John Morris, Baron Morris of Aberavon

The Right Honourable
The Lord Morris of Aberavon
KG PC QC
Attorney General for England and Wales
Attorney General for Northern Ireland
In office
2 May 1997  29 July 1999
Prime Minister Tony Blair
Preceded by Nicholas Lyell
Succeeded by The Lord Williams of Mostyn
Shadow Attorney General
In office
24 November 1982  2 May 1997
Leader Michael Foot
Neil Kinnock
Tony Blair
Preceded by Peter Archer
Succeeded by Nicholas Lyell
In office
8 December 1980  24 November 1981
Leader Michael Foot
Preceded by Sir Michael Havers
Succeeded by Peter Archer
Secretary of State for Wales
In office
5 March 1974  4 May 1979
Prime Minister Harold Wilson
James Callaghan
Preceded by Peter Thomas
Succeeded by Nicholas Edwards
Member of Parliament
for Aberavon
In office
8 October 1959  7 June 2001
Preceded by William George Cove
Succeeded by Hywel Francis
Personal details
Born 5 November 1931
Capel Bangor, United Kingdom
Political party Labour
Alma mater University College of Wales, Aberystwyth
Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge

John Morris, Baron Morris of Aberavon, KG PC QC (born 5 November 1931) is a retired British politician. He was a Labour Member of Parliament (MP) from 1959 to 2001 and Secretary of State for Wales from 1974 to 1979.

Background and education

Morris was born in Capel Bangor, Aberystwyth in the County of Ceredigion. He was educated at Ardwyn School, the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge.

Professional career

Morris was a barrister and was called to the Bar by Gray's Inn in 1954. He practised at 2 Bedford Row Chambers, took silk in 1973 and was made a Bencher of Gray's Inn in 1984. Between 1982 and 1997 Morris was a Recorder of the Crown Court.

Political career

He represented Aberavon as its Labour MP from 1959 and was the longest serving Welsh MP until his retirement in 2001, when he was succeeded by Hywel Francis.

He served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Power and the Ministry of Transport, Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence, Secretary of State for Wales between 5 March 1974 and 4 May 1979 and returned to Government as the Attorney General for England and Wales and Northern Ireland between 1997 and 1999. As such, he was one of only a small handful of Labour ministers to hold office under Harold Wilson, James Callaghan and Tony Blair.

Honours

He was created a life peer as Baron Morris of Aberavon, of Aberavon in the County of West Glamorgan and of Ceredigion in the County of Dyfed, in 2001, made Lord Lieutenant of Dyfed a year later and created a Knight of the Order of the Garter in 2003.

Lord Morris has been Chancellor of the University of South Wales since its formation in 2013. The University of South Wales was formed by a merger between University of Glamorgan (where Lord Morris was Chancellor since 2002) and the University of Wales, Newport. He succeeded fellow Labour politician Lord Merlyn-Rees as the Chancellor for the University of Glamorgan. Lord Morris was President of the London Welsh Trust, which runs the London Welsh Centre, Gray's Inn Road, from 2001 until 2008.[1] He is also a council member of The Prince's Trust.

Arms of John Morris, Baron Morris of Aberavon
Notes
Life peer as Baron since 2001
Coronet
A coronet of a Baron
Crest
A bull passant Sable armed and unguled Or with a palewise book Argent upon other Sable.
Torse
Mantling Argent and Sable.
Escutcheon
Sable a Portcullis Or, over all three swords palewise proper headed Or.
Motto
BID BEN BID BONT
Welsh: He who would a leader be, be a bridge
Orders
The Order of the Garter circlet.[2][3][4][5]

References

  1. "Our Former Presidents: London Welsh Centre". London Welsh Centre website. London Welsh Centre. 2010. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
  2. Arms of the Baron Morris of Aberavon blazon. Cracroft's Peerage. Retrieved 16 January 2014
  3. Anthony Acland's crest Heraldic Sculptor. Retrieved 20 December 2013
  4. Anthony Acland's banner of arms image. Retrieved 24 December 2013
  5. Acland's arms image. Retrieved 24 December 2013

External links

Offices held

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
William Cove
Member of Parliament for Aberavon
19592001
Succeeded by
Hywel Francis
Political offices
Preceded by
Peter Thomas
Secretary of State for Wales
1974–1979
Succeeded by
Nicholas Edwards
Legal offices
Preceded by
Nicholas Lyell
Attorney General for England and Wales
1997–1999
Succeeded by
The Lord Williams of Mostyn
Attorney General for Northern Ireland
1997–1999
Honorary titles
Preceded by
David Courtenay Mansel Lewis
Lord Lieutenant of Dyfed
2002–2006
Succeeded by
Robin William Lewis
Academic offices
Preceded by
Merlyn Rees
Chancellor of the University of Glamorgan
2002–present
Incumbent