Profiles of Wales' four new MEPs

Wales has four new MEPs following the European elections: one each from the Conservatives, Labour and Plaid Cymru, and for the first time one from the UK Independence Party. KAY SWINBURNE, CONSERVATIVE Kay Swinburne, a newcomer to the European Parliament, is a county councillor in Hereford where she was responsible for cross-border health issues, and is also a former town mayor. Kay Swinburne has been a county councillor in Hereford As well as representing multinational companies in trade and financing initiatives across Europe, she has worked as healthcare advisor on central and Eastern European issues and as a corporate and government advisor on biotechnology and pharmaceutical privatisations. She said her political priorities will include economic vitality for Wales through sustainable investment as well improvements in rural support and services. Mrs Swinburne was born in Aberystwyth in 1968 and educated at Llandysul in Ceredigion. She has a degree in biochemistry and microbiology from King's College, London, a doctorate in medical research and an MBA. DEREK VAUGHAN, LABOUR Taking his seat at the European Parliament in Strasbourg for the first time, Derek Vaughan is the leader of Neath Port Talbot council and deputy leader of the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA). Derek Vaughan is the leader of Neath Port Talbot Council He was first elected to Neath Port Talbot council in 1995, and was the cabinet member for economic development before being elected leader of the Labour group and council leader in 2004. He is a strong advocate of the links between Labour and the trade union movement, having previously been a full-time union official. He is a member of the TGWU section of Unite. Born in Aberfan, in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Mr Vaughan was educated at Swansea University, where he graduated in politics and history, majoring in European politics. JILL EVANS, PLAID CYMRU Plaid Cymru's deputy leader Jill Evans is returning for a third term. She was first elected 10 years ago when she was one of the first MEPs in the party's history, and re-elected in 2004 Plaid's Jill Evans is returning for her third term at Strasbourg Before moving into European politics, she was a county councillor for seven years in Rhondda Cynon Taf, where she still lives. She is a former chair of Plaid Cymru and and her main political interests are international issues and the environment. Born in 1959 in Ystrad in Rhondda, Ms Evans went to Aberystwyth University before working as a research assistant at the former Polytechnic of Wales where she gained her M.Phil. degree. She worked for the National Federation of Women's Institutes in Wales before taking up a post as Wales Regional Organiser for CHILD, the national infertility support network. JOHN BUFTON, UNITED KINGDOM INDEPENDENCE PARTY John Bufton is the first UK Independence Party candidate to win a European Parliament seat in Wales. John Bufton becomes the first UKIP MEP in Wales He has served as a Rhayader town councillor and Powys county councillor and was a candidate for UKIP at the Ceredigion by-election in 2000, the 2005 general election and 2007 Welsh assembly election. He was also a UKIP candidate in Powys at the 2008 local elections. Mr Bufton is also a school governor, a director of Mid Wales tourism and trustee of the Elan Valley Estate. Born in 1962 in Llanidloes, Powys, he was educated at Elan Village Primary School and Llandrindod Wells High School. He first worked in the family haulage business before turning to a career in the health and social care sector, managing a local authority residential care home.