| Betty Williams MP | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament for Conwy |
|
| In office 1 May 1997 – 6 May 2010 |
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| Preceded by | Wyn Roberts |
| Succeeded by | Constituency Abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 31, 1944 Bangor, Wales |
| Nationality | Welsh |
| Political party | Labour |
| Alma mater | University of Wales, Bangor |
Betty Helena Williams (born 31 July 1944) is a Welsh Labour politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Conwy from 1997 to 2010.
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Williams was born in St David's Hospital, Bangor, Gwynedd, Wales. She attended Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle in Penygroes, near Caernarfon, and also attended Bangor Normal College.
Her political career began in 1967 when she was elected to become a member of the Llanllyfni Parish Council. She proceeded to serve as a district council, and more recently in 1990 as Mayor of Arfon.
Williams is a former chair of a community centre, as well as a former Christian Aid and Meals on Wheels organiser, and an Honorary Fellow of the University of Wales, Bangor. She worked as a secretary and freelance journalist.
She unsuccessfully contested Caernarfon in 1983 and Conwy in 1987 and 1992. In 1995 Williams was again selected to stand for election for Labour in Conwy, though this time through an all-women shortlist.[1] This method of selection was subsequently declared illegal in January 1996 as it breached sex discrimination laws.[2] Despite the ruling she remained in place as the candidate for the following year's election.
Williams is seen as a party loyalist and has been known to criticise those in the Labour Party that have called for the current Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, to stand down.
She is a member the Parliamentary Labour Party committees on education and employment; health and social services, and culture, media and sport.
She is also a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Groups in the House of Commons covering children in Wales, primary headache disorders, maternity, multiple sclerosis and vaccine-damaged children.
In September 2008, Williams announced that she would not be contesting her parliamentary seat at the 2010 general election.[3] She stated that this is due to her wanting to 'change the balance' of her workload.
She is married to Evan with two sons who are now grown up. Williams is both her married and maiden name. She has a BA from the University of Wales. Her interests include opera and sheepdog trials.
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by unknown |
Member of Parliament for Conwy 1997 - 2010 |
Succeeded by Constituency Abolished |