Cledwyn Hughes, Baron Cledwyn of Penrhos

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.

References

  1. ^ "UK General Election results July 1945". Richard Kimber's political science resources. http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/ge45/i01.htm. Retrieved 2007-12-26. 
  2. ^ "UK General Election results February 1950". Richard Kimber's political science resources. http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/ge50/i01.htm. Retrieved 2007-12-26. 
  3. ^ "UK General Election results October 1951". Richard Kimber's political science resources. http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/ge51/i01.htm. Retrieved 2007-12-26. 

Sources

Offices held

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