Cledwyn Hughes

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Cledwyn Hughes, Baron Cledwyn of Penrhos, CH, PC, (September 14, 1916February 22, 2001), was a Welsh Labour politician.

Educated at Holyhead Grammar School and the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, he served in the RAFVR in the Second World War. He became a solicitor and a town clerk of Holyhead. He was a governor of the University of Wales and the National Museum of Wales. He served as an Anglesey County Councillor.

After unsuccessfully contesting the constituency of Anglesey in both 1945 and 1950, he was elected to Parliament in the 1951 General Election, defeating Megan Lloyd George. He remained as MP for Anglesey until moving to the House of Lords in 1979, following the loss of Anglesey to the Conservative candidate Keith Best. His florid complexion was a familiar sight in the news.

After he had served as Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations (1964-6), Harold Wilson made him Secretary of State for Wales in 1966 before moving him to become Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1968-70).

In 1979 he was made a life peer as Baron Cledwyn of Penrhos, of Holyhead in Isle of Anglesey, and was first Deputy Leader (1981-82) then Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords from 1982. One of his most notable successes was his involvement in the campaign for recognition of the Welsh language.

He has a building named after him at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, which is home to the School of Business and Management.

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Megan Lloyd George
Member of Parliament for Anglesey
1951–1979
Succeeded by
Keith Best
Political offices
Preceded by
James Griffiths
Secretary of State for Wales
1966–1968
Succeeded by
George Thomas
Preceded by
Fred Peart
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
1968–1970
Succeeded by
James Prior
In other languages