Jane Hutt has today retired, after serving the Vale of Glamorgan as Member of the Senedd for 27 years.
Speaking to Bro Radio's Vale This Week Programme on 1st April, ahead of her retirement, Hutt shared how she felt ahead of her retirement.
"It is very strange, very mixed feelings. I mean, I actually think it's nearly 27 years come May 1999, I was elected. So if you think about that, over a quarter of a century, it's a huge part of my adult life."
"It's been a challenge. It's been tough at times, but it's been a great honour and privilege to be in this role, to be re-elected six times, and now to be facing a change in my life. I'm still very active, but I do feel that now was the right time to leave. But as I said, Yes, it's been a huge chunk of my life"
During her time in the Senedd, MS Hutt has spent over 25 years as a Minister in the Welsh Government, a record that's only beaten by two other UK Government Ministers, Alfred Balfour for 28 years and Winston Churchill for 29 years.
Looking back on her time as a Minister, and MS Jane is most proud of creating the role of a Children's Commissioner for Wales.
"One of the first things I did, which I think is very important, and it really holds clear today, is to agree that we should have a Children's Commissioner, an independent Children's Commissioner, someone who was appointed partly by children and young people, following an awful scandal in children's home in North Wales."
"We're talking now 26, years ago that this happened, but you know, we've had wonderul Children's commissioners over the years. A Wonderful one now, Rocio Cifuentes who really speaks up for children. I've mentioned investment in schools. I think it's really important that we have been able to rebuild our new schools and school buildings are really important."
"It's great to see them here in Barry, Llantwit Major and Cowbridge.I think finally, I'd say as a government investment in our early years, and flying start only just down the road here in Barry, the wonderful Flying Start, which early years, if you don't actually invest, particularly perhaps children who haven't got all the prospects and opportunities we've been through, bad period of austerity and cost of living, if you can invest in those children, you know, and their parents in very early stages, I'm really proud of flying start"
Focusing on the Vale of Glamorgan, MS Hutt told us she hoped she'd proven to those who voted no in the 1997 devolution referendum.
"The Vale of Glamorgan didn't actually vote for devolution way back then, when we had the vote, the referendum in 1997, but I hope I've been able to establish the worth of devolution as the MS over these years, that I've got re-elected."
" I do very strongly believe people's votes should count. I think we certainly needed more, more members. It has been 24/7 working as MS and at the other MSS and ministers. We needed to expand the Senedd, and it was good that, you know, we had a majority in the Senedd to actually drive reform."
"I think that the new system will mean that you have more representatives. People will be able to go out and vote for the party that they think will deliver. It's great. I've been going to some schools and talking to them about their right to vote. That's another great thing we've done. 16 and 17 year olds can vote, but I think it just means you'll, you'll have a team supporting this."
"The Vale of Glamorgan, of course, joined up with Bridgend. I think that's going to have real opportunities, more scrutiny of government, but more policy making to meet people's needs, and I'm so proud of living in Barry and the Vale of and the Vale of Glamorgan, all of the developments, regeneration is still, still more to be done, and I've been really pleased to be part of the Barry regeneration board and in the last few months and years. So lots to look forward to. I'll be there, and I'm hoping to play my part in the community."
In a post on social media shared on Wednesday, Jane Hutt said "Today we enter into the pre-election period, and I am no longer the Welsh Labour Member of the Senedd for the Vale of Glamorgan. I have been honoured to serve this wonderful community and support my constituents across the Vale for the past 27 years."
Upon stepping down from the role, Jane told us about some of her plans for retirement. "I haven't, for all these years, ever been able to go on holiday during the school term. I recently got a new great-grandson, and he's eight weeks old, so I think I'll see a bit more of my grandson. After Easter, I'll be down in Swansea doing a bit of grandparenting, so that is a more normal life," said Jane Hutt Ms.
"My mother is still alive, living in Barry. In fact, she turned 100 last year. I also want to be able to hopefully contribute as a volunteer, be part of the thinking about where does Wales go from here?"
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