Cledwyn Hughes, Baron Cledwyn of Penrhos, CH, PC, (14 September 1916 – 22 February 2001), was a Welsh Labour politician.
Born in Holyhead and educated at the Holyhead Grammar School and at 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, and served as an Anglesey County Councillor.
After unsuccessfully contesting the Anglesey constituency in both 1945 [1] and 1950,[2] he was elected to Parliament in the 1951 general election,[3] defeating Megan Lloyd George. He remained as MP for Anglesey until he stood down at the 1979 general election. His florid complexion was a familiar sight in the news.
After he had served as Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations (1964–66), 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 the 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 died in Denbigh, aged 84.
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 The Duke of Devonshire |
Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations 1964–1966 |
Succeeded by Office abolished |
| 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 |
| Preceded by Ian Mikardo |
Chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party 1974–1979 |
Succeeded by Fred Willey |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by The Lord Peart |
Leader of the Labour Party in the House of Lords 1982–1992 |
Succeeded by The Lord Richard |
| Academic offices | ||
| Preceded by Ben Bowen Thomas |
President of the University College of Wales Aberystwyth 1977-1985 |
Succeeded by Melvyn Rosser |
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