Newport West AM Rosemary Butler is the new Deputy Presiding Officer in the Welsh Assembly.She was elected unopposed in the third Assembly's first plenary session and takes over from Independent AM John Marek who lost his Wrexham seat in the Assembly elections on May 3. She will be deputy to Lord Dafydd Elis Thomas. ”

Mrs Butler is a former education minister and chair of the Assembly culture committee and before becoming the AM for Newport West in 1999 she was a Newport councillor for 26 years.

She said that it was a privilege and an honour to be elected to the post, at a very important stage in the development of the Assembly as an institution. And she looked forward to working with Dafydd Elis Thomas for whom she has the greatest respect.

"The Assembly will introduce new law-making powers in the coming months, and I look forward to playing a major role in the development of those powers, "she said. "As the Chinese say, ' may you live in interesting times' and I think the next few years will be fascinating."

She also felt that it was good for Newport that she would be doing this important job.

"Newport is one of Wales' most important growth areas," she said." As well as acting as an ambassador for the Assembly at home and abroad, I also hope to act as an ambassador for Newport."

"Although I will have new responsibilities I will continue to work as hard as I have always done for the people of Newport, helping them and advising them on their problems and being with them whenever I'm needed."

Wednesday, May 9 2007