Career
In 2011, she was appointed Minister for Health and Social Services. a post she held until March 2012. She is currently Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty. After a Labour Party inquiry, where Marek was first contacted by telephone half an hour before the result was announced, the non-selection was upheld, and Marek decided to fight to retain his seat as an Independent.
Griffiths faced an uphill battle during the campaign.
An early poll showed Marek beating her by 40% to 29%. On polling day, Griffiths had closed the gap but was beaten by 973 votes.
Having been a supporter of Wrexham Football Club, Griffiths was elected to the board of the Wrexham Supporters Trust. In December 2005 she was selected again as Labour candidate for the Wrexham constituency for the 2007 Assembly elections.
She benefited from high-profile support as the party saw an opportunity to recapture the seat.
John Marek appealed to the large Polish immigrant population by translating his election material into Polish. In 2011, Griffiths faced Marek for a third time, though by now Marek had joined the Conservatives. Both of them saw increases in their votes compared to 2007, but Griffiths held the seat with an increased majority of 3,337.
Griffiths was appointed Deputy Minister for Science, Innovation and Skills in December 2009.
After the 2011 election, she was promoted to the Minister for Health and Social Services, a post she held until March 2013 when she was appointed Minister for Local Government and Government Business.
