh wool. He also chairs cross party groupings on rural growth and shooting and conservation.

Political views

Wales and The Constitution

Kurtz has backed the increase in size of the Senedd, against his party's policy, although he said this should not happen during a cost of living crisis.[16] He further said that "we need to have a look at how the UK is set up" and described the existing constitutional settlement as "a mish mash".

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Price . Emily . 2024-04-18 . Welsh Conservatives reshuffle shadow cabinet . 2024-05-25 . Nation.Cymru . en-GB . 18 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240618195154/https://nation.cymru/news/welsh-conservatives-reshuffle-shadow-cabinet/ . live .
  2. Web site: 2024-04-18 . ‘Let’s get the dragon that is the Welsh economy breathing fire once again!’ . 2024-05-25 . Pembroke And Pembroke Dock Observer . 25 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240525111433/https://www.pembroke-today.co.uk/news/politics/samuel-kurtz-lets-get-the-dragon-that-is-the-welsh-economy-breathing-fire-once-again-681044 . live .
  3. Web site: Samuel Kurtz MS . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240222000651/https://senedd.wales/people/samuel-kurtz-ms/ . 22 February 2024 . 2024-05-25 . senedd.wales . en-GB.
  4. Web site: Local Elections Archive Project - 2017 - Pembrokeshire . 2024-05-25 . www.andrewteale.me.uk . 25 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240525105724/https://www.andrewteale.me.uk/leap/results/2017/419/ . live .
  5. Web site: Election Results . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240316210545/https://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/county-council-elections . 16 March 2024 . 2024-05-25 . www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk . en-gb.
  6. Web site: Mosalski . Ruth . 2021-06-21 . Members of the Senedd who are also councillors . 2024-05-25 . Wales Online . en . 21 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230121173932/https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/members-senedd-who-also-councillors-20826610 . live .
  7. News: Shipton . Martin . 2020-12-03 . Conservative Senedd candidate apologises for homophobic and misogynistic tweets in student years . 2024-12-02 . Wales Online.
  8. Web site: 2020-11-30 . Will Sam be the man for the Senedd? . 2024-05-25 . Western Telegraph . en . 25 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240525105718/https://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/news/18909240.pembrokeshire-county-councillor-sam-kurtz-scleddau-welsh-conservatives-senedd-candidate/ . live .
  9. Web site: Shipton . Martin . 2020-12-03 . Conservative candidate apologises for homophobic and misogynistic tweets . 2024-05-25 . Wales Online . en . 25 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240525105717/https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/conservative-senedd-candidate-apologises-homophobic-19393334 . live .
  10. Web site: 2020-12-03 . Tory councillor Sam Kurtz apologises for offensive tweets . 2024-05-25 . Western Telegraph . en . 18 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240618195053/https://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/news/18917788.tory-councillor-sam-kurtz-apologises-offensive-tweets/ . live .
  11. News: 2020-12-01 . Senedd Tory candidate apologises for offensive tweets . 2024-05-25 . BBC News . en-GB . 25 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240525105717/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-55144680 . live .
  12. News: 7 May 2021 . Carmarthen West & Pembrokeshire South . 7 May 2021 . BBC News . 7 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210507103711/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2021/wales/constituencies/W09000016 . live .
  13. News: Jenkins . Katy . 7 May 2021 . Senedd 2021: Sam Kurtz, Conservative, takes Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire seat . 8 May 2021 . Western Telegraph . 18 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240618195052/https://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/news/19287834.senedd-2021-sam-kurtz-conservative-takes-carmarthen-west-south-pembrokeshire-seat/ . live .
  14. Web site: 2023-11-24 . Samuel Kurtz: 'Welsh farmers need a Welsh Government that is going to support the industry' Farm News Farmers Guardian . 2024-01-29 . www.farmersguardian.com . en . 29 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240129212048/https://www.farmersguardian.com/blog/4150288/welsh-farming-needs-friend . live .
  15. Web site: 2022-09-30 . Samuel Kurtz MS Archives . 2024-01-29 . Institute of Welsh Affairs . en-US . 29 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240129211846/https://www.iwa.wales/authors/samuel-kurtz-ms/ . live .
  16. News: 2022-03-31 . Conservative backs Senedd expansion, against party policy . 2024-12-02 . BBC News . en-GB.

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