Samuel Kurtz
Welsh Conservative politician
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Energy since April 2024,[1][2] and the Welsh Language since December 2024.[3] Kurtz was a Pembrokeshire County Councillor from 2017 to 2022, representing Scleddau ward.
Samuel Kurtz | |
|---|---|
Kurtz in 2021 | |
| Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and the Welsh Language[a] | |
| Assumed office 18 April 2024 | |
| Leader | Andrew RT Davies Darren Millar |
| Preceded by | Role Re-organised |
| Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs and the Welsh Language | |
| In office 7 May 2021 – 18 April 2024 | |
| Leader | Andrew RT Davies |
| Preceded by | Janet Finch-Saunders[b] |
| Succeeded by | James Evans |
| Member of the Senedd for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire | |
| Assumed office 7 May 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Angela Burns |
| Majority | 936 |
| Pembrokeshire County Councillor for Scleddau Ward | |
| In office 5 May 2017 – 5 May 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Owen Watkin James |
| Succeeded by | Ward Abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Party | Welsh Conservatives |
| Alma mater | University of the West of England |
| Website | www |
Personal life and education
Kurtz studied for a BA in Politics at the University of the West of England.[4] He grew up on a beef farm.[5]
Prior to his political career, Kurtz worked for the Pembrokeshire Herald and the Western Telegraph.[4]
Political career
Kurtz was elected to Pembrokeshire County Council in 2017.[6] He represented Scleddau ward until the 2022 elections.[7] The ward was abolished at this election, and split across the Llanrhian and Bro Gwaun wards.[7][8] He was a press officer for Stephen Crabb in 2020.[9]
Kurtz was selected to replace the outgoing Angela Burns as Welsh Conservative candidate for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire in 2020.[5] 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][10] Kurtz apologised for the comments.[11][12] He was elected as MS for the constituency at the 2021 Senedd elections, with a majority of 936.[13][14]
From his election until 2024 he was the Welsh Conservatives' Shadow Rural Affairs and Welsh language Minister in the Senedd.[15][16] Kurtz has been the Conservatives' Shadow Minister for Economy and Energy since April 2024.[1][2] In December 2024, the Welsh Language was re-added to his portfolio.[17] He is also a member of two Senedd Committees: the Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee.[4] 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.[4] He also chairs cross party groupings on rural growth and shooting and conservation.[4]
Kurtz will contest the new Ceredigion Penfro constituency in the next Senedd election.[18]
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.[19] 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".[19]
Agriculture
Kurtz opposes the "Family Farms Tax".[20]