Cledwyn Hughes

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

Educated at 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 of Anglesey constituency in both 1945 [cite web |url=http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/ge45/i01.htm |title=UK General Election results July 1945 |author= |work=Richard Kimber's political science resources |date= |accessdate=2007-12-26] and 1950, [cite web |url=http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/ge50/i01.htm |title=UK General Election results February 1950 |author= |work=Richard Kimber's political science resources |date= |accessdate=2007-12-26] he was elected to Parliament in the 1951 general election, [cite web |url=http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/ge51/i01.htm |title=UK General Election results October 1951 |author= |work=Richard Kimber's political science resources |date= |accessdate=2007-12-26] 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 (1964-6), 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.

References

Times Guide to the House of Commons 1979

Offices held