Lorraine Barrett

Lorraine Jayne Barrett (born 18 March 1950 ) is a former Welsh Labour & Co-operative Member of the National Assembly for Wales for Cardiff South and Penarth and an Assembly Commissioner from 2007 until 2011.

Barrett publicly announced in February 2009 that she would not be seeking re-election to the Assembly in 2011 and would instead pursue her new vocation as a Humanists UK-accredited humanist Celebrant. She now conducts humanist or non-religious funeral ceremonies for local residents.

Personal background Barrett was born in Ynyshir, Rhondda, to Rosina and Donald Booth, a retired coalminer, and went to Porth County School for Girls. She married Paul "Legs" Barrett,

Professional career She was a nurse and a councillor in the Vale of Glamorgan (Alexandra ward) and Penarth Town Council and worked as an assistant to the then Cardiff South and Penarth Member of Parliament, Alun Michael for 12 years

Welsh Assembly Commissioner

In her capacity as Assembly Commissioner for a Sustainable Environment, she was involved in a 2007 row over genetically modified foods in the Welsh Assembly Canteen. The Assembly had earlier signed a document committing to "maximum restrictions on GM crops" when it later became apparent that the Assembly canteen was serving items containing GM ingredients. Barrett explained the situation saying "We have discussed this with our in-house caterers, Charlton House. They do not deliberately source GM foods and in fact make every effort to avoid using GM products."

Barrett was critical of the planned Cardiff Bay expansion of "something like 1,250 apartments a year". Barrett suggested this might cause future problems with community cohesion and lack of affordable housing.

Barrett pressed for the Cardiff Bay Barrage to be opened up for pedestrian and cycle traffic. The pedestrian and cyclist short cut to Cardiff across the barrage finally opened to the public on Friday 27 June 2008. Barrett was one of the first to cross, walking to work at the Assembly and she described the experience as "invigorating".